Hidden Gems: Meet Kaylynne Crockett of Hoot + Co

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylynne Crockett.

Hi Kaylynne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started Hoot + Co on my dining room table, and it began as something just for fun. I never imagined it would grow into a full-time opportunity. About 2 years in, I noticed it was picking up, and I could take it farther than ‘just for fun, so that’s been my mission ever since. In the first years of Business, I figured out where I wanted it to go, the end goal, and what I needed to do to get there. I worked a full-time job in the mornings and Hoot + Co full time in the evenings, and it was exhausting. I eventually went to a part-time job once I was comfortable losing half my stable income. I was also putting myself through college – think 5 am/work, late afternoon/business, evenings/term papers, and repeat for a few years. In the Fall of 2016, I quit my day job and have been working for myself full time ever since. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business and a focus on marketing. I will say, I think I could’ve done it just as well without a degree, but I wanted it for myself.

Although Hoot + Co started at our place in Southern California with just a tiny sewing machine I received from my grandmother and a few pieces of scrap fabric, we’re now located in Thornton, CO. I didn’t know how to sew at all. I could barely thread a machine. Trial and error started the Business, and I’ve been improving every day since. I’ve been able to hire a few part-time helpers and hope to continue to add more to the team as we continue to grow. Over half of our items are still handmade in Colorado, but outsourcing new products (mostly our bags) is a must because I’m growing. I take pride in designing the products and working alongside my manufacturers to create the best products we can. Our bandanas, bow ties, scarves, collars, and leashes are made in-house in Colorado. We pride our products and hope that you will love them for years!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it’s been a bumpy road – or maybe a rollercoaster. Ups and downs come with life, but when you put everything on the line, change your college major and life plan, and invest everything in yourself – that’s when the ups and downs feel so much bigger. Many times I thought about quitting. What if I would’ve just pursued a different field and worked a 9-5 with a more stable income. I had some flops in the first few years, but I’ve learned from them. You can’t dwell on them too long, or they’ll take you down, out of business. So you rethink a strategy and try something new until it works. And mine has worked, but not the first, second, or even third tries. Not without many late nights, tears, and setbacks.
As a small business owner, I’ve learned to take chances. Some are small, but others not so much. I held my breath a few too many launches, knowing just how much I’ve invested, both time and money. I took out a loan to invest in my business in an area that I knew I needed to. It set me apart from competitors. I’ve paid off that loan, and it was worth the risk. Scary, but worth it. And now, every month, every year, I have to keep branching out and expanding – taking a risk and hoping in the end that they keep paying off.

We’ve been impressed with Hoot + Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We make high-quality dog gear! Our collars + leashes are by far my favorite items. They took many years to get just right, a lot of trial and error, and a lot of love. The material we make is custom-made, buttery smooth, and super pliable. It’s the only collar + leash you’ll ever want after trying one!

We are also known for flannel bandanas. They are kind of what kept me going before I started collars + leashes. They are what picked up business, got me those first orders and customers, and now we do a lot of them every year.

What do you think about luck?
Luck – I don’t know how much I believe in luck. If you want something enough, you have to work for it. Or maybe I just wasn’t ever lucky enough that would make things easy. I wasn’t handed anything in life or business.

I wasn’t lucky, and I worked for it. Determination, saying no to hanging out with friends, weekends that were a thing of the past for a while, ignoring doubters, investing in myself, and never giving up. I had a full-time job when I turned 15. I home-schooled myself, so I didn’t drop out due to family obstacles. After high school, I enrolled in a trade school to get a good-paying job and graduated Valedictorian. I got a grant based on my high school GPA, which helped pay for college, but it wasn’t luck – it worked.

Pricing:

• Collars + Leashes $30-80
• Bandanas $28-40
• Bow Ties $15
• Poop Bags + Treat Bags $15-25
• Other Accessories $5-50

Contact Info:

• Email: info@hootandco.com
• Website: www.hootandco.com
• Instagram: hootandco
• Facebook: hootandco

Image Credits
Stephanie Nachtrab Indy Pop Photo Tales of Voyage