InfuseSA in the Community: Little’s Boot Company
In our world of here today, gone tomorrow, this month we celebrate a company that has been in business here in San Antonio for over 100 years: Little’s Boot Company.
It has been family-owned and operated since 1915, when Lucien Little first opened his shop selling and repairing boots. From that humble beginning, four generations later, Little’s Boot Company has become a well-respected custom boot-maker; not only here in Texas and across the U.S., but even abroad.
The evolution of this company is impressive.
Each generation of this family has been intimately involved in developing the creation and artistry of boot-making. And Little’s Boots have become nothing less than individual works of art. Literally around 90% of their boots are custom made for each client, and the finished products are unique and jaw-droppingly exquisite.
The boots are the collaborative effort of the skilled artisans who work for this company and the customer who wants some of their unique history captured symbolically in the boot created for them. The result is nothing less than a piece of legacy apparel. And inside each owner’s boot is the owner’s name and the year that the boots were made.
There is no question that the boots are pricey, and that prices have gone up!! In 1963 a pair of boots cost $60. Today, a custom pair STARTS at about $1,800 and can go as high as $13,000. Little’s Boots are not mass produced, but a quality creation that emerges from a close relationship with each and every customer.
I had the privilege of interviewing Lucien Little’s great-grandchildren Sharon Little and Duane Little. They run the company along with their nephew-in-law Royal Brown, who joined them about 5 years ago. Their sense of pride in their product and history was so apparent, as was their commitment to create the highest quality product.
Most touching and instructive was Duane’s comment that some of his father’s customers are returning to the store and now work with him. They trusted his father, and so he is very mindful of doing everything to provide that same “highest standard” of product to gain that customer’s trust. This is a hallmark of this company and of the family behind the company – something to be valued and admired.
It was a joy to be shown the intricate and lengthy process involved in the creation of each pair of boots, which usually takes nine months. It was an equal joy to get to know this family.
I asked this latest generation of family three things: what they loved about their company; what challenges they faced in trying to do business, and; what they wanted the community to know.
They love “the relationship we build with our customers”. And, they have served three generations of some families!! Also, “I love our history; our story. And I love that I can be part of that.”
Answers varied to the challenges they encounter, but again reveal the real life problems that come with doing business and having high standards. Sharon’s was supply chain issues and rising costs. Duane’s was taking Dad’s customers, while Royal’s was a desire, as the newest member of the family, to keep their 100+ year old business legendary.
To the community, Sharon and Duane both said “to let you know that they take a lot of pride in being this unique, generational, family-owned business,” and that “working together as family is truly rewarding.”
Royal highlighted another reason this company is so impressive: “we are here on the Southside and we’re not moving.” They have resisted pressure to uproot or move, and that is one remarkable love of who they are and where they came fro
This is a family proud of who they are, proud of where they live and proud of the beautiful boots they create.
Hats off to Little’s Boot Company. We are so proud of you!!
Contact information: Address: 110 Division St, SA, 78214. Website: littlesboots.com