Houston Grandmother Builds Cowboy Hat Empire from Flea Market Roots

From Flea Market to Hat Empire

• 💡 In 1991, Berna Macias started a weekend business selling cowboy hats at a local flea market to support her six children.
• 🎯 Today, her business has grown into a significant enterprise across the Houston area, demonstrating remarkable resilience and family dedication.

Family Business Growth

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The business has always been a family affair, with her son Rau still running the original flea market stall and shaping hats with steam.
• 💰 Berna's motivation was to provide for her large family, emphasizing the significant cost of feeding six growing boys.

Overcoming Adversity

• ⚠️ The business faced significant challenges, including a robbery that caused Berna to lose everything, but she persevered.
• 💪 Despite the setbacks, Berna and her business not only survived the robbery but also the raw challenges that came with it.

Current Operations and Expansion

• 🛍️ The Macias family now owns four brick-and-mortar stores, including Indomabé and Silverback Rodeo, in addition to the original flea market stall.
• 🤠 They sell a variety of western wear, including belts, shaped hats, and offer boot repair services for cowboys and ranchers.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 The business employs nearly 30 people, with about half being family members, including grandchildren.
• 🚀 Berna's children have expanded into trendy hat bars, restaurants, and upscale hotels, and they cater to rodeos across the region.

Matriarch's Dedication

• 👵 Berna, now a 73-year-old great-grandmother to 14, still works seven days a week and is often found behind the counter.
• ❤️ She attributes her success to instilling hard work and habits, expressing love for her family, and the importance of never giving up.