Boot Barn's Brittney Phillips; Mullets should stay in the eighties!

A former Miss Rodeo California who placed in the top 10 at Miss Rodeo America, Brittney Phillips is the sponsorship coordinator for Boot Barn. We are excited to showcase Brittney’s ability to capitalize on opportunities to move her through her career trajectory with the success she has had, as well as a little bit more insight on the world of sponsorship for both contestants and rodeo committees, as well as the current influencer market.

Royal Background

Brittney started competing in pageants when she was 14 years old, winning her hometown title of Junior Miss Rodeo Ramona at the age of fifteen. She then worked her way through the San Diego rodeo pageantry circuit before taking a break out of high school. She took a variety of jobs including working for Iron Horse where she got her first look into the western fashion market. Shipping, order placing, invoicing, and some of the sponsorship program is where she first “dipped her toes in the water.”

The company closed its doors so she went back to the world of construction where, the Vice President of the construction company was married to the Vice President of Marketing for Boot Barn. Building an authentic relationship with Bob, he said, “I think you would really enjoy meeting my wife!”

He then proceeded to show her a picture of his wife with Florida Georgia Line. He had mentioned previously that she was involved with Boot Barn but she wasn’t sure on the capacity. Out of the blue, a year later, they called her and offered her a position, she moved to Orange County where she has been for four years now.

Building Authentic Relationships

1. Always be aware of how you interact with everyone.

2. Hear their stories, be interested in them.

3. Everyone has knowledge that you can learn from; enjoy speaking with them.

4. Be genuine - this world takes all types of kinds.

Podcast Bonus Story: “My first recollection of Rachel was dancing behind a curtain because I was so nervous.”

Boot Barn’s Partnership with the State Title

“I competed for the title of Miss Rodeo California twice,” Brittney says. “Hands down, the most difficult challenge for me to overcome was just finding a way to cope with the anxiety of doing something wrong or not going perfectly.”

Spending time with horse trainers and pageant coaches, she devoted every ounce of her being to competing. It was a moment of “this isn’t meant to be” after the first year. She felt, at the current time, that she had just moved, she was getting grounded in her job and career, working a lot of hours. The title of Miss Rodeo California didn’t feel like a good fit and the opportunity with Boot Barn was one that if she had walked away she would have a lot of “what if’s?”

“My boss and I were talking, she was actually the one who encouraged me to go back to compete for the title of Miss Rodeo California,” Brittney says with a laugh about her shock of them suggesting. This resulted in her compiling a calendar of her entire year for her boss before even turning in her application to compete. Everything had to be in line for that year, meaning that Brittney had to be willing to work crazy hours and days in order to fulfill all of her duties.

“You do what you have to do to make it work! I took my laptop everywhere. When you want something bad enough, you’ll figure it out as you go!”

Time Management

When you love what you are doing, you are going to find a way to make it work and it’s not going to feel like work. Take your breaks and take care of your personal health.The job, the colleagues, and the company make it not feel like work which was an amazing opportunity. Brittney was also able to meet a lot of the committees that she had been working with for the past three years and be able to put a face with the name.

Boot Barn

What is Boot Barn?

Boot Barn is the nation’s leader in western and work retailer with nearly 235 stores across the country in 32 states. They sponsor nearly 700 rodeos a year. They carry any of the major western brands that come to mind plus their in-house private labels. Each of them have a core line that has research with the right fit for the people riding or working on a ranch can appreciate. It’ll actually last through the test of time and handle anything that you throw at it.

An amazing company, they have a brand new creative team that they have built. They take the time to meet the people in the industry and talk with them to create and even use them in their photo shoots and marketing. Local cowboys that they would pay their entry fees and have them wear their products which created for some amazing shops.

There is a huge pride in the western industry and lifestyle; representing them has become a huge emphasis for the company. From work wear to high fashion to practical fashion, they’ve got everything that you need at Boot Barn!

Podcast Bonus Story: Modeling with real life cowboys.

Fashion

Fashion has been one of the fastest growing sectors for them. It’s been fun to watch it grow over the past years as western fashion continues to grow. As a former rodeo queen, Brittney had some influence with the private label in the design room where they discussed the product they have been considering putting into stores. They were concerned about creating items that make the customer happy.

Different patterns and materials, plus designs will all be seen in their new items.

What have you learned?

It’s a lot of fun and work for Brittney, building authentic relationships with committees and associations across the country. You get a broader understanding of how much rodeo and the western industry gives back to their local communities. There isn’t many industries that have opportunities like this that gives back.

“It’s been truly astonishing to see how amazing it is!”

The Future: Teaser

We are consistently growing and one of those tasks for Brittney was to create a program for endorsing their in-house brands. They want their name to be more involved in the industry than it already is, especially when it comes to working around exclusivity agreements. Shyanne, the brand, has grown crazy in the past year especially and Cody James in the past two years has grown a lot as well. Keeping things running with their private label brands.

They are also looking to grow with 25 more stores in 2019 as well as two acquisitions of Drysdales and Lonestar. Moving forward with those growth goals are going to be huge. Business is steady and they are looking forward to 2019!

Marketing & Sponsorship

Influencer Marketing

Influencers have taken on the last few years of the emphasis of social media having such a powerful stance in the realm of marketing. It can be a positive influence for companies but Boot Barn has only worked with a few individuals coming through working with their Public Relations and media team. Meeting new people and hearing their story, as well as hearing how they want to promote your brand.

They must be actively excited with their product. It’s not about getting free stuff, it’s about getting the product.

Sponsorship Marketing

What are ways we can promote our private label brands? This is what Brittney has been tasked with this year. Currently they do wear-test sponsorships for product to be tested. They also work with college rodeo stars and even some young guns. Case by case, it’s not something they are fully prepared to do right now but it’s something in the near future that they will be more open too.

Professional Rodeo Sponsorship

We’ve always really based our sponsorship program on communities and local rodeos that are really supporting us. When people go to a rodeo they want to wear boots and get dressed up. We want to empower that western community. They have a great standing relationship with the PRCA, PBR and amateur rodeo associations. Event sponsorship is very important.

One of the biggest trends in the past few years is media presence. Television, photography, social media, etc. have all been important aspects. Other staple items that you see in rodeo that doesn’t ever change is signage at the event such as a bucking chute.

“We evaluate each one for what their strengths are and what they bring to us,” Brittney explains.

Brittney & Extracurricular

Gunner and Barrel Racing

Brittney picked up her horse almost by accident and talks more indepthly on the podcast about her barrel racing background and what her future goals are.

Miss Rodeo California Pageant Director

Recently name to the Miss Rodeo California board as the pageant director, Brittney discusses her hopeful changes to the pageant game and what contestants can gain from the process.

College Education - Bachelors Degree in Marketing

Taking the prerequisite courses to get her marketing classes, she’s excited to get her marketing degree.

Conclusion

Thank you to Brittney and Boot Barn for sharing all this amazing information! We are so excited to see the future of Boot Barn and go shopppppinggg!!!!

Make sure to subscribe to the That Western Life podcast on iTunes or Spotify today! Leave us a review on either of those platforms and you might get a shoutout on our next episode!

A Ride of Fifty Lifetimes featuring Miss Rodeo North Carolina & Miss Rodeo Wisconsin

October 29, 2017 - Before it all began, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin 2017 Katelin Bradley couldn’t name a single person in her life who had been affected by breast cancer. She was one of the lucky few who had managed to live her 23 years without experiencing, first hand, the devastation cancer causes, but late last September, after selling her own horse to meet the financial demands of competing for Miss Rodeo America, cancer found her.

Just like many who dance with the disease, unexpectedly, on a random Saturday afternoon, cancer and its challenges found her. Not in a sterile hospital room but along the rodeo road with Miss Rodeo North Carolina, Nicki Moody.  “She told me of a conversation that had changed her life and then she challenged me,” said Bradley of the fateful conversation that began it all.

It was a simple conversation, really.  In July in Greeley, Colorado, while discussing preparation for the horsemanship portion of the Miss Rodeo America 2018 pageant, a mentor of Moody’s gave her a challenge. “I bet you can’t ride 50 horses in a month,” he said with the wry, sly smile of a cowboy who had known more than a few horses in his lifetime.

A true cowgirl at heart and forever the champion of the impossible, Nicki looked within herself and replied, “I bet I can.” And from there, she began on a journey that would leave her and countless others forever changed for the better.   

Over the course of the next few months she carefully constructed a plan. She decided to call it the “50 Pink Horses October Challenge.”  Partnering with not only the Tough Enough to Wear Pink Foundation but also the Pretty in Pink Foundation, which started in her home state of North Carolina, Nicki chose to serve others. Instead of simply preparing for the horsemanship portion of Miss Rodeo America, she insisted on using her time, energy and influence to raise money and awareness for women who had been affected by breast cancer.

“It was a way, she decided, to be practiced and prepared while doing something great for the people in her community,” said Bradley of her friend’s challenge.

The challenge was simple in aim but complex in execution: Each queen took it upon herself to line up the horses to ride each day and meet with survivors and family members alike to hear their harrowing stories.

Saddled up on a stranger’s horse, day after day, horse after horse, Nicki and her friends rode for woman after woman.  Nicki decided to record each ride in a Facebook group named after the Challenge. There, story after story is listed so simply upon the group wall.

One reads:

“17/50 This Ride is dedicated to an amazing woman in our community who always has a smile and a kind word to say. Michelle Stock owns our local feed store and is always such a huge part of our community events, among everything she does, she also beat breast cancer! Michelle is also a past Miss Rodeo Arizona. I dedicate this ride on Peppy’s Gimminie Cricket owned by Gina Apolinar in her honor.”

After reading the stories of the rides made in tribute to so many courageous women, one can’t help but be affected. All at once the cold diagnoses becomes real enough to have a name and a face, many names and many faces, to be honest.

“I have to confess,” Nicki said, “the challenge was difficult. It demanded lots of my time, attention and energy but I began to realize that so many of these women and families that breast cancer had affected didn’t get to choose whether to meet their challenge with cancer. Cancer chose them and I’m certain it was never convenient. They didn’t have the time. They didn’t prepare… it just happened.  They chose to fight and if they were brave enough to face the challenge, how could I not meet mine? Especially when it was so simple by comparison?” “It challenged me and it changed me. I have met so many courageous people who inspire me to be my best. This is nothing compared to what these ladies faced. I should be riding 1,000 horses!”

Nicki wasn’t the only one whose life was forever impacted by the October challenge. Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Katelin Bradley rose to the occasion as well.  She too took the 50 Pink Horses October challenge and has met it. “I am so grateful for this challenge, as it has shown me how many generous, great, brave and loving people make up the state of Wisconsin.”

All in total, 14 state queens have pledged to take part in the 50 Pink Horses October challenge. That’s 700 women honored for fighting the bravest battle of their lives. Now, just one month later, Miss Rodeo Wisconsin 2017, Katelin Bradley counts herself blessed to know and name hundreds of people breast cancer has affected and is proud to have been a part of honoring them, their courage and their memory.

If you would like to join these state queens in raising funds and awareness for breast cancer survivors and their families, you can make donations on the Go Fund Me Page Nicki has established for the challenge. All proceeds go to the Pretty in Pink foundation, a nonprofit that gives funds & support to those meeting financial hardships while battling cancer.

Miss Rodeo North Carolina Nicki Moody

Miss Rodeo Wisconsin Katelin Bradley

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Crystal Grace Hansen is a western lifestyle writer dedicated to shining a spotlight on the fashion, names, faces and places of the western lifestyle. CEO of MyRodeoQueenCoach.com and a diehard coffee fan, she can always be found with a strong but sweet cup of joe in hand while wearing copious amounts of turquoise jewelry.