THE LITTLE THINGS A CONVERSATION WITH A MAKER
TRAVIS WEAVER WORK HARD, LIVE WELL. WHO IS TRAVIS WEAVER? I’m a small-town country guy from Zephyr, Texas. Currently I live in Houston with my Weimaraner, Dylilah, who is a complete handful. Growing up in rural Texas taught me a lot about respect, honesty, loyalty, and hard work. These are valuable traits that not a lot of folks have these days...this, of course, drives me crazy. When I’m not working, I prefer to spend my time pickin’ or doing anything that I possibly can outdoors.
marketed to, and sold to women, and made them ok for men as well. I didn’t necessarily invent anything, I just changed the way it was packaged and marketed, therefore changed the way it was perceived. Make no mistake, women are the target audience. After all, they’re the ones that shop more often. The best thing about the line is that it solves the age old question, “What do I get him?” If you can’t remember a name like Manready, then I officially give up. WHY THE NAME MANREADY MERCANTILE? The name was originally Manready, but we were always hiding the name on the labels because it was almost misleading for different reasons. About two months into the business, Roby and I decided to add the Mercantile as it added a heritage-type feel to the brand and it coincided with the labels and style that we were going for. All-in-all, the name turned out to be a winner and everybody was always talking about the line and where they saw the goods or read about us. The name solidified the brand and I think that’s what made it all click.
WHY DID YOU START MANREADY MERCANTILE? The crazy American Dream story started in late 2012, so it’s all really new to me. I met my neighbor and now business partner, Roby Fitzhenry, at the back of our apartment and we got to talking about what each other did for a living. He was a graphic designer and apparently I was a “maker.” After a few glasses of whiskey, we were business partners and the brand was born. The growth has been out of hand and it’s really taking some getting used to. I started the business with the idea that you can start something from nothing and make it these days. You don’t have to grow up wealthy, you just have to work smart and work hard. This company is proof.
WHY FOCUS ON MEN? The focus was on women. Women love to shop, but they don’t always know what to buy for their man, this makes it easy for them. I mean, every time it’s a holiday or a birthday, I get a call or text from my buddies’ wives or girlfriends, or boyfriends, and they all say the same thing. “What do I get him? If he wants something, he just goes and buys it.” Well I can guarantee you that I make products that he either
WHAT IS MANREADY MERCANTILE? It’s a unisex line of goods that are great for men. We created products that were typically only packaged,
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTIAN WATSON
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