Fractional Increases for Game Changing Wins | Garth Watrous | American Hat Makers

From selling handmade leather belts and wallets out the back of his Chevy Station Wagon to becoming one of the top businesses for handmade leather hats, it’s safe to say Gary Watrous (our founder) doesn’t mess around. He’s been perfecting his expertise for nearly 50 years and with the help of his son Garth, his daughter-in-law Hannah, his wife Merry-Lee, and several other family members who have been integrated into the business, he has been able to take American Hat Makers to new heights.  Today, Garth has assumed command and is shaping a new direction for the hat company as we know it. In 2017, Garth was elected president of the Headwear Association and has used this position to impact the worldwide hat industry. Also known as Monterey Bay Hats, Head’N Home, American Hat Company, and American Hats, the American Hat Makers continue to bring the most durable, high-quality, handmade hats to the market. And when we say there’s a hat for any occasion, we mean it. In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[01:14] How Garth got started on the hat business[02:17] Experiencing the start of the internet and COVID[06:18] After trying multiple websites, what made it work?[08:12] The “Field of Dreams” approach is not realistic[10:33] American Hat Makers’ numbers[12:20] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io[12:40] Sponsor: Mesa apps.shopify.com/mesa[13:28] Sponsor: Rewind rewind.com/honestecommerce[13:59] Sponsor: Klaviyo klaviyo.com/honest[14:46] Chase’s perspective on LTV[15:56] How American Hat Makers improved AOV[16:59] Customers adding more to their cart[17:42] Hotjar and its invaluable data[18:48] Mobile compatible vs mobile first websites[19:39] How American Hat Makers got expert help[20:50] Don’t be afraid of failure[21:57] Learning marketing was not enough[23:02] Garth’s approach on delegation[25:03] The “50-year old startup”[25:56] The other side of being an entrepreneur[28:22] Family still matters at the end of the day[29:47] Where to find American Hat MakersResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeProudly handcrafting hats in the U.S.A. for over 40 years americanhatmakers.comConnect with Garth linkedin.com/in/garth-watrous-30378731Scale your business with electriceye.ioDownload Mesa at the Shopify App Store apps.shopify.com/mesaLevel up your customer support gorgias.grsm.io/honestRespond to any of Rewind’s welcome emails and mention HONEST ECOMMERCE to get 1 month free rewind.io/honestGet started with a free account at klaviyo.com/honestIf you’re enjoying the show, we’d love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!