Meet Ryan Fantau | Hat Shaper and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Fantau and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a career barman in Breckenridge for the last 12 years I’ve realized for awhile now that I needed an exit strategy from the service industry. Given the cost of living and observing how other long term residents created longevity and carved out a livelihood here I realized that many of them found success starting their own businesses. I wanted to offer a product and service that hadn’t yet been offered here while allowing me to tap into my creative abilities ~ shaping and creating hats resonated heavily with that. After exploring the process on YouTube I realized that a mentor would be my next move. After working with my mentor for a few months I felt it was time to launch my own hat shaping brand. I wanted to launch as an experience based event pop up brand. By doing so I knew I could keep the overhead low (zero to minimal rent) and still create exposure… potentially more than that of having a single location for the business. The model is proving successful and every day and new event presents opportunity to learn and build efficiency in regards to our operating procedures.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I believe Deuces Wild Hat Co has found success by creating something different for every client while also listening to their needs. Shaping, designing, and creating someone’s hat is an experience and that ebb and flow, back and forth dialogue with the client allows us to create a special one off piece that they truly cherish and love to wear. We offer services generally offered in a brick and mortar and by bringing those services to the client (ex. wedding parties, private events, festivals) we bring something different to the table that usually isn’t seen outside of a store. When we’re setup at an event and people tell us that we have executed a great idea and they’ve never seen anything like it before, it brings a smile to our face and reminds me that we’re doing something right and fresh.
Creating the business hasn’t been easy but I would be lying if I said I haven’t enjoyed getting it off the ground. Everyday brings a new learning opportunity and watching it grow and become better with every new event has been well received. Their’s something to be said for putting in the work and seeing the outcome directly effect your own well being as opposed to that of an employers ~ It feels good!
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that their is nobody else that will do the work for you. You get what you put in and the responsibility falls on your shoulders alone. When you work for someone else it’s easy to shrug things off or delegate tasks to others. When you’re a small business the buck stops with you as they say. Putting my head down and seeing the task through to completion yields the highest rewards. When I’m feeling the stresses of owning and operating a small business I look back and remember when I worked for an employer, remaining thankful for the opportunity to be my own boss now. It sounds cliche but when I find myself stressing something or run into a road block I revert to the thought process that we don’t have problems, only solutions. One hat at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If it was winter in Breckenridge (our busiest time of year) and I was showing a friend around town I would start the day with some breakfast at “Bold” restaurant at the base of peak 9 village. They have a great breakfast offering (corned beef hash for the win). Next, I would take them snowboarding on the mountain making time for an Irish coffee at Robbie’s Tavern at the base of peak 8 between runs. Snowboarding and the mountain life are what attracted me to Breckenridge in the first place. I may be a little bias as someone who has bartended here for some years but the best way to learn a new town is to stop in some restaurants and bars and ask the staff what they like to do. Next, we would go to Grand Lodge on peak 7 for some hot tub action and decompress from the afternoon spent on the mountain. Dinner is a must at “Rootstalk” as they serve up the best food in town in my opinion. A little nightcap at Rocky Mountain Underground and you’ve got yourself a day spent well in Breckenridge.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First, I want to shoutout my family who always created a healthy space of encouragement and often reminded me that I am capable of doing whatever I’d like in this world by applying myself and working hard towards my goals. Secondly, I would like to shoutout my girlfriend Jordan Louis. She was the initial spark that generated my curiosity for hat shaping and so much of my success is directly linked to her. She has found success as an entrepreneur herself and having her in my corner is priceless.

Instagram: @deuceswildhatco

Other: ryan@deuceswildhatco.com