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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
From Reba McEntire to all-American rough-riding cowmen, cowboy boots are worn for both fashion and function. Custom making these timeless icons of the American West takes at least three things: a lot of patience, artistic talent and a love for leather.
Shane Deeter, owner and founder of Deeter Custom Saddlery, in La Sal, Utah, has been working with leather since he was five and definitely possesses the patience and passion for the art.
Shane tells me he first learned the trade while working in his father's leather shop. After seeing so many poorly made boots and saddles come in for repair, Shane knew he could make better, and that's how Deeter Custom Saddlery was born.
Shane creates custom boots and saddles, ranging from the practical to the exotic and has had clients from as far away as Massachusetts come to La Sal to get their feet fitted for his boots. Shane custom fits each boot to the client's feet and designs his boots and saddles using no standard pattern or design. I was amazed at Shane's patience when he told me it can take anywhere from 40 to 80 hours to complete just one project.
Shane says he loves working with leather because it unleashes his creativity, allowing him to make something unusual. He tells me his favorite creation was a pair of purple lace-up boots that had an intricate black and purple design — they took more than 100 hours to create!
Although Shane really enjoys working with leather, what he loves most is that his business is just 100 feet away from his home, allowing him to spend time with his children.
And what impressed me most about Shane's business is that his shop is located in what he tells me is in the middle of nowhere -- 30 minutes from any notable location -- yet Deeter's Custom Saddlery continues to thrive as one of Utah's notable custom boot and saddle shops.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
