The Nicknames of Smith & Edwards

March 29, 2017 - posted by Rose Marion

2017 is our 70th Anniversary, and BOY have we been called a lot of nicknames over the years!

And not what you think: these are names we get called by people who LOVE us. Terms of endearment.

Names like the BIG FUN STORE, Farr West Mall (or Plain City Mall), Smitties, Buck Brothers, The Cowboy Store… Even Smith & Edwards’ Surplus Plus!

Read more about the history & team behind Smith & Edwards Co.

More than once we’ve even heard someone on a law enforcement scanner heading over for a fun stop at “Smutt & Ugly’s” (Don’t ask us how they came up with that one).

Does your family have any nicknames for Smith & Edwards? Send an email to help@smithandedwards.com and let us know!

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Brand Spotlight: 360 Electrical – It’s Electric!

March 16, 2017 - posted by EmmaLee Sessions

Tangled cords can give you a headache. Whether it’s your phone charger, your laptop cords, or a curling iron, tangled cords gets really annoying. 360 Electrical is an innovative company with a solution… and we carry their products right here at Smith and Edwards.

360 Electrical started in 2005 with a desire to make things better. It’s privately owned by a Utah native right here in Salt Lake City. Her creative genius has changed the way we look at electrical outlets.

The Meaning of 360

The power cords made by 360 Electrical feature a unique swivel feature. The design allows the electrical outlet to spin freely as a cord gets twisted. Your cord is able to unwind as it’s twisted, thus reducing the amount of tangling your cord can do.

The swivel feature also allows cords to travel to any location in a room with minimal strain on the prongs.

Have a charger that doesn’t fit next to other cords on a power strip? With the Powercurve power strip, you can swivel the outlet so they’ll fit neatly!

360 Electrical Powercurve Surge Protector & USB Charger

Not only has 360 changed our perception of traditional outlets, but they have also changed our vision of modern technologies. Many of their power cords feature USB ports for cell phone chargers, too.

Whether you need one outlet or several outlets, 360 Electrical has you covered!

What’s in Store

Smith and Edwards carries several of 360 Electrical’s products. Keep your electronics safe from power surges with the 4-outlet REVOLVE and 6-outlet Powercurve.

Power your blow dryer, flat iron, his razor, and have an outlet to spare!

The 4-outlet Adapter is perfect for standard outlets in your bedroom or bathroom. The PowerCurve Mini and PowerCurve 7-Outlet plugs are equipped with two 1-amp USB chargers and are surge protected as well.

How We Can Help

Whatever your power needs may be, you can find a solution right here at Smith and Edwards. Shop these great products in store or check them out right here on smithandedwards.com! We’ve got what you need and are here to help with all of your electrical needs.

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Brand Spotlight: CarryMeGear Holsters – made in Utah!

December 8, 2016 - posted by EmmaLee Sessions

Look out, Utah! There is a new brand of gun holsters in the state and they are exclusively at Smith and Edwards. We know you are going to love them.

CarryMeGear is owned and operated by Smith and Edwards’ own Mike Vause, right here in Ogden, UT. Mike is the Sporting Goods manager here and we are super excited to be carrying his handmade gun holsters!

Mike has spent most of his professional career in the shooting sports industry. For years, he has been looking for something new to bring to this growing market.

“I have owned and tried many holster styles and brands,” he explained, “and decided to take some elements that I like and incorporate them into my thoughts and needs. I woke up one morning and said, ‘Let’s do this!'”

After a lot of work, trial and error, collaboration and help from his good friends, the first CarryMeGear Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) holster came to be.

Why Carry with Kydex?

Carry Me Gear holsters are made out of Kydex, which is a thermal plastic designed for heating and shaping for custom fit. Kydex is lightweight and durable, lasting longer than other materials.

Why is Kydex superior? It is thinner and easier to conceal, and it is sweat and weather resistant. You no longer have to wait for your holster to dry out, making these the perfect holsters for backpacking and hiking.

This Springfield XDS doesn’t print with the CarryMeGear holster in kidney position.

What sets CarryMeGear Apart?

When asked what sets CarryMeGear apart from brands we carry, Mike said, “The difference is adjustability of attachment and fit to the body. It spreads the load over a larger area than single attachment designs, and is sleeker than other 2-point, soft-back styles.”

Still, the greatest things that set these holsters apart are: 1) they are handmade right in Ogden, so you’ll be supporting a local business, and 2) they are about $10 less expensive than other great brands!

Additionally, each CarryMeGear holster is hand-fitted to a mold of the exact model of gun, and hand-sanded for snag-free carry.

We asked one of our buyers, Chris Jacobson, why he was so excited about the new CarryMeGear gun holsters. “These holsters are handmade locally in Ogden, UT and are fitted to your exact gun,” he said. “The Inside-the-Waistband holster is surprisingly comfy. I personally own one and really enjoy using it.”

IWB holsters are especially popular because you can adjust to use your choice of strong side, kidney, or appendix carry. CarryMeGear holsters are even more comfortable because they are easily adjustable to fit every body shape and size.

The holster’s forward and backward cant, or angle, can be adjusted. In addition, tension on the firearm itself can be increased or decreased. Screws and bushings also allow the holster to move closer to or away from the body.

A Sig P238 is secure in an Inside-the-Waistband, left, or Outside-the-Waistband, right, CarryMeGear holster.

Outside the Box: OWB & Small-of-Back Carry

CarryMeGear also makes Outside-the-Waistband (OWB) holsters for strong side carry. Smith & Edwards carries these OWB holsters for several models of semiautomatic handguns, as well as a Smith and Wesson J-frame Revolver model.

This Sig P238 disappears completely in the CarryMeGear OWB holster.

Mike is also very aware of the needs of his customers, and is open to additional feedback and insights. Mike began working on Small-Of-Back holsters due to requests from women shooters.

The small of the back design allows ladies to carry while maintaining a natural hip silhouette. “We are designing, thinking, and testing more designs and products,” he told me. “A Small-Of-Back (SOB) holster has been tested and approved by some of our Smith and Edwards concealed carry permit holders.”

This Small of Back CarryMeGear Holster conceals her Glock perfectly!

Look for the small-of-back holsters, magazine pouches, and even more styles of holsters from CarryMeGear at Smith & Edwards soon!

Get Yours at Smith & Edwards and on our Website

We know that you will love the CarryMeGear holsters, whether you are a CCP holder or looking for a good range holster. We love the CarryMeGear holsters and recommend them to everyone. You’ll wonder how you ever lived without one!

Talk to one of our experts and try them today at Smith and Edwards. You can also find our selection of handgun holsters here on SmithandEdwards.com.

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Brand Spotlight: Yellowstone Leather Products for 40 Years Runnin’

October 5, 2016 - posted by EmmaLee Sessions

We here at Smith and Edwards have often wondered, “What makes a good, leather work glove?” The folks at Yellowstone Leather Products have been showing us what a good quality work glove looks like for the past 47 years, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!

Kevin, from our hardware department, modeling our Yellowstone elkskin and deerskin gloves.

Yellowstone Leather Products is an Idaho-based business that opened in 1960. In 1969, now owner, Boyd Zollinger bought the company and went to work marketing and distributing American made work gloves. Zollinger said, “I was back east for school and was looking for a way to get back to Idaho,” where he was originally from. “My family and I looked at this company that was for sale and we thought, ‘we could work with that.'” That’s exactly what they have been doing now for the last 47 years.

Smith & Edwards has had a long partnership with Boyd and Yellowstone, reaching back to 1969:

“We found their quality is far superior to any other glove we carry,” said Jim Smith, president of Smith & Edwards, an Ogden, Utah, retailer that has stocked Yellowstone Gloves for more than 35 years. “Most people who buy Yellowstone know they are quality gloves that will last longer than two or three other pairs they could buy cheaper.”
– Article from 2010 by Clark Corbin with the Idaho Falls Post Register

What makes Yellowstone Leather work gloves different?

The patented pattern of Yellowstone work gloves is really, what sets them apart from other work gloves. All of the premium leather gloves made at their warehouse in Idaho Falls feature both a seamless palm and back, making these work gloves form fitting. They fit tighter to your hand, Zollinger said, thus making it more like working with your bare hands, but with the protection necessary for even the toughest jobs.

Jean, one of our managers, modeling our Yellowstone elkskin and deerskin gloves. Jean manages the gloves department as well as our famous candy section!

Talking about premium leather, these gloves are made from some of the finest, hand selected elk, deer, and goatskin in the western United States. When asked about the difference in materials, Smith and Edwards’ own Jean Dimick said, “Elkskin and deerskin last longer than traditional cowhide gloves. They won’t get hard and brittle if they get wet.” You can enjoy soft, supple gloves no matter what.

What projects can I use my Yellowstone Leather work gloves for?

These deer and elkskin gloves can be used for any job, big or small, tough or easy. Elkskin is a heavier leather than deerskin and are best for heavy-duty jobs, such as fencing and other ranch work and construction. Deerskin gloves are more pliable and comfortable, and better for easy jobs.

Smith and Edwards own Kevin and Jean modeling our Yellowstone elkskin and deerskin gloves.

We would rave about these gloves all day if we could. So come on in and find out for yourself what makes these work gloves so special. We know you’ll fall in love with the Idaho-based, made in USA, leather work gloves that we have come to love and depend on too. Yellowstone Leather also distributes a high quality, imported brand of leather work gloves called Rocky Mountain Gloves.

What they wore:

Kevin:

102216412LTLL Carhartt Hubbard Classic Plaid Button Up Shirt

MNVBLKL Wyoming Traders Black Nevada Vest

428-1738 Bailey Stampede Silver Wool Felt Hat

Kevin wears a size 9 in the Yellowstone Premium Leather work gloves and an XL in the Rocky Mountain gloves.

Jean (the buyer):

5039-75K-7 Stormy Kromer Button Up Partridge Plaid Hat (brown plaid)

5067-40P-SM Stormy Kromer Aurora Snowdrift Cap (green plaid)

Jean wears a size 8 in the Yellowstone Premium Leather work gloves.

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Brand Spotlight: Cox Honeyland – Why We LOVE Honey

April 19, 2016 - posted by Jerica Parker

Henderson and Marion Cox started in the bee industry in St. George, Utah. Since then, the family has carried the tradition of bee keeping and honey production, and in 1989, Cox Honeyland opened for business. Now, the fourth generation of family is running the business in Logan, Utah, with more things than just honey, including lotions and other food items.

Here at Smith & Edwards, we have proudly carried Cox Honeyland for the past 20 years.

Honey has so many benefits!

Besides being all natural, healthy, yummy and sweet, it makes a great food storage item!

On top of that, there are other cosmetic uses that not many know about.

What’s even better? Finding honey that is harvested locally!

Why is local honey better?

We love the local Cache County honey from Cox Honeyland.

Have you ever had honey that tastes or looks a little different than other jars? Honey bees fly as much as 55,000 miles within a 5 mile radius, all the while collecting nectar from flowers. The nectar gathered from a specific region will give the honey produced a slightly different taste and color. Cox Honeyland honey has three different honey varieties: Clover-alfalfa (lighter color and mild taste), Cache Valley (darker with more flavor), and Mountain Snowberry (mountain wildflower flavor).

So wherever you get your honey from, it will be slightly different than honey from another place.

Fight those allergies!

A benefit of getting local honey is that it is said to help boost immunity for seasonal allergies. Naturally made, honey is healthy for you.

Tip: Have a sore throat? Mix honey with a spoonful of lemon juice in a mug filled with steaming hot water to soothe your throat and relieve congestion.

Pure and Healthy

You can tell honey is pure when it crystalizes. That means that there are no preservatives added to the honey. The great thing is that honey never expires! (Which makes it great as a food storage item!) When it does crystalize, simply place the jar in a pan of warmed water and it will soften back to its smooth texture.

What else?

Honey is great for various different uses, some can be surprising! As a natural sweetener, honey makes a great substitute in recipes for sugar. Using this replacement in some recipes reduces up to half of the sugar a recipe calls for.

Cox Honeyland has recipes using honey – View them here!

Honey also has cosmetic benefits. “My dad would have us wash our faces with crystalized honey as kids. When honey crystalizes, it makes a great natural exfoliator”, Maleesa with Cox Honeyland told me. You can also use the beeswax to make your own lip balms, lotions, massage bars, and more.

Now that you know why we love honey so much, it’s time to get your own! Whether it’s for your food storage, cosmetic benefits, or just to enjoy now, local honey is the best!

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Can SureCan…? This gas can sure can!

September 30, 2015 - posted by Jerica Parker

Now, I know what you’re thinking… another gas can?? Yes!

SureCan is a new and renovated gas can that is becoming popular in various local businesses, including here at Smith and Edwards. The SureCan is made in the USA and the company is local here in Ogden, Utah. The Standard Examiner just recently featured Brad Ouderkirk, owner of the SureCan, in an article as well. Read the article here.

Watch the SureCan in Action

We know and understand the typical issues with gas cans… they tip over and spill gas all over, they are hard to aim when pouring into your machine, and they can leak. The frustration is discouraging and totally not worth it.

That is why I wanted to tell you about this awesome, brand new product we are carrying! The SureCan gas can is guaranteed no spill, no leak, and gas-free hands after using it. But what makes it different from other gas cans? I asked Randy, our Lawn and Garden department manager, exactly what makes it unique.

“The features speak for themselves,” Randy told me as he showed me the flexible, rotating nozzle and the thumb-release trigger. No more messy tipping and aiming! After using this can, we have had people tell us just how easy it is to use.

“Lifting a 5 gallon gas can and tipping is not easy,” Randy says. But this new, renovated gas can solves that problem. So yes… SureCan sure can!

SureCan: Feed Your Machines

Get it now!


Get your 5 gallon SureCan Gas Can here!	Get your 2.2 gallon SureCan Gas Can here!

Also available in store at Smith and Edwards! Exit 351 off I-15 in Ogden, Uah – Find it in the Lawn and Garden department in the front of the store.

Emission Control Information:

This container complies with U.S. EPA emission regulations for portable fuel containers (40 CFR Part 59). The emissions warranty is valid for a minimum of one year from date of purchase.

Check out Sporting Goods!

See all Boating accessories, Camping, Hiking, Hunting, Fishing, and more.

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Not Just A Country Store – Smith and Edwards Manufacturing

July 11, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

Today, I had the privilege of talking with our very own Smith and Edwards brand team. Some may not know this, but Smith and Edwards is a brand name for horse tack, bridles, pack saddles and pack saddle equipment, saddle bags, and leather-working goods.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an outfitter, hunter, trail rider, rancher, or rodeo cowboy; this brand is for all Western style riders. That’s right, we don’t just sell top quality Western tack and Western trail riding equipment, we make it too!

The Smith and Edwards company tried out the idea of making their own brand and products back in 1979. What started out as a simple yet solid idea, has soared to a well-respected brand name used by many cowboys in the Western region of the U.S. and is sold to many country/feed stores.

Why? Well it could be that it’s a brand made in USA, for USA. Or maybe it’s because the company is always looking for ways to improve their products and make them fit customer’s needs.

Trying new patterns and different sewing strategies, as well as changing lengths and cutting techniques help the team get a feel for what works and what doesn’t based on what our customer is looking for. Because, after all, your support and feedback is what keeps us going!

“Come on. What have you guys really changed to make your products better?”

Well, the Lasal Box Style Pannier is a perfect example. Before, the weight of what you were carrying would weigh down the middle of your bag. The Lasal Pannier now comes with a diamond pocket that the staps go through. This helps it to secure your load and compresses it together to help relieve pressure on the seams.

Lasal Box Style Pannier

Criss Cross Strap Set for Lasal Pannier

“I buy our pack equipment, headstalls, back cinchas, reins, lasal box style panniers, Utah pack panniers, and mantees. I choose the Smith and Edwards brand because of quality and price. And also because I know if there’s a problem I can bring it back and the Smith and Edwards team with get it taken care of for me” -Kris Betts, Western sales

Tapered Utah-Style Pack Bag

Behind the Scenes of the Smith and Edwards Brand Workshop

“I enjoy working with the people in the Western department. We are almost like a family. Well, I guess we are a family seeming how we spend most of our time together.” -Steve Lewis, leatherworker

The Smith and Edwards Western Department Team. From left to right: Tom, Dave, Sam, Marty, Jess, Dani, Steve, Kyle, Shaun, Kris, Sherm.

Believe it or not, but it is a rather small team that works together to bring you all these one-of-a-kind products. And they aren’t made in some huge factory; instead they are beautifully hand-crafted right here at Smith and Edwards in the back corner of the Western department. The space is also relatively open, meaning our team can be seen, in the store, making these awesome products for you.

Smith and Edwards uses the best materials needed for each product they make. This includes:

Hermann Oak Leather: Mainly used on reins and headstalls.
Skirting: For cinches and breast collars.
Bear cloth: Tough, heavy nylon that doesn’t mildew. This is used on all of our pack bags.
Latigo: Used in almost everything we make.
Canvas: Mantee’s, slings, and pack bags are all made with canvas.

The team uses a few machines, of course, to help them make these products just right. There’s an:

Edger: This helps to soften and round the edges of the leather.
Creaser: To put in the “creases” or lines that give the product a clean and defined finished look.
Puncher: For when the team needs to punch multiple holes into the leather at once.
Splitter: Used for thinning the leather out.
Riveter: Made to squeeze rivets to join two materials together.
Sewing machine: The sewing machines Smith and Edwards use are mainly for pack saddle bags, breast collars, and slobber straps.

The Smith and Edwards team designs and makes everything entirely from scratch, from carefully cutting the leather and punching holes to the final sewing touches and branding of our Smith and Edwards name. Each item takes a different amount of time to make and uses a different type of process. This means that our team has to be very knowledgeable and precise about how they work, especially when quality is such a big factor.

Square Utah-Style Pack Bag

“Saddle panniers are probably one of the most time consuming products to make. It can be a challenge cutting the pieces for it out of the leather. I’ve spent almost a whole day on one lasal bag before.” -Tom Donovan, leatherworker

Thanks to Troy Higgs for the amazing photos of his packing trip!

Do you have a photo of your Smith & Edwards gear in action? Send us your photo to info@smithandedwards.com, we’d love to see it!

Why You Should Give Us A Try

The products Smith and Edwards sell are made specifically to work AND to last. The brand isn’t a super flashy one, it is better suited for the “working cowboy”. Products are made the old-fashioned way, and not mass manufactured. I guess you could say it’s more personal that way!

“My favorite part about working back here is being able to take something, cut it up and then piece it back together to make a product one of our customer’s will use and love. It’s rewarding.” -Marty Thompson, Western manager

Heavy Duty Nylon Saddle Bag & Cantle Bag Combo

Smith and Edwards has been a store you’ve trusted to bring you quality products and exceptional customer service for some 50+ years now. So, of course it is expected that our brand name products uphold the same standards, if not higher.

If you love Smith and Edwards, you’ll love what we make! Next time you’re looking to buy headstalls, bridles, halters, straps, or breast collars for western style riding, think Smith and Edwards. You won’t be disappointed!

To get a full listing of our catalog and everything we sell, please click here. (PDF file).

Click here to find your favorite Western Tack items at Smith and Edwards

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Personalize Your Garden with Utah Original Art

May 30, 2015 - posted by Rebecca Adams

Spring is all about getting out and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. Smith and Edwards has fresh flowers, planters, and garden accessories that will help you create that perfect outdoor haven.

You can find the perfect way to organize your beautiful garden with Burnett Metal Art garden markers – made right here in Utah!

An amazing line of garden markers!

Burnett Metal Art is a Utah based company out of Garland. The Burnetts have found that being a Utah-based company has brought in a lot of business because the people are great to work with, and Utah is a great state for small businesses. The Burnett family has owned and operated this welding and fabrication business for over 100 years!

After purchasing their CNC plasma table in 2011, Brody and Weston Burnett, two of the sons, and their wives, Kara and Trista, started Burnett Metal Art. Daughter Tristin (Burnett) Lindsay is head designer for product development. I had the pleasure of talking to Tristin and ask her a few questions about the company.

The Burnett Family

Q. What inspired your family to create this business?

A. One of our big inspirations came from our mother, Susan. She has collected all varieties of nativity scenes throughout her life. She wanted us to design and cut her one from metal. She has helped us design a few of our nativities as well. We now have about 13-15 nativities designed and we have plans to have 50 designed and available in the next 2 years.

Q. What drives you in your business?

A. Our motivation comes from when our customers get excited about new products we design and produce. We get satisfaction out of seeing our products displayed in yards when we drive down roads and even go out of our small town and see our products in yards or on houses in other areas!

Our motivation also comes from being able to design things that we would like in our own homes and yards and being able to use them ourselves. We are also motivated and determined to make Burnett Metal Art as successful as our welding business has been.

Q. How big is your company? Have you or are you thinking about growing across America?

A. We currently have 8 employees. The company started with just a few products and now has nearly 100 products and is sold in over 12 locations in Utah, as well as online.

We have the desire and a plan in place to start Burnett Metal Art spreading across America. We are working with different retail outlets to expand our reach outside of Utah.

Q. What are your most popular items? Any customer favorites?

A. Our most popular items are our yard art and garden markers. We also sell a lot of our nativity scenes as well. Our customer favorites are our garden markers and yard art as well. We are hoping that our Holiday line will be just as big with our customer base.

Q. Why do customers love your garden markers?

A. Our products are built to last. We make each one durable and long lasting. They are a unique product to enhance your home or garden. We can also customize any product to make it unique and specific to your taste.

Q. What makes Burnett Metal Art unique?

A. Our company is unique because it is a family owned business. It started with our father working at the welding shop, then going to owner, and now 4 siblings are working here as well.

Q. Is there any history or background that makes your company what it is?

A. The business was originally a blacksmith shop that started over 100 years ago and has progressed to a Welding and Fabrication Shop. Now we have added the Metal Art business as well!

Q. What is your favorite product to sell – or is there a product in the future that you are going to add to your already creative collection?

A. We love selling our garden stuff the most. We have plans of adding decorative metal furniture to our collection.

It was amazing to be able to talk and find out more about these garden and yard markers that are made right here in the U.S.A. – thanks, Tristin! Smith & Edwards loves featuring small businesses like Burnett Metal Art – especially family-owned businesses based in Utah, just like us. These fun metal garden markers make great additions to your garden and outdoor decorations!

You can find these cute garden markers by clicking here.

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The Story Behind Cowboys Unlimited

May 15, 2015 - posted by Regan Taylor

It all started with two risk-taking brothers and one shot-in-the-dark idea; to create a self-owned T-shirt company! The Moss Brothers ( Matt and Calvin Cahoon) have owned their own business since 1996 and are based out of Payson, UT.

And although the company has come a long way from where it started, they still keep it going strong the same way they built it; with each other! Matt and Calvin do everything themselves, from design and artwork to the shipping of the shirts!

The Making of a Commendable Company

Matt and Calvin Cahoon grew up in California, moving to Utah sometime after high school. Matt attended BYU and recieved an MBA and degree in engineering. Calvin, on the other hand, studied at University of Utah, played lacrosse, and got a degree in exercise science. He was working at a local country store and decided that their products weren’t all that special; so he decided “why not?”

While interviewing Calvin, he told me about how he’s always been attracted to the country way of life, saying ” a deal is as good as a handshake when it comes to people from the country. People always seem to be in a hurry to get no where, but not country people. They become family”.

It wasn’t hard to decide who they wanted their target market to be, so they came up with 4 clothing lines specified to the tastes of country folk:

1. Cowboys Unlimited: Traditional Cowboy T-Shirts – a VERY popular line!

Shop for you own Cowboys Unlimited get-up here.

2. Cowgirls Unlimited: Traditional T-Shirts for those one-of-a-kind cowgirls.

Janet rocking her Cowgirls Unlimited shirt

Get Janet’s “Cowgirls rule. We’ve got it, cowboys want it, and we know it” tee by clicking here.

3. No-Bull: Matt and Calvin’s more “risque” line that has funny quotes and sayings! ( Calvin told me they come up with these quotes from experiences and memories of funny moments where someone did or said something noteworthy ).

“Due to the rising cost of ammunition, I am no longer able to provide warning shots. Sorry for the inconvenience” – Tyler repping the No-Bull line.

4. Horses Unlimited: Made specifically for all the horse lovers.

When they opened in fall of 1996, I don’t know if the Moss brothers really knew how well it was going to do. They had sold their shirts to 11 stores just before Christmas, and by the time the Christmas season was over all 11 stores had sold EVERY ONE of their shirts!

They then traveled to Kansas and teamed up with a company that put their shirts into 27 stores across the nation. After that, Matt and Calvin attended a spring trade show in Dallas, and gained another 15 stores to put their unique shirts into! They were then granted another whopping 48 stores.

How Far Have They Come Today?

Today, the Moss brothers have around 2500 locations carrying their clothing line. The company now has about 125 designs, and not only sell T-shirt’s but now also sell hoodies, kids clothing, window decals, housewares and BBQ sets. (Wow!)

“Don’t flatter yourself cowboy, I was looking at your horse!” – Popular shirt from Cowgirls Unlimited

Know a cowgirl who would love this tee? Get it online.

The team make an awesome duo – Matt does most of the artwork and does quite well on the business end of things, while Calvin can be referred to as the carefree salesman. They work together to create the best possible team for their company. Products are always stocked in full to avoid any type of lag, even though it’s just the two of them doing all the work.

They continue to shine every year and who better to depend on than your own brother, right?

Why We Think It’s So Awesome

Smith and Edwards is also a company that came about from an idea two men had back in 1947, so of course we have support for two brothers doing the same thing. It’s always inspiring to see two people taking an idea and making it into a successful business.

I asked Calvin at the end of our interview “If you had one minute to tell a kid the secret of owning his own business, what would you tell him?” He paused and then told me, “You could have the Cadillac of all Cadillacs of products, but if you can’t sell it, you’re still broke.” In other words, make a product you know will be of interest to your customers, and PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!

Take risks, make your mark, and share your product with the world because you never know where it may lead! You can support Utah’s own Moss Brothers by buying their T-shirts online or coming into Smith and Edwards today.

“You can get more accomplished with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.”

Get Tyler’s No-Bull Tee today! Shop online.

Here are some more of our favorites:

You could rock this Cowgirls Unlimited “Gunpowder and Lead” Tee too! Shop here.

Get Tyler’s “Just Another Small Town” tee here, and his “One Nation Under God” tee here.

I wanted to give a special thank you to Janet from customer service and Tyler from the gun counter for modeling these awesome T-Shirts for us!

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Brand Spotlight: Sliester Bits

March 12, 2015 - posted by Amy Griffiths

As a Western tack & lifestyle store and a tack manufacturer ourselves, Smith & Edwards loves spotlighting American companies who produce their wares in the U.S. This post is part of a series spotlighting American manufacturers.

Sliester is a well-known name for Western bits. Steve Dunn spoke with us about Sliester Bits’ history and where the company is today!

The bit builder: Sliester’s Steve Dunn, squeezing the rivets on a loose jawbit. Racks of bits behind him!

Tell us about Sliester’s history.

A pair of cowboys, Don & Vic Sliester, started the company in 1954 with their aluminum hackamore. At the time, my family (the Dunns) operated a deburring business. We had rock tumblers and de-burring equipment.

Don & Vic came to us to find a process to smooth and polish the bits they made. Each of the bits spends a few hours in our tumbling machines, which slowly sands the sand marks out.

As it turns out, my dad Earl Dunn wound up buying the business from Don & Vic in the 1980s, when I was 18.

Did anything change when the company changed hands?

Not much. It’s the same great quality and craftsmanship since the beginning. We’ve had the same bit builder for the last 35 years, and that’s me!

We’ve had more people helping at times, including my two brothers Jim and Earl, but I’m the one who’s stayed around from the beginning. My dad is still here with me and answers the phone and helps where he can.

All the bits are still made here in America. There’s a lot of competition now for overseas stuff. I believe in my product and I believe in keeping it American-made.

One of the many fine bits Sliester produces: this engraved snaffle bit features full silver & jeweler’s bronze rings.

The Sliester brothers started the company in Sanger, CA. In 1980 we moved the company here to Auberry, California, which is about 20 miles from Sanger. We still make all the bits here in Auberry.

The business has always been named Frontier Supplier Inc manufacturer of Sliester Bits & Spurs. My dad kept the name when we bought it.

What do you love about continuing the Sliester tradition?

My favorite part of the business is being self-employed and working with my hands. I have made bits for some famous people, but I don’t want to say names.

Family-owned and operated – these bits are not mass-produced. If you have ever owned one, you can feel the balance.

Thanks for talking with us, Steve!
Find Sliester Bits online:

Click to explore Steve’s Sliester bits on SmithandEdwards.com.

We also carry pointed and cloverleaf Rowels that Steve makes, which are also sold under the Frontier Supply name.