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

Hi Christal, what advice would you give to someone who feels like they are facing insurmountable odds?
I would advise someone to not give up. No matter how tough, scary, or difficult the situation is you don’t know what your made of until you are on the other side. And trust me there is another side. Life is filled with hills and valleys, sometimes you are on top sometimes you are down and looking up. Keep climbing! Dig deep, and find the grit that is inside you to weather the storm. Keep your goals in mind but focus on the present and take one step at a time. Don’t worry how big (or little) the step is, just keep moving forward. If you fall down, get up and keep moving forward. Pray, laugh, and cry-sometimes all three at once. Who cares if anyone is looking?! Stay in gratitude it will change your outlook. Let your faith guide you, and it is possible to have peace when there is chaos all around you. You’ve got this!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are a local leather goods company that specializes in making personalized goods for all occasions. All of our items are handmade starting from a leather hide that we cut, sew, personalize and ship all from our studio in Mesa,AZ. We are so excited to offer handmade items that are made to last a lifetime. We appreciate all of our customers and strive to provide the best service around. We do our best to make the customer’s experience with Felix Street Leather comfortable and seamless. My husband and I bought the business a few years ago and it has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. We have been able to overcome challenges through tenacity, faith, and the fact that we won’t quit because we are quite stubborn. (I know that quality had to have an upside, my mom would probably disagree). We have learned so much through this journey from a crash course in running a business, to how to manage employees, to working through a world pandemic and everything in between. We are here to serve others with our gifts and talents and bring joy with our handmade leather gifts. We make everything with our customer in mind.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I would take my best friend to Grasshopper Point near Sedona, Sedona, Prescott, Grand Canyon, the city of Gerome. I would take them antiquing in the little cities along the way. I would also take them to Republica of Empanada (yummy), Postino, and Swig for a soda and cookie. We would also have to visit downtown Mesa, Gilbert, and Phoenix and ride the light rail as it is fascinating. If we still had time I would visit south-eastern AZ an take her to Boyce Thomson Arboretum and check out the surrounding cities. There is so much to do in AZ, I think we would run out of time to do all that I would want to with her here.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people deserve credit and recognition in my story. No man is an island that is for dang sure! I couldn’t do what I do if it wasn’t for my husband Trapper and my son Hunter, they are my number one supporters. I am so grateful for the wonderfully talented team of people that contribute their skills and creativity to the success of our company. The Felix Street Team is the best! I am also grateful for the love and support of our family, friends and place of worship Destiny Center International. We have so many people who have loved, mentored and cheered us on. We have also built a wonderful community of local artists who are always supportive with one another and willing to help in any way they can. I am always learning from you all. Also, we wouldn’t have a business without our amazing customers! Thank you so much for buying our products, and for all the love and support over the years. You are so special to us we are so grateful that you allow us to serve you. Thank you so much!

Website: felixstreet.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felixstreetleather
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FelixStLeather
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felixstreetleather
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/felix-street-leather-mesa-2

Image Credits
Brittany Elle Photography