Meet Kenzie Barrett | Owner @TheBroncyDonkey

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

Hi Kenzie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I hadn’t originally intended to start my own business. During 2020, when COVID had most business shut-down, my husband and I really started getting into golf. We also spend a lot of time in the rodeo world, competing in team roping and barrel racing.

Part of my love of golf was all the cute outfits! But I wasn’t seeing any of the patterns and styles that I loved so much from the western/rodeo world. One day on the course, we were discussing this with some friends and laughing about how we should just start our own golf apparel company. And just like that The Broncy Donkey concept was born!

On a whim, I decided to start researching what it would take. Surely there were companies that I could send my design concepts to create golf clothes for me, right? I started learning about drop-shipping and thought that was the path for me. As I worked down that road, the quality and control just wasn’t feeling right for the product I wanted to produce.

I began researching and contacting other suppliers until my first line of products was something I felt I could confidently put my brand on.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My designs for The Broncy Donkey are all inspired by our western lifestyle that we live and breath in Arizona. Growing up riding horses and competing in rodeos, the culture is truly unique. Anything that is considered ‘cowboy’ or ‘ranchy’ is just the vibe that I am going for and I am constantly jotting down ideas as they cross my mind to mock-up later.

The first concept of The Broncy Donkey is when I began even scratching the surface of digital art. I have NEVER been considered an ‘artsy’ type and my career has been in data/analytics. Basically, the exact opposite. It blew my mind with how much I enjoyed beginning to play around with Procreate and start bringing some ideas to life!

Since then, I have watched hours of YouTube videos and for every design that makes it to production, about 30 are archived. I am really proud of how I have refined my skills to creating vectorized patterns and understanding more efficient ways to mock-up different styles of the same concept. But I love that I am always getting to try new and creative things.

I want the world to know that our brand is about recognizing the western community of golfers who not only like to work hard, but play hard. Who love to have a good time, but also have some grit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Where do I start? The Broncy Donkey is based in Cave Creek and I always joke that ‘if it’s south of the 101, I probably don’t want to go.’ I love our area!

Brisam’s is a MUST for at least one (or probably more) meals. Brunch, lunch, or dinner, it doesn’t matter; they are all fantastic! And the staff is amazing, most of the waitresses and bartenders have been around for a long time and really know their stuff.

Heart & Soul is another stop at the top of my list. Again, I love the staff and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The Eggs Joshy is my absolute favorite for brunch, 10/10.

Stumblina’s Cantina is in downtown Cave Creek, and is Tombstone themed. How can you not love that (Can you sense a theme that we love to eat & drink out on the town)? You can walk from there to all kinds of stores for desert-themed shopping.

Depending on who we are entertaining, we of course will try to hit up the golf course. Dove Valley Ranch is closest and has been in excellent shape. The 500 club is a little farther but also fun for anytime of year (if you are tough enough to to golf in the summer heat).

I’m not scared to take everyone with us to a jackpot or two. That will probably entail heading to Wickenburg or Morristown where a lot of team ropings, barrel races, and breakaway competitions are. Dillons (Dillons at Western Trails Ranch) has an arena and lots of competitions, while also lots of live music concerts.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Kelly, has been hugely influential in starting The Broncy Donkey. He is a major advocate for taking the risk to work for yourself, and has been successful in his own business ventures.

We have spent many nights on the porch discussing business ideas, the pros & cons, how to take calculated risks, etc. As I began this journey and I started coming to many crossroad decisions, he is the person that I can bounce questions off of and weigh my options.

Thank you, Kelly!

Website: https://thebroncydonkey.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheBroncyDonkey/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-barrett-34868093/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090008001648

Image Credits
Desert Dandy Photography