Laying J Leather is up and running in Austinville, Virginia? 

By Lynn Ascrizzi 

“Products are made with?U.S. hides tanned in Mexico.?Everything is made right here in the great USA at our leather shop.” — Jeff Hedge 

Jeff Hedge vividly recalled the time when his successful business,?Laying J Leather, was launched two decades ago.?“It kind of spread out as a hobby,” he said, suggesting that his new venture seemed to grow easily, in a recreational sort of way. However, his creative leap into leatherwork also took a lot of hands-on effort, natural talent and a strong, independent streak. 

At the time, Hedge was a professional herdsman in South West Virginia, working with Brangus beef cattle — a Brahman-Angus cross. Born and raised in Virginia, he had earned a degree in agriculture from Virginia Tech, a four-year university based in?Blacksburg, Virginia.?But what finally?sparked the?change that?he was aiming for was a moment of?honest exasperation.? 

? “In 2003, I was out on a horse checking cows,” he recalled, “and I lost a pistol that I was carrying to deal with ‘varmints,’ and such. I had to back-track to find the pistol and I was late getting home. My wife, Robin, was worried and I was aggravated. I told her I was tired of buying products that didn’t fit, function or work properly. I thought?I could make a better holster. So, she said, ‘Why not?’” 

That memorable encounter marked a step toward positive change. But, to carry the vision through on a slim income?took nitty-gritty discipline. “I started with just a couple of tools in the?basement.?Each paycheck (two-times a month), I’d buy leather tools or equipment to start making my own gear. Soon, others were asking me to make them stuff — and a business was born,” he said.? 

In 2006, he quit his day job to do leatherwork full time. The change called for even more perseverance?when the?2007—2008 global economic crash hit.?To keep the leather business afloat, he and Robin worked odd jobs.?For example,?they did creative leatherwork for Silver Stag Knives of Blaine, Washington, a company that designs and manufactures high-quality, carbon tool steel blades.? 

“They asked us to make knife sheaths for them. Since then, we have picked up more work from many other knife makers, including Robby Bowman at Iron Mountain Metal Craft,” Hedge, 47, noted. 

Around that time,?they made another change and geared the?family-owned business toward manufacturing.?”In 2015, we started producing K9 (canine) products for Blue Mountain K9, and later bought the business. In 2017, we decided to open a retail location in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. It has been a big success and we hope if you’re ever in the area, you’ll stop in to see us,” he said. 

? Over the years, Laying J Leather’s quality, specialized leatherwork has gained significant attention.?”We have become known for making leather knife sheaths, holsters and belts. Products are made with U.S. hides tanned in Mexico. We start with everything from scratch and turn it into these great products! Everything is made right here in the great USA, at our leather shop.” 

Robin manages all aspects of the retail store, while Hedge takes care of the wholesale side of the business.?Many of their products come with a warranty, such as the Impact Holster System and their 12-ounce, gun-rated, harness-leather belts. “However, we do not offer refunds — only store credit! Our leather gun holsters are one of our highest rated products,” he said. 

Meanwhile, along with the leatherwork, Hedge has kept in touch with his first occupation. “I’ve been a professional ranch cowboy all my life. We still run cattle and horses of our own.” 

TRIAL BY LIGHTNING 

This past spring, however, the unexpected happened. “On?June 3, 2023, while we as a family were away at a benefit event, lightning struck our building. We lost our home and business in Dugspur, Virginia. The building was so old, no one would insure it, but we did have the machines insured,” Hedge said. ? 

Thankfully, there were no physical injuries. But the loss was devastating and emotionally injurious, in itself. Years of hard-earned success?took a hit.? 

Currently, he and Robin are living in a camper on their land near their farm in Austinville. To get back up and running, they are building a new shop. “We’re starting small — 20-by-30 feet — but we will be able to expand,” he said. As of this writing, they hope that things will be in order by the end of August. 

At this stressful time, their?family unity became a source of strength and helped to raise spirits. For instance,?he and Robin were able to spend some time in?Gillett, Wyoming, when their youngest daughter, Becky, and her team roping partner (and boyfriend), Eli Bobbitt, qualified for the high school rodeo national finals. “Our oldest daughter, Lily, took care of our retail store in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, in our absence,” Hedge noted. 

For now, Laying J Leather?is not taking custom orders. The family company is fulfilling orders from their website and from stock on hand in their store in Pigeon Forge.? 

“For production?updates,?stay tuned?to our social media pages — Facebook and Instagram — and to our website, as well,” he said.? 

LEARN MORE 

Laying J Leather 

Jeff Hedge — founder, owner 

Robin Hedge — retail store manager 

Email: layingj@gmail.com