Meet Jose Garcia of Hecho En Toledo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jose Garcia. 

Hi Jose, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I come from a long line of makers. Whether it was my mother and aunts making dolls out of corn husks, my father making wooden yard signs or my great grandmother working as a sought-after seamstress her whole life, my family has always had a hand in making something. When my parents immigrated from Mexico, my father used his learned skills to build/fix things around the house. This history gives me a huge sense of pride being a first-generation Mexican American. 

Fast forward a few years and I needed a few things around my own home. I thought it would be fun to make them myself so I did some research, bought a few tools, and got started. My first few projects weren’t anything too crazy. A cutting board, some shelves here and there, or a minor repair on something. Within a few years I was making cutting boards to give as gifts to friends and one of them asked if I could make small tool storage cabinet with some leather tool holders and leather drawer pulls. I knew NOTHING about leather but thought it would be a fun project. I ordered a few things online and it seemed fairly straightforward. It didn’t turn out too bad, but I definitely felt that I could do better. Working with leather became an obsession and I found myself WANTING to learn and DO more. 

During the first few months of the pandemic, the cost of lumber SKY ROCKETED! This made me focus almost exclusively on leather goods. I had made a couple of minimalist wallets, a chunky tote bag, some key chains, etc. A friend had asked for a wallet and a tote bag, once she posted it online, I began to receive inquiries about custom orders. So, in the fall of 2020, I contacted my local Small Business Development Center and formed Hecho En Toledo LLC (Spanish for Made In Toledo). Looking back, it’s the best decision I have ever made. I’m proud to say I’m a first generation Mexican American Small Business Owner. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh definitely not. Time is always a factor. Working on orders, building your knowledge and skill set, thinking about your business’s finances, marketing, product development, etc all while working a full-time job isn’t’ easy. You’ll find that you have to decide between attending that family get-together or working on orders. Heading out for the night or attending a craft show. I like to think that anything worth doing is worth doing well. This means you can’t treat your business like it’s a casual endeavor, no matter how large or how small it is. It’s also important to leave time for yourself! Having a good support system helps, but like anything you have to find a work/life balance that works for your and suits your needs. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hecho En Toledo is a Hispanic-owned/operated small business in Toledo, Ohio. We specialize in handmade leather goods such as totes, custom belts, minimalist wallets, and tool holders/sheaths. 

What sets us apart from other makers is that we don’t use liners or fillers of any kind. There are makers out there offering high-end leather goods and they’re providing great work! But we like the utilitarian feel of our products. We want our customers to not be afraid to USE our products and have the confidence of knowing they don’t have to “baby” our products. Our leather goods are also 100% handmade. From cutting to assembly, from burnishing to stitching our products are made with passion and dedication. 

What do you think about luck?
Luck has been a HUGE factor; leather can be quite expensive. Like all things, there are various grades of quality in leather. And without a hefty amount of research and someone to speak to, navigating leather suppliers can be very overwhelming. 

When I first began tiptoeing into leather craft, I contacted a friend named Lew, how was already an established leather worker. We agreed to meet up for lunch so I could pick his brain about the various grades of leather, where to shop, how to do this, how to do that etc. After lunch, he said “Hey, pull your car around to where I’m parked. I have something to show you.” So, I pulled around and he opens the doors to his vehicle and says “Merry Christmas”. He gave me four HUGE bags of his leather scraps and two rolls of higher-grade leather. The amount of leather he gave me would have easily cost me four figures. Thanks to his generosity and willingness to share his knowledge, I was able to hit the ground running. 

Now I’m privileged to say that I’m in a position to gift other makers with leather here and there. And I never shy away from answering a question from someone who’s trying to learn the craft. 

Pricing:

• Totes have a base price of $125 with 1 exterior pocket. All additions such as an interior pocket, exterior closure etc are $15 per addition.
• Minimalist Wallets are $25
• Belts are $50 up to 1.25″ wide and $60 up to 1.75″ wide. Prices include hardware.
• Custom orders available!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hechoentoledo
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hechoentoledo