Rod's Buyers Tour Tony Lama Boot Factory

Rod’s boot buyers recently took a trip to the Tony Lama boot factory. The Tony Lama Boot Company was established in El Paso, TX in 1911. It started as a shoe and boot repair shop and is now a multimillion dollar business. Tony Lama’s world class styling makes them the world’s most recognized boot brand.

Rod’s and Tony Lama agree that the key to a true piece of quality footwear is for every part of the boot to be leather. Tony Lama’s leather buyers search the world for the finest of hides to bring you the quality you have come to expect from Tony Lama Boot Company. Lisa Smith, the designer of Tony Lama Boots, studies the western market to bring you the most innovative styling in today’s boot industry.

It takes over one hundred and thirty steps to make a handcrafted pair of Tony Lama Boots. We had the privilege of meeting some of these craftsmen while we were at the factory. Robert Torrez, the Factory Manager, gave us a tour of the factory. Not only have some of these craftsmen been employed for forty years, they have been performing the same step of the boot making process since they have been employed. These well respected people are experts in their field.

We were able to see every step it takes to make a pair of fine Tony Lama boots. We toured the leather room and saw the vast assortment of exotic hides in an array of colors. We saw how the vamp (foot) is sewn to each shaft (top part of boot). We learned how the last (a polyethylene form) is used to build the boot on. The last is what makes different brands fit differently. The last determines the size of the boot, the shape of the toe, and how high the heel of the boot can have.

Tony Lama is always searching for the new technologies to combine with traditional boot making. There is a separate room in the factory where the computerized stitching machines are located. Though some Tony Lama boots shaft stitching is still done by hand, the stitching machines allow twelve boot shafts to be stitched at a time. Not only does the shaft stitching decorate the shaft, it also adds stability to the top of the boot long after the boot is broken in. Here you can see some of the stitching machines creating a piece of art on the shaft of these fine Tony Lama Boots.

This skilled craftsman is pegging this boot. Tony Lama uses brass nails along with lemonwood pegs to attach the soles to boots. The brass nails do not rust when the sole gets wet. Lemonwood pegs are used because they expand and contract with various weather conditions the sole of your boots may encounter- this way they don’t work their way out of the sole of your boots.

We even got to try our hand at pegging a boot! This is Anna Taylor, Assistant Boot Buyer for Rod’s.

This craftsman is working on some collar overlays for the shaft.

Take a virtual tour of the factory and learn how Tony Lama boots are made. Rudy Lama, grandson of Tony Lama, gives the tour

While we were at the factory we worked with Lisa Smith (Designer),Mike Fuller (Brand Manager), and our sales representative Scott Schrader to develop the styles we designed for Rod’s exclusive boots. These designs will be displayed at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, OH in October along with Tony Lama’s TLX and 3R collections.

Rod’s Buyers continue to travel the country to bring you the highest quality boots with the latest innovation in style and comfort. Tony Lama Boots are a staple in our growing boot assortment.

Cinch Rolling Duffle Bag Contest Winner!

We counted the number of Twitter RTs, Blog comments and Facebook Wall posts. Then entered the number into the random number generator, and the winner is:


Ben Murphy

Who posted a comment on the Facebook:"please enter, it would be good to win before i leave columbus to start my internship"

Ben, please email us your name, email address to rods@rods.com by Friday, March 26, 2010 to claim your prize. If we don't hear from you by March 26, we will select a different person from the same pool of entries.

Animal Poison Prevention Week

Animal poisoning can happen anytime and anywhere. In most cases, it happens right at home and is unintentional. Animals are curious by nature and always unpredictable.


The first step to poisoning prevention is at home prevention. Toxins should be stored safely to avoid ingestion. Make sure that any chemical spills are cleaned up both inside and outside of the house. Always keep your pet on a leash, or in a fenced yard. Do not let your pet roam where you cannot maintain their living space. Read all ingredient labels on chemicals you are using for your pet. Follow dosage instructions. These are some ways that are not time consuming, and can stop animal poisoning before it starts.

If you think your pet may have ingested a toxin, there are symptoms to look for. Lethargy, vomiting, lack of appetite, staggering, seizures or difficulty breathing are a small number of symptoms exhibited in poisoning. If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, call your vet immediately. There are no substantial at home treatments for poisoned animals so always seek medical advice.

As you are preparing for your vet visit, the more information provided will help dramatically. Important information that your vet will need is what was consumed, when it was consumed and how much was consumed. This information is vital for finding and starting the right treatment hastily.

Professional help can range from many different types of treatments depending on what the animal was exposed to. If the toxin was absorbed through the skin, your vet may give a lukewarm bath to start. If the animal ingested a toxin, the vet can help by giving fluids, anti-nausea medicine, pain medication, sedatives, seizure control, or oxygen therapy.

Animal poisoning can be scary and nerve wracking, but prevention starts at home. Make your pets’ home safe to live in. We don’t always know what our pets are doing, and what they have been in. The important thing to remember is, when in doubt call. Early detection and treatments are the quickest way to have our furry friends safe and sound.

Rod's Celebrates Cinch Jeans and Shirts As New Sponsor of NHSRA

To celebrate Cinch as the new official jean and shirt sponsor of the National High School Rodeo Association, we are offering a great Cinch Rolling Duffle Bag.  You can read more about the NHSRA and the new Cinch sponsorship.

Contest held through Sunday, March 14, 2010. Drawing will be on Monday, March 15, 2010.

Leave a comment either on my Blog account, post a message on our Facebook Wall or mention @rodswestern on Twitter to enter to win this jewelry set. You can increase your chances by doing all three.

Here are some quick rules:

• Leave a comment with your name on my Blog account, post a message on our Facebook Wall or mention @rodswestern.
• Do NOT leave your email address (This is to protect you from Spammers).
• The contest is open to domestic and international customers.
• The contest closes at midnight Eastern Time on Sunday, March 14, 2010.
• The winner will be announced on Monday, March 15, 2010.
• If I do not hear from the winner by Sunday, March 21, 2010 the duffle bag will go out for another contest.

Thanks and enjoy!