By Lily Whorl
Most stories that begin with a 19-year-old creating their own company don’t normally end in success. Young entrepreneur, Mark Barbera made it his job to prove the world wrong. He’s now two years into his creation that all began with a Kickstarter. 21-year-old Barbera has a successful boot company that is carried in eight stores nationally and projected to be carried in France and Japan.
Barbera comes from a small town in Pennsylvania called Somerset. What drives a 19-year-old guy to beginning his own shoe company? The fact that when shopping Barbera couldn’t find a shoe that seemed to fit him, factoring in affordability and quality Barbera decided he was going to create his own shoe. Very quickly things escalated and Barbera launched a Kickstarter to help fund this dream. Though his interest in boots may have been of recent, Barbera has been in the shoe company since he was 12-years-old. At this age, he started hand-painting and customizing sneakers for him and his friends to wear. When beginning his career in the boot business he couldn’t have been any luckier to be in this location. Why is this? Abilene Boot Company has a factory in Somerset, giving Barbera the perfect place to begin his business.
“He keeps things interesting with the different style books he comes up with,” Said Ginger, worker at the factory, “he keeps us going.” Mark brings a whole new sense of style to this small factory in Somerset. He is a young creative man that knows no limits. He is constantly pumping out new styles of boots, working to find the perfect pair. Though Barbera’s age could be seen as a disadvantage his youth is also a strong suit of his. He is constantly working to break boundaries in the boot business. Barbera launched his first pair of boots in the summer of 2016, just after his first year of college at La Salle University in Philadelphia.
Chelsea boot according to Merriam-Webster are defined as “an ankle-high boot with elastic panels along the sides.” Though Barbera began his adventure creating just Chelsea boot now it’s much more than that. Barbera produces 25 men’s styles of boots and six women’s style of boots.
Barbera has been supported in this venture by his friends and family.
“I couldn’t have done this without the love and support I receive…Never once have my parents said they didn’t believe in me or though my dream was unobtainable,” said Barbera. “Family is one of the most important things to me so to have to amount of support I do from them means the world to me.”
Not only does Barbera get support through family and friends but from factory workers as well.
“The boot must go on.” A quote that many workers in the factory say.
Barbera has a goal not only for his company but for the area of Somerset as well. “I want to bring success and business to the area,” said Barbera. He doesn’t want to just build a company in Somerset and then leave. He thanks his roots for his success and knows that without the help of others he couldn’t be where he is today.
Barbera began a Kickstarter to help him begin his career.
“I was at an all-time low,” Barber said, “I had just successfully done a Kickstarter which was cool but a lot of people in the industry don’t even remotely respect that just because it’s a hit or miss thing, anybody can have a crazy Kickstarter. It doesn’t necessarily show that you can grow a brand that can sustain itself.”
He wasn’t selling any boots with only four styles he seemed to hit a dead end. That is until he decided to do a show in Brooklyn, American Field. It’s an all American made pop up show. He sold 25 pairs of boots which to the date he’s never sold that many at a show. This brought Barbera to realize “maybe I have something here.” Then deciding to take the semester off for the spring of his freshman year at college. He is stil out of schooling looking to get back into it soon.
“Everything really changed when I was put in touch with Travis Weaver from Man Ready Mercantile,” said Barbera.
Travis got Barbera involved in Liberty Fair. Barbera has met many people in his career so far and say’s the people are what drive him.
“It’s not about fashion at this point it’s about the people I’ve met and keeping my company American themed. To have something completely American made anymore is rare and I want to bring that trend back into style.”
Being American made Barbera’s boots are higher in price but he feels that it’s worth it with them being the quality they are.