The Keys to Success -- CowBoy Growing Story

Cowboy Sewing Machines began as a dream between two best friends from across the world. Bill Jiang in China and Ryan Neel in the United States. Over our 20 plus years of friendship we have formed a very unique bond that has been very rewarding and special.

20 years ago we started with nothing but a dream and loads of ambition -- no money, no social background, no-one to guide us.

Today Ryan owns a nice villa and a factory in United States!

Today I own a nice villa and factory in China!

Yet these achievements were not because of high prices. Instead, it is because of our fair price and very high standard of quality. We do not provide cheap equipment, we are committed to offer customers the very best value for the money they spend. That’s why more and more people from different countries know CowBoy/HighTex!!

I'm eternally grateful to those who have supported our business. Here I share some business principles that were important to our success. Hopefully it will help you to understand the brand meanings of CowBoy/HighTex -- when you decide to purchase our industrial sewing equipment, when you want to join our business, even start other new business.

1. Be 100% honest

"Honesty is the Best Policy" is an age old adage, and it is the basis from where we build our relationships. Ryan and I know to each other in 2004, while I worked for a small apparel industrial sewing machine factory. We were half a world apart, had never met in person, and if I or he hadn't been honest, we couldn't become good friends through emails and phone calls, and there would have been no subsequent story.

In subsequent business, we have the courage to ask for help and feedback when needed, are realistic about what we can and cannot do and are honest to clients, colleagues and ourselves. It is one of important reason CowBoy/HighTex has earned the respects of clients from around the globe.

2.Fight to win or die

There is a very famous allegory in China: "Burn the boats/bridges behind you, to destroy all possible ways of escape or retreat, pushing forward with resolute determination and commitment without the option of turning back".

Before entering the sewing machine industry, I worked as a painter, a pump worker, a quality inspector and a quality manager. Whenever I found that the current work is impossible to change my fate of poverty, I will resign immediately. Unlike other people, I will find a new job first and then resign. So when I was young, I was often unemployed and extremely poor. But if I don’t cut off my retreat way, today I may still be a painter or quality inspector!

Before starting a business with Ryan, I spent 8 years to pay off debt (for education) relying on the meager salary, and had a savings of 40,000RMB (about $5000 USD). If the business fails, all savings are lost, my life will be completely destroyed, and maybe I will have no courage to survive.

Before starting the business, Ryan is a small belt maker who have several tools in his parents' base room, and no savings! Every time he loans about $30000 USD by 7 credit cards, then transfer to me to purchase leather machinery. If lost the money, he would have been in a very bad position.

I do not encourage adventure for no reason. But if you are still young, you must have super strong determination when you start a business, succeed or perish. If you start with a "try" mentality and are willing to invest 10% of money and time, then the probability of success is 10% only.

3. Trust and loyalty

In the early days of entrepreneurship, we were unable to organize production, just purchase, rebuild quality and re-sell. Ryan and I visited many manufacturers of sewing machines and cutting equipment, and cooperate with some better suppliers. Ryan would rebuild and test this equipment 100% before sale. With the growth of our business, we establish a technical team in China and regularly train them by Ryan, to rebuild and test the machine 100%before shipping. Therefore, we share all suppliers and customers without any confidentiality.

If Ryan try to purchase from manufacturer, to save the commission paid to me, he could save a large number of funds.

If I try to sell to other American dealers and users secretly, I can make more money.

But.....But in that way, we could not have today's CowBoy -- the largest leather sewing equipment supplier in United States. And CowBoy/HighTex have become a global company. We have professional dealers in Germany, UK, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, India, South Africa and Brazil.

4. Respect All

When we purchase, we never ask for lowest price. On the contrary, we respect the reasonable profits of the supplier. If the supplier does not have reasonable profits, their quality cannot be guaranteed and it cannot last. Then our business is also greatly affected.

When we sell, show best respect to our clients. The responsibility of all CowBoy/HighTex sales engineers is not trying to sell more machines, but to provide real, honest, and factual information to clients, in a genuine and respectful manner -- therefore helping our clients to make the right decision for their needs.

We also show respect and appreciation to internal colleagues. We listen actively to their needs, concerns, feedback, and goals. Ultimately we aren’t just building a company, we’re building a family.

5. Concentrate exclusively

ONLY THE PARANOID CAN SURVIVE. The people who succeed are irrationally passionate about something. We concentrate almost exclusively on heavy duty cutting and sewing equipment.

In the past 20 years, every day and night, Ryan and I have worked for business, Cowboy Business is our whole life! So we have 20 years of hands-on experience. A key advantage for our company is professional experience in the field of heavy materials and thick thread.

6. Quality and service

Quality and service are always the cornerstone of any business! CowBoy/HighTex was founded as a company that places quality over quantity. True to our founding principles, we are committed to delivering top quality machines every time.

We place the customer at the center of everything we do. We fully commit to consistently delivering on expectations, go the extra mile to get the job done and give 100% in all that we do and approach everything.

We strive to be the most trustworthy supplier of heavy-duty industrial sewing and cutting machine!!!

7. Longtermism

It is my sincere hope that these guiding business principles are useful in your own business, as they have proven themselves to work for both Ryan and I over the years. A successful business is the result of years of hard work, planning, both success and failure, and also a tremendous amount of discipline. Know that when you choose to purchase form Cowboy/Hightex -- you will be receiving our very best and focused efforts drawn from years of knowledge and experience!!

Bill Jiang
2024-10-28

Milestone of CowBoy

2024: Buy a factory in Ohio, USA

2022: Start to produce Kinedyne serial powerful servo motor for heavy duty industrial sewing machine

2020: Buy a new factory premises to cope with increasing demands

2010: Upgrade business to HIGHTEX SPECIAL SEWING MACHINE CO.,LTD, star to produce heavy duty industrial sewing machine, leather craft equipment and heavy duty automatic programmable sewing machine

2008: Star to produce heavy duty automatic & programmable sewing machines and hot knife cutting equipment for other heavy weight applications, for example, lifting & lashing equipment, FIBC/Big Bags, safety harness and climbing ropes, upholstered furniture, as well as military industry

2006: Establish Sino-American joint-venture business “COWBOYCOMPANY”, train technical team for rebuilding leather sewing machine and automatic sewing equipment in China.

2004: Start to import heavy duty industrial leather sewing machines from China

2001: Start to resale industrial sewing machines and support equipment for the leather and heavy material industries, become the factory-authorized distributor of Consew, Tacony™ Corporation, Superior™ Sewing Machine Parts, Diamond Needle Corporation, Organ Needles, Groz Beckert Needles, Southern Thread™ and Linhanyl Thread

1996: Founding of the Neel's Saddlery and Harness workshop – use several industrial sewing machines and leather crafting equipment for stitching saddles, harness, leather belts, hand bags etc. This hands-on experience is the foundation stone of success in CowBoy / Hightex sewing machine business.

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