Inside Tecovas: The $300 Million Brand Redefining Western Retail

 
 

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Episode Description:

In this episode of The Retail Pilot, I sit down with David Lafitte, CEO of Tecovas, the Austin-based Western footwear and apparel brand reshaping what it means to build a premium lifestyle business.

From radical hospitality to strategic wholesale expansion, David shares how the company has scaled past $200M+, opened more than 50 stores, and become one of the most influential names in modern Western retail.

He walks through his unexpected journey from law to leading high-growth consumer brands, his operational philosophy, and what it takes to build a team capable of sustaining long-term momentum. This conversation offers a rare, inside look at brand building, product strategy, retail expansion, and navigating explosive consumer demand, all rooted in the Western lifestyle movement.


In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How Tecovas grew into a $200M+ brand with more than 50 stores nationwide

  • The brand’s shift from digitally native to an omni-channel powerhouse

  • Radical hospitality and how it differentiates Tecovas in-store

  • Product strategy including women’s growth, denim, shirting, and lifestyle expansion

  • Wholesale partnerships with Nordstrom, Dillard’s, and independent Western stores

  • The cultural tailwinds driving Western’s resurgence

  • Using AI to optimize inventory, customer experience, forecasting, and store allocation

  • Lessons from taking over leadership from a founder

  • International expansion opportunities and operational discipline

Enjoy 20% off at Tecovas with the exclusive code PILOT20 at checkout.
👉 Shop Tecovas and use PILOT20 for 20% off.


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