Hidden Gems: Meet Mitzi Galason of Oak River Company

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitzi Galason.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a little girl growing up in Mississippi, I have always loved building and creating things with my mind and my hands. I was born with an entrepreneurial spirit. It is who I am, no doubt. I married and moved away from Mississippi, but fate lead me back to Mississippi about 7 years into my marriage. I have a business major but have always been gifted in interior design and decor, and while living in Mississippi I did the independent design for commercial executive office spaces.

My husband took a job in Georgia in 2010, and of course, the kids and I moved with him. Which meant that I surrendered my career in Mississippi. I had no idea what in the world I was going to do in Georgia, so I began to travel to Atlanta, Vegas, and NYC taking Interior design continued education courses with HGTV designers and learning about product development, marketing, social media marketing, wholesale/retail industry, and a wealth of other knowledgeable items. I had NO IDEA what in the world or why I was learning all of these things.

My husband’s career path is private equity business turn arounds, basically, companies hire him into their facilities or organizations to take their businesses from a negative to a positive and they sell them back off into the market. He is also a production and operations specialist and can run overall operations from the ground up. At the time, he was working with a friend of ours in Mexico turning around a leather manufacturing company. I will never forget the day he walked in and said, “Do you want to design your own handbag line?” I said, “why not.” LOL!!! That was on a Wednesday, by that Friday I handed him three designs.

He carefully looked at each one, and said, “babe, it’s one thing to design a line, but it is another thing to take them to the market. I KNEW at that moment in time EXACTLY why I had been learning the wealth of knowledge I had been learning. I told him, you just get these items made, and I know EXACTLY what to do. God has been SO FAITHFUL to open SO MANY doors and windows of opportunities since that moment in time. He has also given us the ability to buy the factory where we now produce our very own products. We are TRULY family-owned and operated from the ground up.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
NO! I would say some of the hardest things to overcome is rejection from the people you love and care about the most. Learning to stay focused on “my calling” and “stay in my lane” TRUSTING that “He who began the good work WILL see it through to completion.” BELIEVING in that promise has given me STRENGTH to overcome ANY obstacle life has thrown my way.

It has been the very foundation that has allowed me to forgive freely and love generously without bitterness in my heart. The rejection has created a DRIVE and a DESIRE within me to KEEP MOVING FORWARD, AT ALL COST. KNOWING that I am not qualified, but the one who created the dream and the vision within my heart is, and HE WILL NOT FAIL ME!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Oak River Company?
I specialize in designing and creating the highest quality leather goods and accessories on the market today. We are a people company disguised as a leather distributor. What sets us apart is WE LOVE PEOPLE, we have THE BEST customer service out there, we are truly family-owned and operated, but the best characteristic that defines us is our love for the community and those around us, and abroad. We love generosity and we take PRIDE in giving back with every opportunity we are given to give back. We are SET APART, no doubt!

Not to mention every bag purchased comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty, which I can PROUDLY say since 2012, we have only had a TOTAL of 18 bags replaced, and we sell an ALOT OF BAGS!!!!

Oak River is a company with roots that are planted deep in the heart of the Mississippi Delta watered by the rolling waters of the Mighty Mississippi. When the vision of the oak tree first started coming into play, the idea was founded upon the strength and longevity of the oak. The vision encompassed the rolling waters of the Mighty Mississippi and the planting of the hundred-year-old oak sprouting up beside the roaring waters. The thought began to broaden and the vision became much larger than just a thought, the vision became reality. Like the Mighty Mississippi, the Oaktree is known as a symbol of strength and southern hospitality. This strength helps define the product’s durability.

The heart of Oak River operates with a steadfast and strong focus on prosperity and nurturing all who encounter such passion. Oak River was established with humble beginnings and cultivated with the purpose for the world and for humanity. Those humble beginnings have created a foundation of strength, hard work, commitment, determination, and compassion for humanity. The core of Oak River is to leave a legacy of adventure, exploration, dreaming, setting goals, and believing for the impossible while passing through this journey called life. Oak River uses the highest quality leather to produce products that have the strength and durability to withstand all seasons of life.

The thought of a company founded upon strength, Longevity, durability, and sustainability provoked the hearts of many. The awakening sense of purpose began to surface within the vision, the branches of the oak stretched wide and far just like the heart of Oak River. We are a company founded upon truth with a desire to bring to the market the highest quality product you will find.

Our products are generational products created with your legacy in mind. Not only will our products withstand the test of time, when you purchase our product you help our branches grow larger and you expand our territory wider, which enables us to do more for humanity and to be the difference in the world. Our company values giving back, and we believe that is our purpose on this journey.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Nashville is:

1. The music (of course)
2. My son will be playing baseball for Belmont University
3. The history of the city and surrounding suburbs
4. The long lineage and foundation of southern charisma and charm

Nashville is probably one of the most inspiring cities I have EVER stepped foot in, I have been working in Nashville with musicians and artists creating and designing products for them collectively and abroad since 2014. When I step foot in the city a spirit rushes through me and gives me fresh perspective and clarity for the future of Oak River Company.

I am delighted and can not wait to reveal more of our Nashville collection to the city of Nashville, but also to take this collection to the entire world. It has been a HIT and one that will go platinum for sure.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.oakrivercompany.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/oakrivercompany
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/oakrivercompany
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHUiZ0hvZA-uaIW8BJcnciw/featured
• Other: www.pintrest.com/oakrivercompany

Image Credits
Kaley Jordyn Photography and Kaley Jordan Photography