Note: This is the second in a series of episodes of The Way Up, a new video series from Square highlighting the real stories of grit, vision, growth, and heart behind some of America’s most innovative local businesses.

She opened a custom hat shop in Nashville… while eight months pregnant.

In this episode of The Way Up, Guy Raz sits down with Alex Samuels, founder of Rustler Hat Co., to talk about how a disappointing shopping experience turned into a thriving business rooted in storytelling, craft, and community.

Alex shares how she went from real estate deals to designing custom hats, balancing motherhood, managing explosive growth, and creating unforgettable experiences, one hat at a time.

Video Links:

Watch the full series here
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Watch all episodes of The Way Up, including the bonus panel episode 'Behind the Business: How 5 Entrepreneurs Beat the Odds'.

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The Way Up, Episode 2 - Rustler Hat Co. with Alex Samuels