When Lexi De La Cruz moved to Prescott with her son in 2020, she was ready for a fresh start. She wanted to create a better future for her family, pursue her dream of business ownership, and build something meaningful in her new community.
Today, Lexi is the co-owner of two growing, women-owned businesses: Buckin Brims Hat Bar and Ranch Babes Market. Although each offers a different experience, both were built on the same foundation: bringing women together, supporting local entrepreneurs, and creating opportunities for connection.
Buckin Brims Hat Bar began as an idea between Lexi and her best friend and business partner, Kylie. Together, they created an interactive experience where guests can design hats that reflect their individual personalities and styles.
Rather than choosing a finished hat from a shelf, guests select the materials and details that make the piece their own. The mobile hat bar has become a popular addition to bachelorette parties, birthdays, girls’ nights, corporate events, and other celebrations throughout the area.
“There’s something empowering about making your own custom piece and wearing it with pride,” Lexi said.
For Lexi and Kylie, the experience is about more than the finished product. It gives friends and families an opportunity to be creative, spend time together, and leave with both a personalized hat and a lasting memory.
That same desire to create meaningful experiences inspired Ranch Babes Market. Lexi saw a need for more women-focused events where friends could enjoy a night out while discovering and supporting local businesses.
Ranch Babes Market was designed to be more than a traditional vendor market. It provides women-owned businesses and local entrepreneurs with a welcoming place to introduce their products, connect with customers, build relationships, and grow their brands.
“We wanted to build an experience where vendors feel valued, supported, and part of something meaningful,” Lexi said. “It’s a place where women can connect, showcase their talents, grow their businesses, and be part of a beautiful community.”
The market continues to grow with every event. On August 22, Ranch Babes Market will return to Fairweather Social Club for its fifth market, featuring approximately 45 local vendors. Lexi said the increasing number of vendors, attendees, and community supporters confirms that people are looking for experiences that combine shopping, connection, and local impact.
The journey to business ownership has been deeply personal for Lexi. She grew up in Mission, Texas, as one of four children raised by a single mother. Although financial hardship and uncertainty were part of her childhood, she refused to allow those circumstances to determine her future.
Moving to Arizona with her son was a leap of faith. It also became an opportunity to discover what she was capable of building.
“One of my greatest accomplishments isn’t just building two successful businesses,” she said. “It’s becoming someone my younger self never imagined I could be.”
More than any professional milestone, Lexi is proud of the example she is setting for her son. She wants him to understand that success comes with sacrifice, long days, setbacks, and the courage to keep moving forward.
“If there’s one lesson I hope he carries with him, it’s that your circumstances don’t determine your future,” she said. “Where you start in life doesn’t have to be where your story ends.”
Lexi’s experience has also shaped her approach to leadership. As a business owner, she has learned to listen to constructive feedback while trusting her own judgment. She recognizes that not every opinion deserves equal influence, especially when it distracts from the values and vision behind the businesses she has worked so hard to build.
For Lexi, strong leadership also means choosing collaboration over competition.
“There is room for all of us to succeed,” she said. “I don’t believe in putting another business down to get ahead. Instead, I believe in supporting one another, sharing opportunities, and celebrating each other’s successes.”
That philosophy is evident throughout Ranch Babes Market, where creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs is central to the mission. Lexi believes the success of one small business benefits the entire community.
Her commitment to Prescott extends beyond the businesses themselves. Buckin Brims and Ranch Babes Market regularly support local schools, nonprofits, organizations, and community events through sponsorships, donations, and fundraising efforts. This has included donating custom hats for raffles and auctions and partnering with local Realtor Sarah Allen on the Bloom & Brunch Clothing Exchange, which provided clothing to women in the community.
Lexi wants her businesses to be remembered for more than what they sell.
“I want them to be known for the relationships we build, the people we support, and the positive impact we leave behind,” she said.
As a bilingual Hispanic woman and proud single mother, Lexi also hopes sharing her story encourages other women who may be questioning whether they have what it takes to pursue their own goals. She knows how easy it can be to allow fear, uncertainty, or overthinking to delay a dream.
Her advice is simple: begin anyway.
“You don’t have to have everything figured out to start,” she said. “You just have to be willing to take the first step. You may surprise yourself with what you’re capable of achieving, and your decision to take that leap might inspire someone else to do the same.”
Looking ahead, Lexi is excited to continue growing Ranch Babes Market and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs. She and Kylie also dream of opening a permanent Buckin Brims storefront where guests can gather, celebrate, and enjoy the custom hat-making experience throughout the year.
The dreams may be big, but Lexi has already shown what can happen when determination, creativity, and community come together.
Learn more about Buckin Brims Hat Bar at BuckinBrims.com and follow Buckin Brims and Ranch Babes Market on social media for upcoming events and opportunities.