Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamille And Jacques Deysel.
Hi Kamille and Jacques, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
South of Here Co. has never been just about leather or candles, it has always been about hope.
Our story began during one of the hardest seasons of our lives. At our 20-week anatomy scan, our oldest son, Owen, was diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare birth defect that would change the course of our lives. The months that followed were filled with uncertainty, specialists, and preparing for a future we couldn’t predict. After Owen was born, we lived at the Ronald McDonald House while he fought in the NICU. During that season, leathercraft became more than a hobby, it became a lifeline. It gave us something to create when everything else felt out of our control, and it reminded us that even in the hardest moments, beauty can still be made.
When we finally brought Owen home, we carried that hope with us. What began as a way to heal slowly grew into custom orders, then markets, and eventually into South of Here Co.
Our name reflects who we are. “South” represents both of our homes, our South African heritage and our roots here in South Texas. Those places shaped our values: hospitality, resilience, hard work, and gathering people around a table. We wanted to build more than a store; we wanted to create a place where people feel welcome, where stories are shared, and where everyone belongs.
Today, South of Here Co. is a family business in every sense of the word. We create handcrafted leather goods, candles, silver jewelry, and Texas-made products, but our greatest passion is bringing people together. Whether it’s through a workshop, a conversation across the workbench, a community event, or supporting dozens of local artisans, our mission has always been to create a place filled with hope, creativity, and love. We believe that making something with your hands has a way of slowing people down, building confidence, and creating connections that last far beyond the finished piece.
As our family grows, so does our dream. Our next chapter is The Makers Loft, a creative destination nestled above our shop on Burnet’s historic square. Guests will be able to stay in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, experience the charm of our small town, and pair their visit with hands-on workshops and creative experiences. We hope people leave not only with memories of the Hill Country, but with a new skill, a handmade piece they’re proud of, and the feeling that they were welcomed like family.
Everything we’ve built has always been for family. It started because of our son. It continues because of our three boys, our community, and every person who walks through our doors. If there’s one thing we hope people take away from our story, it’s that even the most difficult seasons can become the beginning of something beautiful and that hope grows best when it’s shared!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think entrepreneurship is ever a completely smooth road, but we’ve been incredibly blessed. Looking back, it often feels like when we’ve been faithful and followed where we felt called to go, the right doors have opened at the right time. That doesn’t mean the journey has been easy, it just means we’ve never felt like we were walking it alone.
Like every small business, we’ve faced the realities of seasonality, rising costs, competitive pricing, and the constant challenge of reaching profitability. Retail has its rhythms, and the “J” months (January, June, and July) are famously slower. Learning how to navigate those seasons while continuing to invest in our business has been one of our biggest learning curves.
When we first started South of Here Co., we were both working full-time jobs. The business was something we poured our evenings, weekends, and every spare moment into. Over time, it grew from supplemental income into something that now supports our family, a transition we’re incredibly grateful for, but one that also comes with its own pressures. Economic uncertainty, changing consumer trends, and the responsibility of providing for our family definitely add weight to every decision we make.
Beyond the business itself, our biggest challenge is protecting what matters most. We have three young boys, a small farm, and we’re not only business owners, we’re the makers behind many of the products, the teachers leading workshops, the ones sweeping the floors at the end of the day, and the parents cheering from the sidelines at our kids’ activities. It’s easy to let a business consume every waking hour, so we’re intentional about making sure our family comes first.
At the end of the day, success isn’t measured only by sales or growth. If we can build a business that provides for our family, creates opportunities for others, strengthens our community, and still allows us to be present for the people we love most, then we consider that a successful life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At first glance, people might say we’re a leather shop, a candle company, or a gift store but what we really do is create experiences.
Yes, we handcraft leather goods, candles, silver jewelry, and other Texas-made products, but our heart has always been helping people discover the joy of creating something with their own hands. We believe creativity isn’t reserved for artists, it’s for everyone. Whether someone joins us for a leatherworking class, a candle-pouring workshop, a silversmithing lesson, or simply walks through our doors to meet local makers, our goal is for them to leave feeling inspired and connected.
We’re also passionate about creating opportunities for other artisans. One of the things we’re are most proud of is that our shop has become a home for dozens of local makers to share their work. We know what it’s like to start with an idea and a dream, so being able to help others grow their own businesses is incredibly meaningful to us.
What truly sets us apart is that we’re building more than a business, we’re building a community. We host workshops for all ages, kids’ makers markets, creative events, and now we’re expanding into The Makers Loft, where guests can stay in the heart of Burnet, experience the beauty of the Texas Hill Country, and pair their visit with hands-on creative experiences. Our hope is that people don’t just visit our shop; they experience it.
I’m most proud that we’ve stayed true to why we started. We haven’t chased trends or tried to become the biggest. Instead, we’ve focused on creating a place where people feel welcome, where families make memories together, where creativity brings people around the same table, and where hope is woven into everything we do.
If someone remembers South of Here Co., I hope it isn’t because of a wallet or a candle they purchased. I hope it’s because they felt like family when they walked through our doors, learned something new, met someone they otherwise never would have, and left believing that slowing down to create is still one of life’s greatest gifts.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
There is absolutely no way we could answer this question with just one name because South of Here co. has always been built by a community.
We’re incredibly grateful to the people who believed in us long before we had a storefront, the customers who found us at markets six years ago, who shopped with us in the pouring rain, supported us through COVID, and kept coming back year after year. They weren’t just buying handmade goods; they were investing in a dream before they knew what it would become.
We’re thankful for every artist who said “yes” to joining our shop, every artist who shares their gifts by teaching workshops, and every customer who brings a friend, recommends us to family, or chooses to shop small again and again. Those relationships are the heartbeat of our business.
We’re also fortunate to be surrounded by an incredible community here in Burnet. The neighboring businesses have never viewed each other as competition but as partners, always looking for ways to encourage one another and help our historic square thrive. The Burnet Chamber of Commerce has been a tremendous source of support and encouragement, not only for us but for so many local businesses. That spirit of collaboration is something truly special, and we’re proud to be part of it.
Above all, though, the greatest credit belongs to our faith. We believe God has been writing this story from the very beginning. He carried us through the darkest season of our lives, gave us hope when we desperately needed it, and transformed our pain into a purpose we could share with others. South of Here co. has never felt like something we’ve built on our own. It’s been a journey of trusting, taking the next step, and watching doors open in ways we never could have planned.
We truly believe we’re standing on the shoulders of countless people who have prayed for us, encouraged us, shopped with us, taught alongside us, and simply believed in what we were trying to build. To every one of them, thank you. We hope South of Here co. continues to be a place where that same encouragement, hope, and sense of community is passed on to the next person who walks through our doors.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.southofhereco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southofhereco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19W7hWPQMF/
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/gsuTYmb_vHc
