Dylan Hopper
DYLAN HOPPER is the son of Duane Hopper and Rhoda ConchaHopper (featured in last week’s Tempo).
Through his father, he’s related to the late artist, actor and director Dennis Hopper, while on his mother’s side, he descends from Little Joe Gomez, famed Taos Pueblo Road Man in the Peyote Church. People around here say if it weren’t for Little Joe, the community at the New Buffalo commune in Arroyo Hondo would have starved during their first winter in Taos. Between these two notable men, Hopper has inherited a unique genetic code.
Hopper walks in both worlds; an entrepreneur and artisan, he has steered the business his father founded into the digital age, while being rooted in the traditions of Taos Pueblo. His Concha cousins have also long worked for Buffalo Dancer, producing the exquisite silver jewelry the company is known for.
Hopper assists his father in the running of the day-to-day affairs of the brand and is always on the lookout for new and innovative opportunities to market their product.
Tempo spoke with Hopper recently about Buffalo Dancer and the challenges it faces at this time.
You have taken over the reins of the business your father started years ago. Can you tell us a little history and how things have changed since you came on board?
Duane Hopper is still the owner of Buffalo Dancer. I help him manage the business. In the near future I do plan to take over the business my father started in 1974.
My father (Duane Hopper) established Buffalo Dancer in 1974 and had a small shop on Taos Plaza. He continued his shop until 2012 and closed it due to medical reasons. But he continued making jewelry for wholesale clients. In 2012, I began to help my father manage his business.
Since I’ve come on board, I have taken over the leather manufacturing of our coin accessories such as keychains, belts, bracelets and hatbands. In the last four years I have also been active in silversmithing.
You have a healthy Instagram presence – do you find it to be a good sales and advertising medium for Buffalo Dancer these days?
Our Instagram is fairly new. It is a good advertising vehicle for our small business, especially during these times, but because it’s still new we are still working on our Instagram sales presence. The majority of our sales still come from the clients we have had for decades.
The work you do is rooted in tradition. Can you talk a little about that and what it means for you to be able to carry it forward?
It’s nice to carry this tradition on from old style silversmithing. Our products are created from scratch, all handmade, with limited machines. I’m very glad that my father started this business and I will be able to one day continue his legacy.
The pandemic has created massive change for the small business sector. How are you navigating these changes?
One large change for our business is full expansion of our product in online platforms and social media. We are still growing a following and thankful for our older dedicated buyers. Because our wholesale buyers are also struggling through this time, we are greatly appreciative to them for purchasing even in smaller amounts.
Our business has also been hindered at this time due to travel restrictions. We are unable to venue at largescale shows that help to bring in the majority of our annual income.
I do agree with the steps our state government has done to protect the well-being of all New Mexicans and know that other small business all over New Mexico are financially suffering this year.
Do you take commissions and how can people reach you to purchase directly from you?
If someone wants to commission Buffalo Dancer, we do fulfill special orders that are within our means of producing. It’s best to email or call our business line for quickest response. Our email is buffalodancer1974@gmail.com and business phone number (575) 7588718.
Our website is buffalodancer1974. square.site/ and social media platforms of Facebook and Instagram @buffalodancer1974.