By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Living in western Kansas, Western-style apparel is common, but for those discerning shoppers looking for that unique clothing item, shopping options can be somewhat limited.
A recent store opening, however, promises to make finding a distinctive Western-style easier for men, women and children.
Udderly Wild opened in downtown Hays at 125 E. Eighth in mid-January. While the storefront is new, the boutique has been operating online since 2019.
Opening the brick-and-mortar location was a longtime goal of husband and wife owners Hollie and Taylor Stramel.
“The idea of opening a boutique has always been something that has been in the back of our minds, but we always just thought ‘Oh, we can't do that’ or ‘That seems like a big step we aren't ready for.' But if anyone knows us, we dive in head first and we don't look back,” Hollie Stramel said. “We started this business in 2019 as an online business working out of our house, and I think Taylor would agree with me when I say that it was consuming any extra space we had in there, and that is something that also helped us decide it was time to open a store.”
She said they wanted to bring more variety to the area, offering clothing and other items that otherwise would not be available locally.
“Our inspiration is to have an affordable boutique for all sizes to shop in,” Stramel said. “We have men’s, women’s and children’s clothing to be able to please everyone.”
The store carries a variety of merchandise, with brands such as Live Life Clothing, KanCan and Flying Monkey, she said. They also offer graphic Ts, jewelry, shoes and hats and youth clothing featuring jumpers for little girls and flare pants.
“We also have Duke Cannon soaps for men, Casa M Spice Co. meat spice gift sets, Cody Johnson cologne, Spongelle exfoliating sponges, tea towels, mugs, and much more,” Stramel said. “Since our boutique offers Western fashion, and men's clothing you can't find anywhere else, I really think that is something to help us stand out. Our Cody Johnson cologne is something we brought in the store to really set us apart in Hays. I mean, who doesn't love him?”
Stramel said the shop focuses on brining unique Western-themed items to the area, but also strives to keep prices low.
“Our most expensive pair of jeans is $46, and in my opinion that alone sets us apart,” Stramel said. “In the future when our name gets out there more, I hope we are known for our reasonable prices. Although we have a lot of unique items, our pricing — in my opinion — is the best part. We really strive to keep all of our items affordable.”
Since opening the storefront in January, Stramel said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The response we have got since opening has been absolutely incredible,” Stramel said. “We have had people of all age groups come in, and they were all able to find something to fit their wants and needs. We cannot thank the Hays and surrounding communities enough for helping us support our dream.”
She said the most rewarding part of the opening so far is how supportive the community has been.
“This has been a dream of ours for so long that it truly is heartwarming to get all of the support from everyone this far, and we cannot thank everyone enough,” Stramel said.
And while the storefront gives shoppers the opportunity to browse items in person, their online shop will also remain open.
“Along with shipping, we have an option at checkout to do in-store pickup to hold items so they don’t sell out before they are able to stop in and buy it,” Stramel said. “If you choose in-store pickup, you can schedule to pick it up as far up to 90 days out to fit your needs and schedule.”
Even with the recent expansion into the storefront, Stramel said they hope to expand their offerings in the future to more include more men and youth clothing items and home décor.
They also hope to become an integral part of downtown Hays.
“The biggest factor when deciding on downtown Hays is that we love all of the involvement the Hays businesses have in the community,” Stramel said. “We hope to soon get involved in all of the downtown events that happen and sponsor them as well. We love the history of Hays and knew we did not want to open our store anywhere else.”
The store is open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
To find out more about Udderly Wild, visit their website udderlywild.com. The store also maintains a presence on social media, including Facebook.
