Richelle Stark has transported Nashville inspiration and vibes to Kelowna.
In comes in the form of Saddle N Spurs Hat Bar -- BC's first and only do-it-yourself, custom cowboy hat store at 1328 Water St. in the bottom of the Delta Grand hotel and a pop-up that will come out to your event anywhere in the Southern Interior.
"Hat bars are huge in Nashville, so I went there for inspo and vibes," said Stark.
"The decision to open in Kelowna has been amazing. It's taken off so much more than I expected. And I can't wait until this weekend's Denim on the Diamond."
Every Rainwater drink purchased at one of Denim's concerts (including today's headliner -- country music star Nate Smith) comes with $20 off voucher to use at Saddle N Spurs.
This is how the hat bar works for the regular price of $147 per person, per hat.
You come into the store or hit the mobile pop-up at a rodeo, concert, winery or special event or you book the bar to come to your event, be it a birthday, wedding, bachelor or bachelorette party, corporate retreat or trail ride.
"Kelowna is the bachelor and bachelorette party capital of Canada, so it was a no brainer to open here," said Stark.
"You can be a cowboy or a cowgirl or just love Western style. It's like a trip to Nashville, but in the Interior."
You then choose a rancher or cowboy hat from Saddle N Spurs own brand-name inventory of vegan suede and 100% wool hats.
You pick four accessories from the line up of bands and ribbons, charms, cards, pins, feathers, dried flowers and chains to customize your hat.
And then you choose a custom brand to be burned into your creation.
"It's real fire branding," said Stark.
"It's such an experience. It's a full-blown, DIY, custom hat-making experience. Everyone has different style, so everyone leaves happy."
The Kelowna store also has a special steamer-shaper-stretcher machine to turn open-crown cowboy hats into closed-crown hats to fit your head perfectly.
"Both my daughters are competitive barrel racers and I did all their hats," said Stark.
"It gave me the inspiration to go to Nashville, learn more and open a new business."
Stark is also an award-winning photographer and videographer based in Kamloops with her own company -- Richelle Marie Photography.
She has well-established marketing and social media platforms for the photography business that she also using to promote and grow Saddle N Spurs Hat Bar.
The first hat bar store and mobile pop-up opened in Kamloops three years ago.
It's now located in Lansdowne Village
Earlier this year, a mobile pop-up was set up in Vancouver to serve the Lower Mainland.
And, the Kelowna store and pop-up opened last month.
Check out: https://saddlenspurs-
