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By JENNIFER MOONSONG
Glasgow News 1
If you were to ask 24-year-old Holly Petty what she hopes to inspire with her business, Rural Route Clothing Company, she would reply she’s going for a feeling; The feeling of riding a back road.
“What better feeling is there than being on a back road? I want my clothes to leave you with the feeling of riding down a country road, window open, a good song on the radio, sun in your face and the wind in your hair,” Petty said. The line of clothing the Allen County native and resident of Barren has handpicked for clients is a unique combination of vintage-inspired, tomboy, rock-n-roll, country glam and the girl next door wear. Like many ventures, the company was born of necessity.
“Before starting Rural Route Clothing Company, I worked at the post office for three years. We had city routes and rural routes, and that was definitely part of the inspiration for the name. I worked seven days a week, and when I was off work, I had dates with my now fiancé. I had a very long lunch break in the middle of my 12 hour days, I would go shopping on my lunch break. I never, ever could find what fit my style. There was nothing, not even online, that I felt was really for me,” she said.
Twenty-four year old Holly Petty moved to rural Barren County not long ago and started Rural Route Clothing Company.
Jennifer Moonsong
So, she decided to be the girl that helped other girls find that perfect personal style.
“I thought, well, I’m going to do it myself. At least I will like it,” Petty laughed.
As it turns out, lots of others were looking for something similar.
“ I try to find things other people do not sell. If I see people out wearing my clothes, I will know they got that from me. Sometimes I will even be scrolling Instagram and see an outfit in a photo and know the outfit came from me,” Petty said with a smile.
In the early days two years ago Rural Route Clothing Company started as a shop in a store in Franklin. She also did pop-up events and eventually did a slightly different line of clothes in Opry Mills. These days, Petty’s goals for Rural Route Clothing Company have shifted.
“I want to grow the online business. My goal is in 2 years to have a storefront in Glasgow. In the meantime, I plan to do two, big shop-local events a year,” she said.
Comfortable, casually glamorous and in support of all-things-local is the inspiration behind the clothing line.
One such event is just around the corner, in time for early holiday shoppers. The fall shop local hosted by Rural Route Clothing Company will be Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Parkview Event Center from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There will be 30-plus vendors from Barren and surrounding counties, a variety of food trucks and Honey’s Coffee.
“The vendors will be boutiques, arts and crafts, and permanent jewelry. We will have a huge giveaway that people can enter to win by buying something from each business and getting their punch card punched. There will be big holiday sales, and the first 50 people will be entered to win a door prize,” Petty said.
There is no entry fee for this day of all-local shopping.
“We will have something for everyone — women’s, men’s, children’s and so much more,” she added.
Petty herself now offers a Men’s line via Rural Route Clothing Company called “For the Farmers”. She doesn’t have many male customers yet, but she says the ladies who frequent her company love to buy date night and photo items for their boyfriends and husbands.
A model showcases part of the men’s line of clothing for Rural Route Clothing Company.
Although Petty is ready to put her best foot forward, showcase her line and meet new customers, the event on Nov. 4 is about so much more than that to her.
“It is to bring more focus and shine more light on businesses that may not have a store front, and need that extra attention especially during the holidays. If the store’s method is off the beaten path, you may not think of them when you start shopping, but it is very important that you support home, and know the faces of the people you’re dealing with,” she said.
Although there are already over three dozen vendors, she has room for a few more.ruralroutecc@gmail.com
“The growth of the shop local event twice a year is vital for small businesses. I want to grow the vendors list and giving everyone the opportunity to be part of it,” Petty said.
A model showcases one of the t-shirts and flannel shirts from Rural Route Clothing.
To see a full list of vendors for Nov. 4, and to look at a preview of the amiable boutique item Rural Route Clothing Company has to offer, visit the virtual store at Facebook and Instagram, and at ruralrouteclothingcompany.com
As for other young women wanting to pursue owning a small business, she has some words of encouragement.
“It is an awakening experience, and it is wonderful how accomplished you feel. It is the best feeling when you can accomplish what you set out to do,” said Petty.
Rural Route Clothing Company is provider of boutique clothing.
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