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Sheep Dog Creations celebrates first anniversary with grand opening of new location

Justin Addison, Editor/Publisher
Posted 6/15/21

Sheep Dog Creations is preparing to celebrate its one-year anniversary with a grand opening at its newest location in the Keller Building. The custom T-shirt shop will feature door prizes, drawings, …

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Sheep Dog Creations celebrates first anniversary with grand opening of new location

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Sheep Dog Creations is preparing to celebrate its one-year anniversary with a grand opening at its newest location in the Keller Building. The custom T-shirt shop will feature door prizes, drawings, and made-on-the-spot shirts from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.

The business is owned by Stephanie and David Ford, and Courtney and Joshua Kirby. Stephanie and Courtney largely run the businesses day to day. 

The idea to go into business started with Stephanie. She was involved in several online social media groups for spouses of police officers. At the time, David was a Fayette police officer. He has since been elected City Marshal, commonly referred to as Chief of Police. Those online groups often purchased custom T-shirts with themes in support of police and law enforcement. Stephanie decided this was something she could do herself, rather than order the shirts from other companies. She started out by posting for sale themed stickers, which the company also designs and produces. “They sold like crazy,” she said. 

Sheep Dog Creations officially started on July 1, 2020. The name was chosen to represent those protectors who serve to keep our communities safe. And many of the shirts and the myriad of other items for sale, share the theme of championing law enforcement, the military, and first responders of all kinds. 

The business sells a selection of shirts that shows support for U.S. military members. Joshua is a veteran of the Marine Corps and serves as Commander of the White-Bell Post of the American Legion in Fayette. 

“It worked out well because Joshua is former military, and a lot of police are former military,” Stephanie explained.

The shirts typically sell for $20 each, and $5 from select sales is donated to the local American Legion Post.

The business started out in the Fords’ living room, but it quickly became evident that more space was needed. It wasn’t long before the business moved into a small room in the Keller Building. Recently, Sheep Dog Creations moved to a larger space in the same facility where patrons can walk-in and shop in person. 

While most sales are made online, Stephanie said she is starting to see more walk-in business to the new location. “Word is starting to get out that we’re here. So people will come in and get candy or buy baked goods.” Other people working at businesses in Keller have become more frequent visitors. And the Howard County 911 office is right around the corner inside Keller. Customers can shop for a variety of goods, including T-shirts, coffee mugs, jewelry, packaged baked goods, and candy.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and by appointment on Tuesdays and Fridays. 

Not everything is original to Sheep Dog Creations. A half-dozen outside vendors sell their wares in the store as well. Stephanie said she got the idea after she paid to sell some of her items inside a store in nearby Blackwater. Now vendors can sell their products inside Sheep Dog’s retail store for just a small monthly fee.

Sheep Dog Creations’ emphasis is on T-shirts. Recently the business made more than 85 custom shirts for the Linn County 4-H Club. And other businesses and organizations are having shirts made there as well. “We’ve had other small businesses in town order shirts from us,” Stephanie said.

The company also keeps a variety of other designs in stock and ready to wear. One of the biggest sellers is a shirt that says “Mud and Mascara.”

Stephanie said the business is exploring the expansion into other areas of clothing that could include embroidery and she wants to carry more children’s clothing. “We also do some tie-dye and dip-dye,” she said.

Currently, Sheep Dog Creations is pre-selling shirts for the upcoming July 4 Party in the Park in Fayette. Orders may be made at the company’s website, sheepdogcreationsboutique.com.

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