Community Highlights: Meet Fancy Smith

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fancy Smith.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Cactus Creek was founded in 2000 in the barn behind our home in Lenexa, Kansas. When we began the business we only sold goods imported from Mexico at occasional sales and shows. In 2002, we moved the business to Weston, MO where we expanded the home goods portion of our business and began having the shop open on a daily basis.

After a few years, three babies, and a couple of moves we settled in our current location in 2010 at 400 Main Street in downtown Weston. We have expanded our selection to include clothes, jewelry, home goods, and vintage wares. We also have a beer and wine cellar which is open when the shop is open, and also for special events.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As in life, business ownership is never a smooth road. There are always unexpected bumps, lean times, and situations that have to be overcome.

Our biggest struggles have always come from leaning outwards for help – instead of leaning in. We took loans out that affected our entire business. In retrospect, the right thing to do would have been to lean in and spare down until the storm had passed.

We’ve been impressed with Cactus Creek, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When you walk into our shop, Cactus Creek, you just know that you’ve never been to a store quite like this before. The music is rocking – usually the blues but sometimes it’s something a little more rock n roll – sometimes a little more country.

The displays of clothes, hats & jewelry are interspersed with unexpected gifts and home goods. There are plants and books and vintage pieces mixed in with it all. Cactus Creek can be a visual concert.

Our two hottest items in the home goods department are our sari blankets which are imported from India. They are 100% cotton so the more you wash and dry them the softer they get. Each one is one of a kind with big colors & patterns. They are fairly addictive. Our other important home good item is cowhide rugs. We have sold these for 20 years and love to see them in every room of a house. They are the most durable rug you’ll ever own and also a one-of-a-kind piece that can’t be duplicated.

Our curated collection of clothing includes basic dresses and tees, along with more groovy pieces that are designed for exploration. We thrive on an adventure here at Cactus Creek so most of our clothing is perfect for throwing in one of our leather weekender bags & hitting the road!

Once you’ve made a couple of loops through the shop we highly recommend taking the short flight of stairs down to our beer & wine cellar, this cozy space surrounds you with the original limestone walls built in the mid-1800s. It’s a self-serve bar during the week where you can get a beer, wine, or cocktail from the fridge, find a table for a game of cards, or flip on the tv to catch a game.

We will settle up before you leave.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Life is risky. You can always hide away and wish for a dreamy life, or you can get up and make a dreamy life.

Our philosophy on risk is that one of two outcomes will always occur. A huge success, yay, mission accomplished.

Or failure. But there are solutions to every failure. And sometimes those solutions lead to even bigger success.

Pricing:

• Almost all of our clothes are below $68
• Our cowhide rugs are priced by size $250 – $450
• Sari blankets are $38 but the more you buy the less they cost.
• Beer is $4 to $6, except for Hamms – those cans are just 2 bucks
• Almost all of our earrings are $14. We shoot for straightforward pricing.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.CactusCreekShop.com
• Instagram: @cactuscreek
• Facebook: Facebook.com/cactuscreek

Image Credits
Dandelions and Dumptrucks Photography