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“You don’t have to be a cow girl to wear the boots,” said Lauren Hauser of RiverTrail Mercantile. “In fact, anyone can wear them because I know I’m not a cowgirl.” Boots and Western apparel are something Hauser knows a great deal about. She should, considering her entire family is involved in the business. However, it was just recently that the Hauser family decided to get involved in selling Western wear.

“Last summer, our family had no knowledge of cowboy boots,” recalled Hauser. “It was decided that we (RiverTrail Mercantile) needed a staple product, something to be well known for; a specific niche.”

Located in Advance, North Carolina, RiverTrail Mercantile was first opened by Lauren’s father, Patrick, and his wife Suzie. “My dad, Pat, was born and raised on a farm in Davie County,” explained Hauser. The couple wanted to bring a unique store to the community. They also wanted a business where each family member could contribute. Both father and son work as general mangers, handling the day-to-day maintenance of running a retail business. Mother and daughter focus on bringing in fresh styles to the store. Lauren also handles public relations, while her brother, also named Patrick, maintains the website. “Our family loves working together,” said Hauser. “It has been very exciting to see our website, www.RiverTrailmercantile.com, grow over the last year and a half.”

While focused primarily on cowboy boots, RiverTrail also sells different retail items, including toys, arts and crafts, home décor, antiques and furniture. “Our family wants to make sure our customers know that Western wear and gear isn’t just a cowboy thing anymore,” said Hauser. “It’s more of a fashion thing.” Carrying more than 150 different styles of fashionable boots for women, RiverTrail Mercantile sells three separate cowgirl boot brands.

Read more on page 22 in the November Issue of FW Magazine