Fashion in Glenrock: Pinkerton’s Western Collection opens store

Glenrock – When Jordan Glause and her mother Shannon Pinkerton realized that Glenrock lacked any outlet for women’s and men’s fashion, they opened a store downtown to meet that need.
    “We wanted to bring the town affordable accessories and fashion,” explains Glause. “We also wanted to sell men’s wear because you can’t find it in town.”
    Glause, who is the oldest of five siblings, notes that the business started as a home-based apparel and jewelry business and things quickly became busy.
    “I started doing home shows, and I got busy with those,” says Glause, “So we decided to open a store.”
    Items in the store range from jewelry, Western wallets and purses to clothing and boots. Glause makes much of the jewelry that’s sold, allowing her to construct pieces that appeal to the taste of her customers.
    “My mom also makes decorated glasses,” adds Glause, noting the decorated mugs are insulated and durable.
    Pinkerton’s Western Collection also features Wyoming-made items by a number of artists and Glenrock Herders apparel. During the holiday season, they add a Christmas shelf to feature holiday treats, ornaments, jewelry and home décor.
    “We have leather, metal cutouts, rope baskets and some jewelry here on consignment,” says Glause.
    Pinkerton and Glause’s grandmother Janet Barrett help in the store, as well as sister Haley who is 15.
    Glause adds, “It’s a family affair.”
    Though Pinkerton’s is still in the business-building phase, only having moved into their store in July 2010, Glause notes that they are doing well.    
    “Business is good,” notes Glause. “Almost 75 percent of our customers are from Casper and Douglas.”
    Glause also notes that her biggest challenge comes in their location. Glenrock sits between two towns, so it is important for the company to draw business to the small town.
    “We’re pretty happy with where we are,” she says, adding that they will continue to grow as they learn more.
    To promote her products and Pinkerton Western Collection, Glause says, “I just get involved. I don’t do TV commercials or very many radio ads – it is just by word of mouth.”
    Once every three months she offers after-hours shopping opportunities and donates 20 percent of everything sold to a non-profit organization, such as the fire department or Special Olympics.
    “I get a lot of phone calls from high school rodeo kids who need sponsors,” adds Glause, “and I donated items to the Boys and Girls club for a fundraiser. I donate a lot of items.”
    She has also looked at promoting the store through opportunities to sell at various events, such as the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper or the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nev.
    Glause attends the home and garden show each year in Casper to showcase her products, and she promotes the store using social media sites like Facebook, noting that a number of people have found the store online. The Facebook page also features new items and special deals that Pinkerton’s offers.
    This fall, Pinkerton’s Western Collection launched an online store, making their products available to be shipped anywhere.
    Ultimately, she enjoys the business and says that it’s nice to be in a small town.
    “I know about 80 percent of the customers who come in here,” comments Glause. “It’s nice. Sometimes they come in just to visit.”
    The Pinkerton family previously owned a ranch in Lakeside, Calif. where Glause’s father ranched. Glause came to Glenrock for high school and has lived in the area since, saying she likes Wyoming. Glause stays involved in ranch work with her husband Kody, who works at Cole Creek Ranch and calves for VR Ranch.
    Along with Pinkerton’s, Glause also plays an active role in her husband’s outfitting business – Heart Spear Outfitters.
    “When we got married, I started guiding as well,” says Glause. “We hunt a lot in the Big Horns, and we specialize in mountain lions and black bear. It’s pretty intense sometimes.”
    Heart Spear Outfitters utilizes nine hounds and five bear baits in their hunting. They also offer elk, mule deer, antelope, turkey and bobcat hunts that are fully guided and give families, couples and groups the opportunity to hunt in Wyoming.
    “We are a husband and wife team that loves being outdoors and spending time with our hounds, and we are always on the lookout for the next buck,” claims their website.
    Despite her other obligations, Pinkerton’s Western Collection remains her primary focus and is a business of which she enjoys being a part.
    “We never really thought we would make it this far, and we’re happy with where we are right now,” says Glause. “It’ll be hard to find another store quite like ours.”
    Visit Pinkerton’s Western Collection at pinkertonswesterncollection.com or 204 S. 4th Street in Glenrock. Saige Albert is editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.