Owner Whitney Connell started working at the store after it opened in 2012. In 2017, she bought the store, and just five years later she is set to open her second store in Buda. Connell said she hopes to place a store manager at each location eventually, but for now she will be running everything herself.
“Unfortunately, you can’t be in two places at one time,” Connell said.
Connell said she plans to split her time between both stores to maintain a hands-on approach.
“I’m a really involved business owner,” Connell said. “I like to know what our customers are looking for and what they’re buying. I want to make sure that we have the products that they want. The only way to really do that is to be in the store.”
Hays Co. Outfitters sells outdoor clothing, including shoes, hats, shirts, shorts and swimwear. The store also provides a variety of outdoor gear, such as stainless steel water bottles, coolers, hammocks and camping chairs. One can also find unique products such as decorative stickers and cocktail syrup.
The second Hays Co. Outfitters location soon to open in Buda will service customers in the Buda, Kyle and South Austin areas. Connell said her small store is better suited to smaller markets found in Hays County.
Connell said she wants her store to maintain a “hometown” feel, even if the city around her starts to feel less so.
“In a way, it’s sad to see that our small little town is no longer a small, little town. But we can still embrace the small-town way of thinking and the small-town vibes even though we are growing rapidly,” Connell said.
Connell’s approach to customer service works toward making shopping at the outfitters a personal experience. She is often recognizing returning customers and addressing some by name. The store also provides some services such as a simple fishing guide or advice on the best nearby walking trails.
While the store does offer limited online shopping on its website, Connell would rather have customers come shop in person.
“A lot of the products that we sell need to be tried on. It doesn’t matter what it is brand-wise, everything fits differently,” she said. “We carry some higher-end brands, so if you’re going to spend $90 on a button-down shirt, then we want to try it on and want to make sure that it fits correctly.”
The Buda location will open in May, and Connell said her plan is to continue to expand without venturing too far out of the region.
“I like to be in the stores and be involved. If we went several hours away, I wouldn’t be able to do that,” she said. “We’ll see what the future holds. I’ll still be doing this, because this is what I love.”
Hays Co. Outfitters
690 Center Point Road, Ste. 201, San Marcos 512-749-1514. www.hayscooutfitters.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m.
