The effect the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has on the city is obvious, but those in Northwest Houston benefit from the largest indoor rodeo in the world as well.
The rodeo brought more than $475 million into the region according to a 2010 economic report analyzing the previous five years. Similar amounts can be projected for the next five years, according to rodeo officials.
For residents on the outskirts of Houston, the rodeo spurs business in the area and provides opportunities for local students to earn scholarships through a variety of venues, such as the livestock show and the art show.
Leading up to the rodeo, local specialty clothing stores in Northwest Houston see an increase in sales due to customers looking for western wear.
Through February and March, B. Ellen Boutique makes it a point to carry western-themed lines of clothing such as Double D Ranch, western "blinged out" T-shirts and handmade Old Gringo cowboy boots, said Brandy Divin, co-owner.
B. Ellen estimates a 30–40 percent increase in sales around the time of the rodeo, over other months. As each rodeo season passed, the store honed in on catering to customers' needs.
"Each year, we have been growing and have been able to bring more products in. Our ability to do that has made our business get better and better, helping increase our sales percentage," Divin said. "Our customers know they are going to be able to find stuff for the rodeo here that they will be happy with."
Around rodeo season, Suburban Girl Gifts and Stuff's cowboy boots sells make up a good portion of the store's overall revenue.
"We sell more cowboy boots during the rodeo than at Christmas," said Melissa Pontiff, owner of Suburban Girl Gifts and Stuff. "I would say that we sell 40 percent more cowboy boots at that time."
Offering 16 different styles of Corral Boots, Pontiff said that Suburban Girl Gifts and Stuff has one of the largest selections in the area of the popular brand.
Opened for just over a year, this is the store's second rodeo. The store ran out of cowboy boots last year so Pontiff ordered double the stock in preparation.
Freckles Boutique does not see increased sales just for the rodeo, the coinciding Go Texan Day brings people into the children's clothing store for school celebrations as well, said Kim Hohman, owner.
"We get a lot of traffic coming to our store because parents want their children to wear something western to school," Hohman said. "And I'm sure they wear their western clothes to the rodeo, too. But the schools' Go Texan Day really drives a lot of traffic our way."
Freckles estimates a 25 percent increase for rodeo-styled clothing over other months.
Catering to boys and girls ranging from preemies up to age 12, Freckles buys western clothes months before the rodeo.
"We always sell these types of clothes because a lot of people come in looking for gifts that have a cowboy-theme to send to family members out of state," Hohman said. "But we do increase our volume greatly around the time of the rodeo. I actually buy my rodeo clothing in August and October so that I can have it come in around the middle of December or beginning of January."
Shawn Arrajj contributed to this report
