Editor’s Note: Just in time for Christmas, we continue our series of stories about local business owners and the unique products and services they sell.
Montana Thatcher was born in Clovis. She recently moved into her home after graduating from college at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. This year, she went independent as the proprietor of her new clothing store, Twisted Rayne’s, on the corner of Fourth and Pyle streets.
Q: Where are you from? How many years have you lived here?
A: I was born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico. I went to Texico High.
Q: What were you doing before starting Twisted Raynes?
A: I went to college. I went to New Mexico in Las Cruces where I graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and a minor in Marketing. He then returned to Clovis and started his business.
Q: Was it always your plan to go back to Clovis and start your own store?
A: No. I really wanted to be a buyer. I was actually planning to go and work for another company and make all their purchases.
Q: What has been the most enjoyable part of running your own business so far?
A: I really enjoy interacting with people, influencing their sales, dressing up and seeing their smiles when they wear nice clothes.
Q: What can people find in your store?
A: Women’s clothing. I cater from teenagers to middle-aged women. We feel there is a shortage of women’s clothing in our community, so we make our inventory versatile.
I also do a little bit of home decor. We have a little gift guide that you can give for birthdays and other occasions. They also sell a lot of jewelry.
Q: What is the best-selling item so far?
A: Probably clothing.
Q: Where do you source your clothes?
A: There are different markets all over the place. I went to the market in Dallas for the first time. I’m going to the Las Vegas market in February. There are also online sales from various vendors, so if you need to restock or are running out of something, you can choose from a variety of vendors online. .
Q: What are some lesser known facts about you?
A: I used to be a very tomboy. I was never a fashionista. And when I became a junior high school student, I came to like clothes.
Q: Please tell me the name of the shop. Twisted Rains.
A: I came up with ‘Twist’ because I felt it had its own style, incorporating different styles from modern to bohemian to classic to western. That’s where “Twisted” comes from. Because everything is intertwined. And Rain is my middle name. That’s why I added the ‘s’ at the end.
Q: What made you decide to start a business?
A: What inspired me to pursue a career in fashion was my job at Buckle, where I worked until high school. What inspired me to start my business? My father is also self-employed. So I knew certain aspects of the business because of him, which he wanted to start at a young age. I wanted to create a foundation that would allow me to hire people so that I could stay at home after getting married and having children.
Q: Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting a business?
A: We highly recommend following your intuition. I feel like it really worked out. I know it will be difficult and very stressful at first. But it definitely spreads throughout.
Q: As a small business owner, what has surprised you the most?
A: Honestly, community. I have had really good support. I was really surprised, but it was very good.