KCCI.com/ShopLocal makes local online shopping easy!
Shopping used to offer an opportunity to have fun and support local businesses and our community. Every time we made a local purchase we also added vitality to our community, supported our neighbors’ bottom line, and assisted with that new park or arts center. Today, most one-click purchase programs send our hard-earned income out of town or state, or even out of America. Fortunately, KCCI and several locally-owned businesses have joined together to celebrate shopping in Des Moines. The website is called KCCI Shop Local, an engaging site showcasing local businesses, where we can plan a shopping excursion or shop online from home.
The KCCI Shop Local website offers a convenient one-stop link where we can get to know some of these Des Moines businesses. KCCI Shop Local features a variety of great stores including Wanderlust Fashion, Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear, Heartland Flags and Cookies BBQ, among others. Whether you prefer to venture out to dynamic neighborhoods like the East Village or settle in on your couch with a cup of coffee, KCCI Shop Local allows you “keep it local” when making your purchases.
“We personalize our shopping experience,” says Jennifer Coughenour, owner of Wanderlust Fashion in the East Village. “When you come into our shop you’re offered wine, coffee or water by a personal shopper who will work with you to put together your entire outfit. It’s a fun, social experience.” The staff at Wanderlust also recognizes the power, appeal, and convenience of online shopping and KCCI’s Shop Local will help them accommodate all consumers, in person and online.
When you come into our shop you’re offered wine, coffee or water by a personal shopper who will work with you to put together your entire outfit. It’s a fun, social experience.
Jennifer Coughenour, Wanderlust Fashion, Owner
Local shops “offer essentially a 2-for-1 deal where you can enjoy the convenience while giving something back to your hometown, paying local taxes and helping small local retailers hire more local employees,” explains Jennifer. Keeping it in the community continues to be a shopping trend, as evidenced by the growth of areas like the East Village, whether you hit the neighborhood or click purchase on the extensive Wanderlust website. Jennifer puts her business where her heart is by featuring the fashion talents and artwork of dozens of Iowa designers and artists.
Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear also reflects its neighborhood. In addition to everyday farm accessories, Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear offers legendary presents such as Breyer Horses, the American Girl of the equine set. No passion matches that of the horse lover, and Hawkeye’s selection of home décor includes selections like a beautiful Rivers Edge “Rush Hour” shower curtain or cutting board as well as a full stable of novel horse-themed signs and gifts.
KCCI
Local owners Sherry and Don Hansen started Hawkeye as something of a hobby business 25 years ago. “We were looking for something for Sherry to do and thought this would be a quiet store where she could put her feet up and relax,” explains Don. “But, as they say, ‘Location, location, location.’ Being across from Iowa State Fairgrounds made us so busy so fast, I soon quit my job to come work here. Now, Hawkeye Tack has found the right online location, KCCI.com/ShopLocal.
Hawkeye provides every possible asset for successful horse farming, from Durango Saddle Western Boots to a variety of new and used horse trailers. The wardrobe department is equally varied, with a rich display of apparel from all the leading names. Men, women and children will find jeans, western shirts, belts, and every type of work and decorative boot imaginable. You can buy your boots or even a horse trailer online directly from the KCCI Shop Local website.
“We offer a good selection and knowledgeable staff to help you pick out what you need for your horse or get you fitted to make you look good,” says Don. “We get a lot of business from the activity at the Fairgrounds but it is the local customer at the base to spend money and support or other businesses.”
We offer a good selection and knowledgeable staff to help you pick out what you need for your horse or get you fitted to make you look good.
Don Hansen, Hawkeye Tack & Western Wear, Owner
All of these local retailers have excellent online shopping websites. You can order from any retailer with the knowledge that, should you need to alter something, there’s a physical store where a customer service representative will help you.
Buying with a ‘click’ from a KCCI Shop Local business also supports the local economy and in turn helps the neighborhoods, the arts, the schools, and other specialty enterprises like Speed Herrig’s Cookies BBQ. Cookies heats up Des Moines by creating a range of BBQ sauces, hot sauces and flavor enhancers. In addition to everyday items such as taco sauces and BBQ sauce mixed cases, you can stuff a stocking with cookbooks, a gift box of sauces, and the popular Cookies Ultimate Wing Kit. Anyone can join the Cookies Bar-B-Q Crew with a custom t-shirt.
“Our products are available in every local grocery store as well as some convenience stores,” says owner Speed “The Sauceman” Herrig. “L.D. Cook created the barbeque sauce recipe and I started out delivering it. We’re now in 34 states.”
Anyone can join the Cookies Bar-B-Q Crew with a custom t-shirt. Speed tells an “only in Iowa” success story; he is a natural entrepreneur who has created a hot sauce empire based on hard work, charisma, and marketing skills. Speed evokes “Iowa Pride” on a regular basis inside his Rib Wagon, a staple at the Iowa State Fair and other events around the state.
“The work ethic of people in our area is incredible,” says Speed, who employs about 30 people. “Local employment makes more dollars available for business expansion.”
The work ethic of people in our area is incredible.
Speed “The Sauceman” Herrig, Cookies Bar-B-Q, Owner
Iowa pride also unfurls locally, thanks to Heartland Flags & Custom Flags. It offers scores of decorative seasonal flags and pre-bowl football banners, as well as flags for virtually every university and college in the land. In addition to custom flag design, several versions of Old Glory as well as representation for every military branch are always in stock. Through KCCI.com/ShopLocal, you’ll find The Heartland Flags website is kept up to date with trending flags and other decorative outdoor art.
“Part of the joy that we get is all the veterans and military members who come in and tell us their stories,” says owner Kevin Kommes. “We also donate a lot of banners to local youth sports teams, which feels really good. And of course, every sports fan who comes in to buy a flag for his or her team is a passionate fan with a story to tell.”
Part of the joy that we get is all the veterans and military members who come in and tell us their stories.
Kevin Kommes, Heartland Flags & Custom Flags, Owner
Heartland Flags began as a flagpole installation company, moving to Des Moines over one decade ago. Kevin has seen a growth in peace poles and also decorative memorial poles. “Decorative poles with the image or remembrance of a lost loved one is a wonderful alternative to giving flowers,” Kevin says. “We make all sorts of custom poles for military members and others, to remember someone.”
KCCI Shop Local does the research for you when you decide to purchase products from your Des Moines neighbors. Supporting local enterprises like Wanderlust Fashion, Hawkeye’s, Cookies and Heartland Flags reflects this support for Des Moines and Iowa in general. You can be confident that entrepreneurs such as Jennifer, Don, Speed, and Kevin remain as committed to us as we are to them. They hire local talent, advertise in the local media and contribute to what makes Des Moines a unique city. Whether you shop online or in the store, keep it local by visiting KCCI.com/ShopLocal.