A new boutique recently opened in De Soto.
Anna Hearst, 38, who lives near De Soto, opened the Madd Heifer at 215B E. Main St. in De Soto near the Arlington Event Center.
Hearst said she started crafting in April and took part in craft events all spring and summer. When her husband, Chad, suggested she open her own store, her first reaction was that she wouldn’t have enough merchandise to sell.
But when she found out in October that a space on East Main was available for rent, she decided to give the store a shot and sell her products, as well as products from area crafters.
Hearst said she and her husband spent a month renovating the building to make it feel like a country store, rather than a flea market.
“A place that was comfy to shop in,” she said.
The store offers a variety of home decor; floral arrangements; wood products; 3D prints; crochet items; soaps and scrubs; wreaths; honey; seasonings and homemade sweets.
When asked how she came up with the name, Hearst laughed and said she hopes to someday have a farm with cows.
“I like the Highland cows,” she said. “My husband threw out a couple of names, and I was like no. It might have been like Crafty Heifer or something like that. I think I looked up Happy Heifer and there was something that was similar.”
Hearst decided on Madd Heifer, and her logo features a Highland cow with a big blue bow.
The shop opened Nov. 1, just in time to participate in the town’s holiday shopping days, like Shop Small Business Saturday, the Elf Scavenger Hunt and the Cookie Walk.
Hearst fractured her back in a car accident on Nov. 18 and closed the store for three days.
“Because I broke my back, I had to cut my hours way, way down, but I’m increasing my hours like by an hour each week, and I start physical therapy (this month),” Hearst said.
She said shoppers have given her positive feedback.
“They like how it looks and the feel of the place, so that has been exciting,” she said.
Craft vendors at Madd Heifer include Sparkys Woodworks; Rustic Chaos Farms; Rustic Country Crafts; Creative Wreaths and More; ForeverMoore Collective; Firefly Lane Stitchery; LMB Design Co.; Circle RT Woodworking; Chubby’s Specialty Seasonings; Honey Bees Herbal; TJ Expressions; Sugar Baby Scrubs; Designs Express; A Stitch in Time; Infinite Makers and Eat the Cupcake. The shop also sells Hearst’s own floral designs and crafts.
“I do take special requests for the vendors,” Hearst said.
Hours for the new year will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. However, the store will be closed on the first Saturday of each month and be open on the first Monday of the month instead.
Customers may call the store at 636-208-9830 or find it on Facebook.