Share This Article
While everyone may be bundled up in their favorite jackets and warmest clothes for the winter season, Spring is right around the corner.
And Spring comes an opportunity to freshen things up around the house and in the wardrobe.
Thankfully, Mountain Home has a vibrant community of boutiques, including one of downtown Mountain Home’s newest clothing stores, Nomad Clothing Company.
“I really want to be a part of the community and be involved in things,” said Brooke Acklin, the owner of Noman Clothing Company. “I want it to be a place where people can come in and know that it’s a comfortable environment. I don’t care if you’re extra small or 4x. When you come in, it’s a warm welcome, and you feel good when you leave.”
Born in raised in Mountain Home, Acklin has been all over the Ozarks, attending school as a child in Norfork and living in Yellville as an adult.
As an adult, Acklin started Nomad Clothing Company out of her home 10 years ago. During that time, she experimented with making t-shirts and running an online business that made deliveries in Mountain Home.
Her dream, though, was to eventually work her way up to opening a storefront in downtown Mountain Home. That dream came true in January last year when her favorite storefront at the very end of the square in Mountain Home became available.
She took the leap, leaving behind her job as an office manager for a local dentist. With the help of her husband, Cody Acklin, she would open her bright red doors a few months later in June.
“I’ve always worked in Mountain Home,” Acklin said. “I’ve always wanted this building—the red doors. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always wanted to put a sign on this road. Its high visibility and a good opportunity for people to read your message.”
If there was one theme that could sum up Nomad Clothing, it would be “going your own way.” The store is filled with eclectic pieces of furnishings that Acklin has been saving for years in preparation for opening her storefront.
“To me, a nomad goes their own way,” Acklin said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re going with the crowd or against the crowd or on your own way. Follow your arrow and do what makes you happy.”
Clothing from brands like Judy Blue, Can Can, and Southern Trend lines the walls and shelves of her store. There’s even a fun, decorated wall in the store just for impromptu photo shoots while shopping.
“My style is all over the place,” said Acklin as she pointed to pictures on the wall. “On the wall over here are pictures of Dolly Parton, Stevie Nicks, and Kacey Musgraves. I would say the style of the whole store is a mix of those three women.”
And while “going your own way” is the store’s theme, no one ever said there wouldn’t be any help along the way.
One of the biggest focuses for Acklin is a good customer experience. One of her first jobs in the clothing industry was at Buckle, a nationwide chain that emphasizes helping shoppers find the perfect outfit. That emphasis on helping shoppers can be found at Nomad with Acklin’s employees.
“They taught me a lot of things of what to do and what not to do,” Acklin said. “If you’ve ever been to a Buckle, they drive you crazy, throwing clothes over the dressing room door. There’s a fine line. You can overdo it and harass the customer when they walk in the door, or you can help them and get to know them.”
While Acklin has plans to expand her business in the future, she doesn’t want to do so at the cost of others. Instead, Acklin said, she wants to help empower women and other boutique store owners in Mountain Home to flourish together.
“Community over competition,” Acklin said. “I don’t want people to think that just because there’s other boutiques in the area, we all have to be against each other. There’s room for all of us, and our community is lucky to have all of us.”
Nomad Clothing Company is located at 2 East 7th Street in downtown Mountain Home. For more information, visit the store’s website here or call (870) 232-2106.
