Kalispell shop prints up customizable options
From personalized T-shirts to embroidered hats to engraved cutting boards, Richies Custom Creations seeks to offer a local one-stop-shop for all things customizable — kind of like a local Etsy, according to owner Carrisa Richie, referring to the online marketplace for buying and selling handmade and unique items.
Three years ago, Richie created the business in her garage while staying home with her three kids. Born and raised in Kalispell and a graduate of Flathead Valley Community College, Richie has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Over the years, that spirit, and her business, grew.
"We’ve really needed this, and it was so cool to see it come together,” she said from the business’ new storefront.
Richies Custom Creations now has a location on East Idaho Street, where shoppers can buy a variety of digitally printed merchandise as well as local consignment options.
There is a wide range of reasons someone would need printed items, Richie said. The business has made shirts for local sports teams, merchandise for businesses and funny group prints for trips or birthdays. However, ordering online is sometimes risky when it comes to getting a fabric, style or certain look.
In store, Richie keeps material for interested customers to feel, look at and see before they pick one for printing. They can work with anything from newborn size to 6x and have no minimum requirement for orders.
Having different options in-house also helps the business offer products for different budgets and needs, she said.
Everything is customizable, and while not every design idea may be possible, Richie’s team is willing to put the work in to try and make a client’s wishes happen, she said.
“We try to bring ideas to life,” said Richie’s husband, Brad, owner of Richie’s Painting. “Pretty much anything you can press, engrave, laser or embroider we could do.”
They also have a wide variety of already printed items and clothes that people can shop ranging from funny sayings, like “hello hunting season, goodbye husband” to national sport team merchandise to Christmas-themed items to political gags.
It was important to Richie to open before the holiday season so there would be a local option for people in the community to get personalized, meaningful or funny gifts for people. They are hoping to include ornaments in their product options soon as well.
Richie is also the brains behind the Kalispell Weekend Market, which will occur throughout November and December at the Majestic Valley Arena. The three holiday craft and vendor pop up events will feature various local businesses and creators, including Richies Custom Creations.
Looking ahead, Richie hopes to continue to expand the products offered, the local items she showcases and the work that they do. Currently, the shop digitally prints products leaving behind a design that won’t peel or crack, she said.
In the future, Richie is interested in maybe getting into screen printing, sticker making and promotional items.
“Whatever you can think of, we want to try to create,” she said.
Richies Custom Creations is located at 148 E Idaho St. in Kalispell, next to Atomic Tacos. Hours are Tuesday to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Learn more at richiescustom.com.
Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com.
Carissa and Brad Richie recently opened Richies Custom Creations on E. Idaho in Kalispell. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)Kate Heston