by Kathy Eide Casas

How do you capture and combine the fun of shopping with the warm feeling that comes from helping others? Step through the doors of Cowgirl Clutter, a sparkling new unique Clovis boutique, and you’ll find out in a heartbeat!

Right to left-Codi Ricken,Dena Byers (Codi's mom),
Blakesley Ricken (Codi's baby)

A Heart for Giving

Designed with a heart and soul for giving back to the community, Cowgirl Clutter offers the perfect connection for giving and receiving. Each month, a different nonprofit is selected to receive proceeds and a portion of every fabulous item sold supports charity. Yes, every item sold, and the store is brimming with the cutest selection of apparel, accessories, and home-goods imaginable. There’s just so much to look at!

Cowgirl Clutter

Codi explained why she felt compelled to use her talents and retail expertise in this manner. “My whole life I had dreamed of having a job where I could help people. I started out in nursing, but found out while I was pregnant, that it had just became too difficult for me to handle the lifting and other physical aspects associated with many of the patient care tasks. I decided to take the passion I had for helping people, connect it with my passion for designing and creating handmade items of every kind and marry them together for a unique business model of retail and giving. Cowgirl Clutter is the result.”

Off to a big start with their recent grand opening, Cowgirl Clutter is a delight for shoppers of every taste.

The winning combination of retail and giving is evident everywhere in Cowgirl Clutter. One entire portion of the store is dedicated solely to Pink Heals, an organization whose mission is close to Ricken’s heart.

Bucking Cancer…

Codi explained, “I lost a very dear friend, Courtney, to brain cancer in 2007 at the age of 32. She inspired me to live life every day and live for what makes me happy. On May 10, 2014 my sweet friend’s baby girl, Jocelynn, passed away at the age of six. Brain cancer also took her sweet life way too soon. Jocelynn fought a courageous fight always with a smile on her face.”

As a result of her friends’ battles with cancer, Ricken became involved with Pink Heals. She soon noticed that the Pink Heals merchandise booth always drew a large crowd of supporters at various events, but aside from the community events, the merchandise just wasn’t readily accessible. Cowgirl Clutter has changed that. The Pink Heals section of the store carries the now familiar pink shirts, hats, candles, boots and other items customized by Ricken. All of these proceeds go directly to Pink Heals. According to Codi, this is just another way for Cowgirl Clutter to make a difference and to, “Buck Cancer,” as Ricken’s latest anti-cancer designs illustrate.

A selection of unique merchandise awaits shoppers at Cowgirl Clutter. Handmade items can be customized with colors, material, quotes, names and designs. There’s apparel for every shape and size, from Codi’s, “Curvy Corner” to the smaller frame. Codi invited shoppers to stop in and see what Cowgirl Clutter has to offer and reminded customers, “For every dollar spent in my store you will know that you have joined me in the fight against cancer. Happy shopping, Happy Fighting!”

Cowgirl Clutter is located at 1526 Clovis Avenue, Suite A, just south of Shaw Avenue, in Clovis. Find Cowgirl Clutter on FB at: www.facebook.com/cloviscowgirlclutter

Kathy Eide Casas Kathy Eide Casas is a valley native and has been involved in politics, public policy and public relations her entire career. From the U. S. and state capitols to local projects, she has been a guiding force. Most recently, Eide-Casas completed the writing for two U Turns Allowed magazines, benefiting Focus Forward. Additionally, her work has run in several other local publications, including Valley Health Magazine.