Greg and Zoe Russom, from Eldon, recently opened a hat and music supply store at 401 Oak Street in California, Missouri

HATS AND MUSIC BOOKS MAKE STRANGE BEDFELLOWS

If you want to browse for a hat and at the same time buy a book to read music, then check out Greg and Zoe Russom’s new store in California, Missouri. Called the Outlaw Hat Company and Music Supply, they sell hats and a vast selection of musical instruction books. The store is two months old.

The Russom's, who live in Elston, began the hat and music book business in 1998 by using E-bay to sell their wares around the globe - from the UK to Australia.

According to Greg, it quickly became “a home business that got too big for the home. We wanted to be in a smaller town, like California. We'd rather be open in a smaller community where we can be more involved.”

The Russom’s said cowboy hats are their most popular hats - they sell them all over the world. “I think it's because we sell things they don't have there,” Zoe added.

Outlaws has musical instruction books for nearly any instrument plucked, strummed or blown, ranging from dulcimers to bassoons. The Russom’s are hoping to sell special order hats for customers with unique taste in headwear. Currently the store has a large selection of styles, shapes and sizes. Zoe can even bend and shape hats so they resemble the used look, popular with stars like Kenny Chesney.

And for those with hats that have seen better days, Outlaws is offering a trade-in special. When a customer trades in their old hat, they receive 10 percent off a new one.

They are looking to buy hats to expand their range of Cowboy Hats (they sell a lot of civil war items at festivals) for men, women and kids. They also want hat bands – they are currently selling leather bands with stars on them. Zoe is looking for hat bands and Western hats.

“I want to broaden my range, I want a huge selection,” said Zoe.

Outlaw Hat Company and Music Supply is at 401 Oak Street. For information, call 573-796-2949. gregnzoeshatshop@yahoo.com.

In case you are wondering where California Missouri is, it is 30 minutes west of Jefferson City, Missouri (that’s the capital of Missouri). That’s the hat life geography lesson for the week.