A new brick-and-mortar gift shop opened in Ovando this summer, one that plans to seasonally operate by selling local crafts and metalworks.
Red Shed Gifts opened for its inaugural season in Ovando on June 15. The gift shop is an extension of the standard craft fair table the Vickie and Ben Harbour have been using at the Ovando Christmas Fest to market their craft items.
“I like to create spaces,” owner Vickie Harbour said. “We needed space to sell the things we make, then decided to make a gift shop and make space for some of the local people to sell items.”
Ben Harbour has had a metalwork business for 25 years. His expertise includes making handrails, candlesticks, shelves and other items. Vickie Harbour had a coffee shop in the space in their workshop years ago, and closed it when they moved to Ronan for a few
years.
“I want to cater to both tourists and local people,” Vickie Harbour said. “This summer is a learning curve to figure out what people are looking for.”
Quilted table runners, wooden bird house home décor and handmade soaps contrast with rustic metal designs and jewelry. There’s log bears, hair scrunchies made by a young friend of the Harbour’s, Montana books, Montana sweatshirts and t-shirts can all be found in Red Shed Gifts.
“Living out here, being so remote you have to get creative in ways to make a living,” Vicki Harbour said. “I’m here with my 91 year old mom and I needed to think of things I can do right here.”
Red Shed Gifts is on the corner of Main Street entering Ovando from the west entrance on Highway 200. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Harbour plans to stay open until after Christmas and then open up again in May or June 2024.
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