Released July 3, 2007

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Today a remarkable Kansas company is using the technology of the Internet to be the store next door for almost anyone. Connie Miller is owner of the Cimarron River Company, which sells beautiful Native American Indian jewelry, clothing and accessories.

Connie and her husband are ranchers in New Mexico and southwest Kansas.

In 2003, however, their daughter-in-law Kim was selling palm leaf hats - said to be the greatest working cowboy hats - at a rodeo. Connie decided to give Kim a hand, so found a small line of jewelry she could sell, as well.

The response was so excellent that Connie and Kim eventually launched their own business. They named it the Cimarron River Company for their area of southwest Kansas. Then Connie became the company´s sole owner in 2005.

Connie is originally from Texas, but married a lifelong Kansan. She and her husband both love turquoise, that beautiful stone typically made into Southwestern jewelry. And, handmade turquoise jewelry brought in from Arizona and New Mexico quickly became the company´s focal point.

Connie says, "I am an admirer and collector of turquoise, and we enjoy selling turquoise jewelry made by Native American Indians."

Over time, Connie expanded the product line to include many one-of-a- kind jewelry pieces.

Today, Cimarron River Company offers a wonderful collection of top- quality Native American Indian jewelry and accessories. The company offers concho belts, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, purses, fashions, furs, specialty gifts, baby gifts, home decor, cowboy gear, and hand-crafted Zuni fetishes. Wow.

Connie explains that the Zuni fetishes are tiny animals, hand-carved primarily out of stone and signed by the Zuni Indian craftspersons who make them. She says the Indians carry them for good luck and the little figures are really cute. A lot of the company´s fetishes are one-of-a-kind, as well.

The Cimarron River Company advertises in the national magazine Cowboys and Indians and a new online magazine called Contemporary Western Design. In spring 2007, the company´s products were highlighted in the spring fashion feature of American Cowboy magazine.

Connie says, "We try to find unusual items that people will enjoy. We love what we do."

In fact, she seems to have lots of fun, shopping for attractive items and helping customers.

In addition to online sales, Connie offers her products through a hometown retail outlet, where she´s in partnership with a local artist.

Kim designed the business Web site (http://www.cimarronrivercompany.com/), which Connie says has been fundamental to its success.

"It makes us the store next door. A lot of people find us on the Internet and then call," she says.

The impact of Internet sales on local retail businesses that really are next door is an ongoing concern for small communities. In Connie´s case, however, the products she sells are virtually unique and certainly not available in her hometown, other than through her business.

Connie has sent items from coast to coast. She has sent California shirts to New Hampshire and furs to Florida. She gets inquiries from as far away as Belgium.

That´s not bad for a company based outside of Satanta, Kan., population 1,222 people. (Now, that´s rural.)

Connie says with a smile, "We get lots of calls from husbands around Christmas and their wife´s birthday time, and we help them get out of the doghouse with a nice gift. We care about whether it fits or the necklace is right.

"We also guarantee every item we sell, and we get to meet a lot of wonderful people."

With the store next door - or at least as close as your computer - Connie Miller is making a difference through creativity, good taste, and innovation in bringing products to customers. With such entrepreneurs, rural Kansas should undoubtedly have even better things in store.

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http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/news/sty/KSProfile.htm

Contact: Ron Wilson, (785) 532-7690, rwilson@ksu.edu