Otter & Oak invites you to explore our passion for fashion, community, and creativity. Our blog is a place to learn about our apparel lines, upcoming sales, and fashion tips.
Otter & Oak has another Ambassador - Andrea Richmond!
Andrea getting ready to greet her students
Andrea Richmond, a proud graduate of Summers County High School, is preparing to start her 15th year teaching at her alma mater. She is deeply involved in the community, volunteering for Hinton’s Hometown Christmas, organizing the Christmas Festival, and leading Mrs. Claus’s Market. Andrea launched Mrs. Claus’s Market in 2020, providing school-aged children the opportunity to buy inexpensive gifts for their family and friends during the Christmas season.
"Mrs. Claus's Market helps the kids learn about the joys of giving gifts to loved ones and fosters an appreciation for selflessness."
Curtis Mayhem Jackson
Andrea’s knack for using social media to promote community events came naturally. She even has an Instagram account for her dog! Currently, her favorite platform is TikTok, where she enjoys making videos and finds it a great way to learn about new things. She uses social media to discover interesting places to eat and visit, and loves watching videos about crafting, fashion, and makeup.
Andrea and her husband, Jason at the Nashville Superspeedway
Even before becoming an Otter Ambassador, Andrea enthusiastically promoted Otter & Oak and Otter Café, along with other local businesses. She is passionate about helping local businesses thrive, showcasing the charm of our small town to tourists, and encouraging locals to take pride in Summers County.
Follow Andrea's social media accounts for updates and a discount code!
By now, you’ve probably heard that Otter & Oak has chosen a social media ambassador - Emily Short. Emily will be highlighting Otter & Oak products on her social media channels: emily_short__ on Instagram, and facebook.com/emily.short.39108.
Emily modelling for Otter & Oak, Fall 2022
This is not Emily’s first time helping to promote Otter & Oak. She has been modeling at the store with the SCCHS cheerleaders every spring and fall for the past 2 years. We have always been impressed by her professionalism and positive outlook.
We recently sat down with Emily to find out a little more about her. Here’s the scoop: She told us she loves animals and being out in nature. She hopes to travel abroad one day and loves seeing pictures and videos from around the world! Emily has several cats. Her cat, Luna, could be heard in the background during our interview!
Emily loved being a SCCHS cheerleader
Emily recently graduated from high school where she loved cheerleading, participating in the yearly Spirit Bowl competitions, and performing the school’s fight song during football games. Little girls would flock to the cheerleaders during the games and Emily wanted to be a positive role model for them.
Her next steps will be attending WVU Tech as a Nursing Student. Emily attributes her inspiration for becoming a nurse to a few people in her family. She talked about how her Mom is such a kind and caring nurse. From a young age, she always wanted to follow in her Mom’s footsteps. Seeing her brother walk across the stage to get his nursing degree really cemented Emily’s desire to further her education in the health services field. She wants her future patients to be shown love and kindness. We think her sunny disposition and constant smile will serve her well in this capacity as well as in her role as Otter’s Ambassador.
When she graduates, Emily plans to be a traveling nurse so she can see more of the world. She hopes to travel to Greece one day! Her love of fashion, nature, and travel inspire her social media interactions. She loves showing off her beautiful home state and can’t wait to show off her modeling skills as the Otter & Oak Ambassador.
Otter & Oak is excited to announce that we're commemorating a big achievement: ten years of devoted service to you, our amazing clients. It has been quite an amazing trip, made possible by your support. Thank you for being our loyal customers.
We are thrilled to extend an invitation to our anniversary sale in celebration of this out 10th anniversary! Come celebrate ten years of excellence and participate in our special anniversary discount. As a thank you for being a part of our adventure, find unbelievable savings, thrilling promotions, and unexpected surprises on May 25 & 26.
We will also be announcing our first Otter Ambassador, who will be promoting Otter & Oak with online content. This ambassador has modeled with Otter & Oak for several years and is a loyal Otter & Oak and Otter Cafe customer. In the coming months, we'll be choosing another ambassador. Follow the link above or come into the store to apply.
Otter & Oak shortly after opening
From its March 2014 reopening under the new management of MountainPlex Properties LLC, Otter & Oak has been a legacy to the spirit of discovery, artistic expression, and community involvement. Located in Hinton's National Historic District in WV, our store has long been a favorite with both residents and tourists.
Otter & Oak has strived to satisfy the changing needs and interests of our customers. Initially recognized for our selection of well-known brands including Kelty, NRS, GoPro, and apparel from Prana and Kuhl, we swiftly established ourselves as the area's preferred source for outdoor apparel and equipment.
Stand Up Paddleboard demo
One of our top priorities has always been to offer chances for local adventure. Inviting guests to experience the stunning scenery of Bluestone Lake and the Greenbrier River, we provided daily rentals of duckies, SUPs, and tubes. Summertime stand-up paddleboard demonstrations gave visitors the opportunity to try this thrilling sport firsthand.
Otter & Oak became known as an outdoor enthusiast's one-stop store. As the years went we've added boutique apparel labels like Charlie B, North River, and Judy Blue Jeans to our selection, along with Hydroflask, Garmin, and ENO outdoor gear.
Otter & Oak is more than just a clothing and gear store – it's a hub of community culture. Our offerings are enhanced by Rivertown Gallery, featuring books and artwork by regional writers and artists, where customers can peruse prints, paintings, and stained glass. We saw an opportunity to increase our offerings and opened Otter Cafe in 2021. Customers love taking their tasty beverages and treats to the windows overlooking downtown Hinton.
SCCHS cheerleaders and football players
In recent years, we started working with the Summers County Bobcats football team and cheerleaders, using them as models for our apparel lines in an effort to forge closer community links. In an effort to better the lives of our neighbors and locals, we are also dedicated to helping local nonprofits and educational institutions with donations, volunteer labor, and fundraising events.
2020 Best of WV
The recognition and awards we've won confirm our impact. From 2020 when we were crowned the Regional Winner for WV Living's Best Place to Shop in the New River/Greenbrier Valley Region to our nominations for multiple categories in the years that followed, including Best Place to Buy Women's Clothing, Best Outdoor/Gear Shop, and Best Place to Buy Men's Apparel, we have continuously gained the confidence and thanks of our clients.We hit new highs in 2023 when we were selected Regional Winner for Best Place to Buy Men's Apparel and Best Outdoor/Gear Shop once more. Being the #1 apparel and gear destination in the region was further validated by our 2nd Runner Up finish in the same category.
One thing is for sure, Otter & Oak will keep serving and empowering our community by offering unmatched experiences and encouraging a passion for adventure, creativity, and connection. Come along on the next leg of our trip together.
