Simply 4 You brings custom style, community-themed apparel in Hawesville

A locally owned shop in Hawesville is helping residents find custom clothing and gifts that reflect their interests and hometown connections. At Simply 4 You, customers can choose local designs while supporting a small business that grew out of one woman’s longtime love of crafts and creating for her family.

Owner Natalie Jackson of Hawesville features custom clothing, decals and designs, along with a large selection of ready-to-purchase items in the store. The shop, located at 465 Hawes Blvd., carries hats, T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sweatpants, pajama pants, shorts and other seasonal clothing, with inventory that changes throughout the year.

She also takes custom orders for school shirts, employee apparel, decals and other items for customers who bring in ideas or send photos of designs they like. She prioritizes Hancock County schools, sports and businesses, but also creates apparel for other schools and organizations, including across the river in Tell City.

At times, the shop has taken pre-orders for limited items, such as sturdy beach and pool bags made with Croc-like material through a supplier, with plans to offer them again in a future ordering window.

Inside the shop, you’ll find everything from special collections to everyday wear, many of them focused on local and regional motifs. Shoppers will find T-shirts with patriotic and Kentucky designs, as well as seasonal themes such as the “school is out for summer” line and other designs inspired by her daughters and grandchildren.

The store stocks Hancock County Schools apparel, including Hornets items and designs for all four Hancock County schools: Hancock County High School, Hancock County Middle School, South Hancock Elementary School and North Hancock Elementary School. Designs include shirts that pair each school’s acronym with “Hornets,” such as HCHS Hornets, HCMS Hornets, SHES Hornets and NHES Hornets.

There are styles that range from sporty and simple to glittery and feminine, with options that appeal to a wide variety of customers. Jackson said many orders also go to people who once lived in Hancock County and still want shirts that represent their hometown or home state. Many customers find the shop through Facebook and place orders from outside the county, including out-of-state and overseas.

The shop carries shirts recognizing national appreciation weeks and months, and holiday-themed shirts. Faith-based designs are part of the mix as well, with shirts that feature Bible verses and messages such as “Jesus is King,” a nod to the encouragement she has sometimes tucked inside her work with uplifting messages like “God loves you.”

Jackson began selling her work in 2015, when she rented a booth at The Vault in downtown Lewisport. She helped the owner on certain days and sold furniture she refinished, barnwood pieces and other craft items.

Her interest in making shirts started at home. With four daughters, she often made shirts and spirit wear for school events and pep rallies, and their friends would gather around the house to help decorate shirts with paint, glitter and tie-dye.

Growing up, she watched her grandmother, the late Aileen Adkins, sew clothing, quilts and other items for the family. Jackson said she learned from her grandmother to dive into projects, figure things out and keep going.

That inspiration later helped her move from hand-decorated shirts to using a Silhouette Cameo and heat-transfer vinyl, and then a heat press instead of an iron for longer-lasting designs. Since then, she has upgraded her equipment to handle more orders and more detailed designs.

The shop’s name was inspired by that family connection. Jackson said she often thought of her daughters when she made things for them and liked the idea that what she creates is “simply for you.” Her grandmother’s habit of sewing “Made by Aileen” tags into handmade clothing also influenced the name and the personal touches she sometimes adds, like the short, hidden messages inside shirts.

She started the business on her own and later asked her younger sister, Amy Singleton, to join her. Singleton now partners with her in the shop while also working for Hancock County Assessment, where Jackson worked for 21 years before stepping into full-time business ownership.

“I get to spend every day with my sister,” she said. “She is here in Hawesville at the co-op working as well and is the secretary and treasurer at the insurance company.”

Jackson describes herself as the crafter and Singleton as the “computer whiz” who handles much of the technology and helps manage the growing volume of orders.

Simply 4 You has partnered with the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce to offer Hancock is Home merchandise. Those items include hooded rain jackets, baseball caps and T-shirts featuring the Hancock is Home logo, which are available at the shop, online and at The Wildflower Floral and Gifts in Lewisport. Some of the shop’s other apparel is also available at The Wildflower, which features many local artisans’ wares.

“We got together with the Chamber and they shared their designs with us,” Jackson said. “We put those on different items and anything we sell, we give back 20% to the Chamber.”

She believes in supporting local businesses. Simply 4 You is a sponsor of 3rd Region Sports Network, or 3RSN, which has been livestreaming Hancock County sporting and special events since 2010.

She said the support from the community has been overwhelming and that she and her sister look for ways to give back whenever they can.

Customer input is invited on the Simply 4 You Facebook page, where Jackson asks what designs people would like to see more of in the store. She hosts drawings, prize giveaways and weekly games on the page. On Wednesdays, followers are invited to answer a simple question in the comments and those who respond are entered into a drawing, with a winner announced on Friday.

She said Game Day Wednesday started out of her desire to give back to other small businesses. Prizes often include gift certificates to her shop and to other local businesses so winners can support shops and restaurants across Hancock County.

Customers can pay using cash, check, Venmo or PayPal. The Venmo account is listed as @Natalie-Jackson-116, and PayPal payments can be sent to [email protected]. The shop does not accept debit or credit cards.

Natalie Jackson and her husband, Billy, are blessed with four daughters, Lara Hager, Jessica Owen, Erica Pulliam and Jenna Price. Their 12th grandchild will be born at the end of July.

Amy Singleton and her husband, Benny, are blessed with four children, Tanner Singleton, Ty Singleton, Talon Singleton and Hallie Singleton Hagman, and two grandchildren.

Simply 4 You is at 465 Hawes Boulevard in Hawesville. Current hours are 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, with extended hours posted on the Facebook page when Jackson is able to stay later. Customers can call or text 270-922-0144, email [email protected] or send a message through Facebook to ask questions, place custom orders or request items to be shipped. Updates are posted regularly on the Simply 4 You Facebook page.