Meet the Morrow resident bringing personalized leather branding to the Morrow Arts Center

Morrow resident Kristi Henkener has always loved cow print and leather products, but had a hard time finding high-quality items. 

When space opened up at the Morrow Arts Center, Henkener took the opportunity to open Iron Hyde Boutique, selling leather wallets, backpacks and more. Henkener sources her items from high-quality vendors and offers customers the choice to have their purchase personalized with a custom branding. 

Prior to starting Iron Hyde, Henkener had no experience with branding, but says she “hit the ground running” with the mentorship of Stacia Hartwig Rumbarger, one of the owners of Grace & Mae Boutique.  

“I’m like, hey, if I’m ever going to do this, now’s the time!” Henkener says. “I got some branding sticks, started practicing, found awesome vendors with high-quality products and just got to work.” 

Later this year, Henkener says she hopes to expand into the wedding market, offering brides and grooms the chance to have a trendy wedding branding ceremony—branding a piece of hide together at the altar.  

Products are currently for sale on Iron Hyde’s website, and on June 2, Henkener will host a pop-up at Grace & Mae during the Morrow Arts Center’s First Friday celebration. Customers who stop by can see the branding process up close. 

“People can just stop in, take a look at my products, and if they want to have it branded, I can brand it on site for them,” Henkener says.