Repeat Outlet
Offering meaningful work through handmade keepsakes
Bowman, N.D. — Repeat Outlet in Bowman offers more than handcrafted goods. It serves as a bridge between creativity, community and purpose. Operated by ABLE Inc., the store provides vocational support and employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“In Bowman, a work program started in 1982, and it was started in order to provide meaningful work to adults living with intellectual disabilities,” said Shelby Pauley, Director of Satellite Services for ABLE Inc. “In 1984 we merged with ABLE Inc.”
Repeat Outlet is located at 101 N Main St in Bowman and specializes in custom products made from materials brought in by customers. These items often carry emotional weight and personal stories.
“We make memory creations out of loved ones’ clothing or any material that they have,” Pauley said. “We’ll have people who stop by who have saved all their kids’ homecoming t-shirts and they want them made into a t-shirt quilt for graduation… or we’ll have someone who has passed away and their loved one brings in their clothes and we make them a quilt or a memory pillow, etc. whatever they request.”
In addition to memory quilts and pillows, the store offers loom-woven rugs, placemats, tote bags, grocery bags, pet bags, wine bags, retro aprons, potholders and jewelry. The products are created by individuals supported through the program, turning their work into both skill development and service.
“This program was started years ago to give people a place to do meaningful work,” Pauley said. “Each piece we make has a story, whether it’s a t-shirt quilt for graduation or a pillow sewn from a loved one’s clothing.”
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Repeat Outlet also carries Pride of Dakota products, including popular food items from Thunderbird Ranch and Dakota Seasonings.
“Recently we have added the Thunderbird Ranch food products into our store, and they’ve been a hit,” Pauley said. “People really like the Pride of Dakota food products so that’s been a fun thing to add into our store and has attracted some new customers.”
The store participates in regional craft shows, Pride of Dakota events and other local gatherings throughout the year, helping bring attention to both the handcrafted products and the people who make them.
Though Repeat Outlet is based in Bowman, the program reaches into Hettinger through planned pop-up events hosted at the ABLE Inc. group home there.
“We want to make it easy for people in Hettinger to connect with what we’re doing,” Pauley said. “We’re going to have Repeat Outlet pop-up shops at our group home. We are planning to do this quarterly, hopefully starting sometime this summer! People from the community can come shop and check out the products or maybe they’ll drop something off that I bring back and we make it into a quilt or whatever they would like.”
The store’s presence reflects ABLE Inc.’s commitment to blending quality service with opportunity and expression. Each sale directly supports adults with disabilities and helps strengthen community ties.
Repeat Outlet will also have a presence at upcoming Bowman events, including the ND Junior High Rodeo Finals on May 16–17, the Green Thumb Plant Sale on May 20 and the NDRA Rodeo Night on May 24. These events offer residents a chance to support local makers while shopping for heartfelt gifts and practical goods.
For more information or to inquire about custom projects, call 701–523–5844 or visit the store during regular hours.
