Down South Hat Co

If you are looking for a fun, hands-on creative experience that feels more like a party than shopping, look no further than Down South Hat Company in the new Market Place Center in Bryant. Proprietor Mandy Bennett first opened the door to the business in 2023. 

“The idea came from my love for personalized, meaningful accessories,” Mandy said. “I wanted to create an experience where people could design something all on their own. It was something we didn’t have in our area, and I felt like the community needed it.” 

Bennett is a Saline County native and has lived here all her life, except for her years attending UCA in Conway. She and her husband Jeff have two children who she says, “definitely keep life exciting!” Mandy loves the sense of community and connection Saline County offers, and says she chose the new Market Place Center as the location for her business because it is a growing part of the town, and she loves being part of all that momentum. 

The shop’s focus is custom hats, especially lightweight, comfortable trucker hats with a foam front and mesh back. But they also offer a variety of other styles to suit everyone, including guys and youth sizes. “The way it works is that customers pick a hat and then let their creativity come to life,” Mandy explained. 

Customers start by picking their hat style, then head to the patch wall to choose from hundreds of options. They can build a theme, represent their interests, or keep it simple with a single patch. After that, they can add accessories like hat chains, charms, and pins to personalize it further.

Something that sets Down South Hat Company apart is that they design many of their own patches, making them exclusive and one-of-a-kind. Mandy gives Jeff credit for coming up with many of the designs and says, “He is my biggest supporter, and I couldn’t do it without him being so involved. It’s definitely teamwork that makes us successful.” 

The shop recently held a community-wide Easter Egg Hunt, and they also hold a variety of other events through the year such as Valentine’s parties, girls’ nights, back-to-school bashes, and summer pop-ups. “Our private parties are a big hit,” Mandy said. “They typically last about two hours and are held by reservation after shop hours.” 

Guests can bring drinks, snacks, or cake, and everyone gets to design their own hats. The events are perfect for birthdays, bachelorette parties, team bonding, or just a fun night out, and the shop will also travel and bring the full setup to patrons at their homes. 

At an event, guests will have full access to all three of the shop’s hands-on experiences: 

The Hat Bar: Design your own custom trucker hat with thousands of patches, charms, pins, and chains.

The Charm Bar: Pick your necklace, select your charms, and create a custom piece.

Permanent Jewelry: Add something timeless to your look with high-quality, clasp-free permanent pieces.

One of their biggest community events so far was the Justin Moore Benefit at the Boys and Girls Club in Benton—a huge night for Saline County. They created 500 custom hats featuring a special ‘The Club” patch designed just for the occasion. Each attendee received a hat as a gift, and an on-site store was set up so they could personalize them with their own patches. It was an unforgettable experience and a one-of-a-kind, fun way to connect with the community.

“We’ve hosted local baseball moms making hats for summer games, and the Bryant volleyball team for a team bonding night,” Mandy said. “It’s been such a blessing to see so many different groups choose our studio as their place to gather. We’re even honored to be doing Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders daughter’s 13th birthday party at the Governor’s Mansion in May!”  

Down South Hat Company also offers custom bulk orders for parties, teams, and businesses. Their events are always announced on Facebook and Instagram, and Mandy encourages customers to follow their social media pages to stay in the loop, not only for events, but sales as well. 

They are planning a big summer popsicle kickoff sale in June, which will feature discounts on select hats and charms, plus fun giveaways. “It’s not just about shopping; it’s about the experience,” Mandy said. “We love being a space where people can hang out, connect, and get creative. It’s a place where you’ll always feel welcome, where anyone—kids, teens, adults—can come create something that reflects their personality and style. It’s not just about buying something, it’s about making memories.” 

Mandy loves that these memories are being made in Saline County in particular. “This place truly is a shop local, support local concept and that means everything to a small business owner,” she said. “The endorsement we have received from our hometown has been incredible, and we are so grateful for the support this community has shown us,” she said. “We are here because of them!”

Each hat tells a story. Come bring your style to life with a unique experience. The shop is located at 307 Progress Way, Suite 500, directly across from the Blue House Bakery, and is open Tuesday through Saturday.