His Inspirations celebrates 10th anniversary

Downtown business offers religious gifts and books

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Steve Ranson / LVN

Wende Hook, left, owner of His Inspirations Christian Books and Gifts, and Kari Ernst, owner of Blush Skin Spa, share the same building at 200 s. Maine St.

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Steve Ranson / LVN

His Inspirations is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week.

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Steve Ranson / LVN

Many gifts, books and consignment items are offered at His Inspirations Christian Books and Gifts

By Steve Ranson

Nevada News Group

This will be a busy week for Wende Hook and her downtown Fallon business, His Inspirations Christian Books and Gifts.

As a small business owner, she is blessed to offer items no other shop carries. First, she celebrated her 10th anniversary of being in business with cake and juice on Monday, and during this week, she is offering specials culminating with Small Business Saturday. Headed by the Fallon Chamber of Commerce, the national campaign Small Business Saturday encourages shoppers to buy locally and keep their money within the community.

His Inspirations is open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. closed Thanksgiving; open by appointment only on Friday; and open Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hook said people may call her on Friday at 775-217-3493 (cellphone) or 775-423-0622.

On Small Business Saturday, His Inspirations will have a tier system for discounts except consignment items: 8-10 a.m. 30% off entire store; 10 a.m.-noon, 25% off; and noon to closing, 20% off. The past decade has been one of joy for Hook, although the economy during that time has seen its ups and downs.

Hook, though, had envisioned a career as a teacher before she opened His Inspirations. A Churchill County native, she excelled in both the classroom and in athletics. She competed in volleyball, basketball and track, and when she attended the University of Montana Western in Dillion, she played college volleyball. The Fallon native taught first and second grades for 12 years, but she took a year off in 2009 after her husband died in a small airplane crash.

“Kari (Ernst) approached me with an idea,” Hook said when discussing the origin of her new venture.

At the time, Ernst, an aesthetician had her own business, Blush Skin and Spa Boutique, business at Cobblestone Corners on East Center Street.

“She didn’t have joy in her life and needed something in her life,” Ernst said.

Hook and Ernst both pitched the idea to Ray and Dee Dee Ferguson, former owners of the small indoor shopping center, and after a month of construction and ordering, Hook opened her business with a collection of gifts and religious books for all ages.

Two years later, though, both Hook and Ernst, along with Karen Scott, owner of Too Cute Totes, decided to combine their businesses into one building, the former Fallon National Bank offices on the southwest corner of Maine and Center streets. Architect Frank Woodliff III has his office in the other half of the former bank building. Several years ago, though, Scott and her family moved from Fallon, and she closed her shop.

Hook said she carries religious gifts, books and consignment items. If she doesn’t have an item, she can order it. She said consignment items include items such as wood-carved crosses and bath salts.

Hucke said she also does gift wrapping and carries gifts for the holidays. The store also carries crafts made by local artists and books written by area authors.

It’s no accident Hook has a love for books.

As a elementary-school teacher, she kept thousands of books in her classroom for the youngsters to check out. She said the majority of book had been donated.

Ernst’s business, now known as Blush Skin Spa, has products for sale and also gift certificates for purchase during the week. She also offers appointments for her aesthetic services.