Argyle Party and Gifts’ owner Emily Holt curates a selection of gifts and apparel from local businesses with the intention of stocking her shop with unique items shoppers won’t find anywhere else, she said.
Holt started a cookie business in October 2016, where she sold custom-made sugar cookies using a long-time family recipe. She opened her retail shop in September 2022 and continues to sell her cookies along with custom cupcakes and cookie cakes.
She uses her background in corporate retail buying to select items people want to purchase every season, including floral arrangements, Argyle ISD spirit wear and apparel.
“It’s the way all my businesses ebb and flow together that make [this shop] successful,” Holt said.
What’s special about it?
Holt seeks to bring the community together through a monthly farmers market where people can buy locally grown produce in a 100-mile radius around Argyle.
“My dad was a farmer in South Texas,” she said. “My brother still farms down there, and if I could tell you how many black-eyed peas that I've shelled or how many ears of corn that I've sold to people; I mean, [farm products are] inherently in my DNA."
Holt’s upbringing with planting food gave her a love of agriculture, which she seeks to share with others through the Argyle Farmers Market.
“It's really important for me to educate the kids [and adults] in our community about [agriculture] and why it's important to shop local," she said.
Holt also wants to establish classes at her shop, which she did before moving to her current location in December. Since the new building is smaller than her old shop, the classes would be hosted outside on the back porch, she said.
“Community is so important to us and who we are,” Holt said.
Staying local
Holt stocks her retail shop with items from within Argyle, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and around Texas.
“One of the things that [is] super important to me is to buy local where possible,” Holt said.
The shop seasonally sells locally grown flowers that are dropped off by Jamie Sutherland, and if they aren’t sold, Sutherland presses them into cards that shoppers can purchase. Customers can also purchase men's and women's gifts, Texas-themed items, local packaged foods, grab-and-go meals, and party balloons.
Holt seeks to work with customers to make her products affordable, she said.
“A lot of times I'm able to work within budgets," she said. “[The customer and I] work together to figure out how to make something happen.”
Looking ahead
Holt had to briefly pause her monthly farmers market when she moved locations in Argyle, but is starting it up again April 11 in the Argyle Community Church parking lot. The market will be held every month on the second Saturday through October, with a special holiday market on the third Saturday of November, Holt said.
Additionally, Holt plans to stock her retail shop with perishable items, including milk, eggs, bread and tortillas on the Saturdays that don’t have the market from 10 a.m.-noon.
