The T Shop is a community-based gift shop that is looking to provide a fun alternative to shopping at the mall, according to owner Lori Trent. The store offers flowers and giftable items for a number of occasions, such as birthdays or personal celebrations.
Trent has been working in retail for over 35 years, running the Matthew Trent jewelry store in Dallas. She first launched the gift shop as part of the jewelry store before moving to Lakewood. A year ago, Trent moved the store into its current location across from the Lakewood Theater.
A lot of inventory at The T Shop is seasonal with the gift shop regularly offering new products to entice customers to return often. The shop does not carry a lot of brand-name merchandise, instead sourcing locally made goods to satisfy guests.
An important aspect of the store is creating a friendly atmosphere, incorporating the idea of small-town America, Trent said.
“Every small town needs a neighborhood gift shop to stop in and grab a little something,” Trent said. “I live less than a mile away, and I raised my kids here, so I just believe in the neighborhood and knew we needed some gift shops.”
On top of selling gifts, The T Shop operates as a full-service flower shop offering hand-cut floral arrangements for pickup and delivery. Over the last two years, the flower operations have become a big part of the company’s business.
“I just sort of fell into it,” Trent said. “At first, there weren’t really any special orders. We just made flowers that people could take. It sort of evolved when people started asking us to do parties and weddings. We kept growing it gradually, so now it’s a big part of what we do.”
Going forward, Trent said she wishes to establish smaller versions of The T Shop in other neighborhoods, including nearby Lake Highlands.
The T Shop, 6342 La Vista Drive, Ste. B, Dallas. 214-821-8314. www.thetshop.shop Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
