Meet Stephanie Morrison | Business Owner & Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Morrison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I grew up in South Texas and moved to the DFW area about 25 years ago. I have no formal business training. In fact, I have a Master’s Degree in environmental management. After college I worked with the state of Texas environmental agency (TCEQ). I ended that career when my daughters were born, eventually homeschooling them. I have always dreamt of having a store. I started with making a few crafts and then selling clothing online. Pretty quickly, I became aware of the fast fashion industry and felt like I wanted to move away from clothing. My mom sewed a lot of my clothes when I was little and she taught me to sew. When my own kids were young I also sewed for them, even repurposing my grandma’s sheet into matching pjs for my daughters and I. I loved to shop at thrift stores and repurpose fabrics and items. While visiting a friend in OR one summer, I visited a refillery. I thought it was such an amazing concept. We waste so much and over produce too much. My concern for environmental issues, my background in sewing and repurposing along with meeting the right people, spurred me to open my own sustainable business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I opened Green Thistle only one year ago. I am still learning and tweaking my way through business ownership. I started out as a vendor in a store. After a few months, the opportunity presented itself for me to take ownership of the business. My goal is to create a place that supports local artisans and sustainability. Making things has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. I wanted to create a place that showcases the art of makers and also allows them to share their talents and encourage and teach others to create. Green Thistle has a workspace for rent and we try to offer at least 2 creative workshops a month. By shopping local and handmade, you reduce the impact of shopping on the environment. And, you are ensuring the products you buy are made ethically. The other main focus at Green Thistle is the refillery. The refillery is a place where customers can refill containers of common household products instead of rebuying containers of single use plastic. We offer refillable and plastic-free options of products ranging from shampoo to toilet bowl cleaner. The movement is catching on. And you know what? It is aesthetically pleasing also!
It has not been easy running a business. I have found that it is difficult to find time to work on my own creative pursuits. I love the business model we have at our store because we are a group of small businesses that help share the cost of doing business. I am also very fortunate to have a business neighbor that helps me with the day to day store management issues.
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to trust my own vision and not be too easily swayed by other’s opinions. Yet also recognizing and accepting guidance and advice from those who have plowed the path before me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I visit a new place, I want to see what makes that place special. So of course that means eating and shopping small and local. For a casual day in Ft Worth, we would start the day off at Race Street coffee & then head to the museums downtown . For dinner, my current favorite place to eat is Tropic Lady! The plantain tacos and the dip trio are both amazing. And the drinks are delicious with a big variety of both mocktails and alcoholic drinks.
A trip to Dallas would be fun. I love strolling the shops & restaurants in Bishop Arts because of all the local unique places.
I also like to see the natural or historical areas that give a city its sense of place. For a natural day we would grab kayaks and hit one of the local lakes or nearby state parks. And of course no trip to Ft Worth is complete without a stroll through the historic stockyards. If we are really lucky we would catch a show at Bass Hall.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Sandy Honeycutt who owns Vintage Treasures next door to me gave me the confidence to take the leap and keep going with my vision for a store. My 2 daughters were also so encouraging!

Website: https://Www.GreenThistleEmporium.com

Instagram: GreenThistleEmporium

Facebook: GreenThistleEmporium