Today we’d like to introduce you to Riley Shipley and Lindsey Thompson.
Hi Riley and Lindsey, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
It seems the saying, opposites attract, holds true for Thomas + Rye. The worlds of a small-town girl from Stephenville, Texas combine with a big city girl from Dallas to create an online boutique that expresses its small-town southern hospitality in every aspect of business, while providing on-trend, unique, and affordable styles for everyday wear and special occasions.
I, Lindsey Thompson, born and raised in Plano, Texas moved to the small town of Stephenville, Texas where Friday Night Nights is a real thing, and where the culture of hard work, hospitality, loyalty, and pride is instilled in the character of the people that live here. It’s a small town with a slower pace that invites genuine conversations and where you feel welcomed with warmth by those you meet.
Riley Courtland, born and raised in the Dallas area has over the years dedicated herself to building a brand through @RileyCourtland that has expressed her love for fashion, faith, food, and dancing (Riley is a Former Dallas Mavericks Dancer), and all things Dallas. She is the ultimate optimist that brings creativity, drive, passion, and enthusiasm to the business.
When we started talking about Thomas+Rye it was instantly an easy decision to say yes to! Between our history, friendship, and trust that we already had, combined with the talents of each of us, there was no question that Thomas+Rye could really work. Since the launch of our store, we have had the privilege of working with and developing relationships with a variety of well-known and recognized brands and businesses in the Dallas community. We pair anything from local attractions, restaurants, beauty bars, and special events together to tell a story that brings to light the character and unique gems in Dallas, while capturing the heart of what Thomas+Rye is all about — community, style, friendship, hospitality, and fun.
Looking toward the future, we hope to continue to be a place that fosters a sense of community and friendship with our customers and with the businesses and brands we work within the Dallas area. We want to stay true to our roots and reflect the hospitality and warmth we value in our personal touches, styles selected and interactions we have with our customers on a daily basis and we want you to feel a part of our family and what we are doing!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Riley and I both work a full-time job along with running Thomas+Rye together. I think the hardest thing we have encountered so far is the scheduling conflicts we naturally have in order to communicate as often as we would like. With the majority of our time during the day being devoted to our jobs, we usually are up late at night talking about future launches and plans. We have divided roles well, in that Riley, with her eye for fashion and depth of knowledge of social media, purchases the clothes and is in charge of marketing on social media, while I take care of the accounting and operations. We have worked well as a team and I certainly think laughter and friendship has helped make this a really fun business to start.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Thomas and Rye?
We are known for selecting styles at Thomas + Rye that stand out, that are one-of-a-kind looking pieces, and that have a pop of personality. Often our clothing can be dressed up or dressed down and selected to fit various occasions.
We’d love to hear what you think about risk-taking?
Riley and I both took a risk to start Thomas+Rye. My husband and I moved to Stephenville to start a real estate development company. While growing that business, we needed a way to bridge the gap financially. I started a Real Estate Transaction Coordinating business, which led me back into real estate now and at the same time I saw the cute, sweet, fun, and creative Riley that I always knew was building her brand on @RileyCourtland. I asked her if she had ever thought about starting an online boutique, and surprisingly her answer was no. The idea was planted though and we began building our website and the process of setting up our retail business. Once we launched Thomas+Rye, Riley decided not to continue promoting other clothing brands on @RileyCourtland as to not compete with Thomas+Rye. Thankfully, that decision has opened up doors to connect with other brands she would not have had the opportunity to work with and continue to create fun, meaningful content for them, one of her many passions!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thomasandrye.com
- Instagram: @shopthomasandrye
- Facebook: @shopthomasandrye
Image Credits
Riley Courtland
