Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lisa Dunn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Lisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

After many years in the medical field, I found myself feeling the burnout that so many experience in that profession and I had young kids at home that I needed to spend time with. I loved helping people, but I knew deep down that something was missing — I wanted to wake up each day excited about what I was doing. With the encouragement of my husband, I began to think and pray about what might come next.

After many conversations with friends — several of whom were small business owners — I realized I wanted to create something of my own. The idea of opening a consignment store started to take shape. We did our homework, talking to other shop owners and researching everything we could about how to start and run a successful business, especially one in this field.

Once I felt confident this was the right path, I took a deep breath, put in my notice at work, and within 60 days, we had signed a lease. That’s how Trendy Repeats Consignment was born in 2001. I cashed in my profit sharing so I wouldn’t have to take out a loan, and with the help of family and friends, we got the doors open.

We started small — just 1,200 square feet — but with hard work and community support, we quickly outgrew that space. We eventually expanded to a larger location with two buildings and even began to dabble in formal wear. After several moves (the joys of renting!), we were finally able to purchase our own building in 2009. Having our own space, complete with a parking lot and warehouse, was truly a dream come true — one we weren’t sure would ever happen.

Then in 2016, another unexpected blessing came our way. The church next door went up for sale, and my husband, being the thoughtful (and funny) man he is, had a plan I didn’t know about. He purchased the building, and that’s how Lisa’s Bridal was born. He insisted on naming it after me — though I might have chosen something else!

Lisa’s Bridal is a new retail bridal shop, and we were fortunate enough to start with inventory from a retiring bridal shop whose owners not only helped with inventory but also shared invaluable advice and experience. That generosity helped set us on the right path.

Running two businesses has been both exciting and challenging. There have been days of stress and moments where I’ve wanted to throw my hands up and say “no more.” But every time I feel that way, a kind word from a loyal customer or a story about how our shop helped make someone’s special day perfect reminds me exactly why I took this risk.

It’s been a journey of faith, family, and perseverance — and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Lisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As the owner of Trendy Repeats Consignment and Lisa’s Bridal, and my journey into business wasn’t something I originally set out to do — it was a leap of faith that turned into something truly fulfilling. I spent many years in the medical field, but like many in that profession, I eventually felt the effects of burnout. With the loving encouragement of my husband and after a lot of soul-searching, prayer, and research, I decided it was time to take a risk and follow a new path — one that combined my love for saving money, helping people, and serving the community.

That’s when Trendy Repeats was born — a consignment store built on the idea of giving gently loved clothing a second life while helping families find affordable, stylish options. We started small but grew quickly, eventually expanding to include formal wear and then purchasing our own building.

In 2016, we took another exciting step: opening Lisa’s Bridal, a bridal shop offering new gowns and accessories that you walk out the door with… no waiting because you have to order. What began as a small dream became a two-business operation, serving women and families during some of the most special and meaningful times in their lives — whether it’s finding the perfect prom dress or saying “yes” to the wedding dress. We love hearing the squeals when someone slips on THE dress and have been known to tear up with them when they have said YES to their dream dress.

What sets us apart is our commitment to personal service. We know shopping can be overwhelming, especially for big life events, and we work hard to make every customer feel welcome, valued, and at ease. We also pride ourselves on being budget-conscious without sacrificing style or experience. Many of our customers come to us because they want honest advice, a supportive atmosphere, and a shop that feels like home — and that’s exactly what we strive to provide. We will never lie to a customer just to sell a dress. We want them tickled with their purchase and want them to be a repeat customer!

I’m most proud of the relationships we’ve built over the years — with customers, vendors, and the community. Seeing customers come back time and again, or hearing them say “I tell everyone to come here first,” is the biggest compliment we can receive.

For anyone new to Trendy Repeats or Lisa’s Bridal, I’d want them to know that we’re not just selling clothes or dresses — we’re here to help you feel confident, celebrated, and taken care of. Whether you’re shopping for everyday wear, a special event, or your wedding day, we’re honored to be a part of your story.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Like so many small business owners, the COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard. Being forced to shut our doors was not only scary — it was heartbreaking. We had no idea what the future held, but one thing we did know was that giving up wasn’t an option. Our customers and community meant too much to us. We have been told too many times by many customers how much they rely on our store to clothe their family and to make extra money.

With our storefront closed, we had to get creative — and fast. That’s when we started doing Facebook Live sales, showcasing items from the shop in real-time and interacting with our customers online. It was new territory for us, but the response was amazing. People were so supportive and grateful just to have some sense of normalcy and connection — and we were grateful for them, too.

We also offered curbside pickup to make sure our customers could still get what they needed safely, and we launched personal shopping sessions during COVID via FaceTime, which allowed us to bring a one-on-one, boutique experience straight into their homes. It wasn’t easy, and we were learning as we went, but those efforts helped us stay afloat and continue to serve the people who support us.

Looking back, that time tested every part of us — our patience, our creativity, our grit. But it also reminded us why we do this in the first place. It’s about people, connection, and community. I’m incredibly proud of how we adapted and how our team and customers showed up for each other.

Resilience isn’t just about surviving the storm — it’s about learning how to dance in the rain. And that’s exactly what we did with the support and love from our customers.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Our strategy for building clientele has always centered around one key principle: genuine relationships. From the very beginning, we’ve focused on creating a warm, welcoming environment where people feel valued — not just as customers, but as part of our community.

We believe word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of marketing, so we strive to give every person who walks through our doors (or shops with us online during one our online sales) a positive, personal experience they’ll want to share with others. Whether it’s helping someone find the perfect outfit, taking extra time during a bridal appointment, or simply remembering a returning customer’s name, those small touches go a long way.

We also stay active on social media, especially Facebook, where we engage with our followers, go live with new arrivals, run special giveaways, and keep people updated on what’s happening in the store. It helps us stay connected and reach new audiences in a way that feels authentic and accessible. We also like to participate in the city Pumpkin Walk where we make a display that everyone gets to enjoy and it also gets our name out to people who aren’t familiar with us. It is a lot of fun and our customers love it!

Another strategy that’s been successful for us is offering personalized services such as one-on-one bridal consultations. People appreciate when you go the extra mile to make their experience easier, more enjoyable, and tailored to their needs while sticking to their budget and not pushing for them to break it.

Ultimately, our best strategy is just being consistent, reliable, and real. When people know they can trust you and enjoy doing business with you, they not only come back — they bring others with them.

Image Credits

The picture of the buildings is our properties.. both Lisa’s Bridal and Trendy Repeats as they are side by side. We opened the bridal shop up in a very old church.