The Mum Shop

What The Mum Shop does

The Mum Shop is a privately held, family-owned specialty retailer founded in 1984 and based in Allen, Texas (within the Plano/Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex), that designs, manufactures, and sells custom Homecoming mums and garters to North Texas K-12 students and their parents. The company operates from an 18,000+ square-foot seasonal retail storefront and a WooCommerce-based e-commerce site with school-specific ordering forms, serving more than 80 partner schools across elementary, middle, and high school tiers. Its core products are single, double, and triple mum configurations (base prices $43, $48, and $55) and garters (base $37), augmented by an extensive add-on catalog of monograms, ribbons, braids, boas, plushies, lights, and activity-specific charms that materially increase average ticket size. Distribution is delivered through three channels: the physical storefront in Allen, online ordering for in-store pickup, and a school fundraiser program in which partner school organizations collect orders and earn a sales share, with orders delivered directly to participating schools.

The business is run by partners Amy Lockett and Teri following the recent passing of both co-founders, Evelyn Lockett (December 2022) and Wanda Hickman (January 2024), with Orlando Lockett historically managing finances. The company markets itself as "The Original" mum shop, emphasizing 42 years of brand history, no rush or late fees, in-store design assistance, free in-while-you-wait fixes on mistakes, and a "Mum Doctor" repair service for items bought elsewhere. Customer segments include individual high school and middle/elementary school students and their parents (primary), and school organizations that use mum and garter sales as fundraisers (primary). The revenue model is one-time purchase with pay-as-you-go unit pricing, with revenue tied to a narrow 10-12 week Homecoming window (mid-August through late October) each year and offseason operations by appointment only.

Underlying operations remain craft-based: mums are hand-assembled using ribbon work, floral components, and personalized accessories rather than automated manufacturing. Marketing relies on school relationships, word-of-mouth, and an organic social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. The company has no external funding, no parent organization, no patents or trademarks on file, and no public AI/ML, API, or integration infrastructure, with its technology footprint limited to the WooCommerce storefront and standard website CMS tooling.

Name

The Mum Shop

Legal name

The Mum Shop

Website

https://themumshop.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Retail — Homecoming Accessories

NAICS

Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Kids’ & Baby Apparel Retail (CRAAABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Kids Crafts & Educational Craft Kits Retail (CRALACAG)

Keywords

• Custom homecoming mums
• Homecoming garters
• School spirit accessories
• School fundraiser programs
• Specialty retail crafts

Headquarters

HQ city

Plano, Texas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Mum and Garter Sales: One-time purchase of custom-decorated mums and garters for Homecoming events. Products range from basic garter ($37) to Triple Mum ($55 base) with extensive customization add-ons.
2. Component and Supply Sales: Sale of individual mum and garter components and supplies for customers who want to build or customize their own creations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Mum Shop designs, manufactures, and sells custom hand-crafted Homecoming mums and garters for students in North Texas schools. Products range from garter ($37) to Single ($43), Double ($48), and Triple Mum ($55) with extensive customization options including monograms, ribbons, boas, plushies, and activity charms. The business also offers DIY component kits, a school fundraiser program with 80+ partner schools, and the 'Mum Doctor' repair service.

Product overview

The Mum Shop operates as a single-location specialty retailer offering custom homecoming mums (garlands for girls) and garters (for boys), with products available in elementary, middle, and high school tiers. The core offering includes single, double, and triple mum configurations with extensive add-on options including monograms, ribbons, braids, boas, plushies, and specialty accessories. The company also sells DIY component kits, provides school fundraiser programs, and offers custom design services including their 'Mum Doctor' repair service. Products are customized by school with specific colors, mascots, and delivery options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Homecoming Mums Custom hand-crafted chrysanthemum-style garlands traditionally worn by girls at Homecoming events. Available in Single, Double, and Triple flower configurations with school-specific colors and customization, priced from $43 to $55 base.
• Homecoming Garters
• Mum and Garter Component Kits
• School Fundraiser Program

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• School Organizations (Fundraiser Partners)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 1988Starting in 1988, The Mum Shop established fundraiser partnerships with school organizations where the organization advertises for them and takes orders at the school in return for a share of sales. This model has grown to include 80+ schools and is a core part of their business. Amy Lockett began marketing to schools to grow this channel, and many schools use mum sales as their primary fundraiser.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Etsy: Global online marketplace hosting hundreds of independent sellers of custom homecoming mums, garters, DIY kits, and ribbon accessories. Comparable in product category and customization model, but operates as a broad marketplace rather than a dedicated specialist retailer.
• Michaels: Large North American arts and crafts retailer selling ribbons, flowers, and accessories used in mum-making, with strong seasonal and school-project inventory. Competes indirectly on craft component sales but does not offer finished custom homecoming mums or school-specific designs.
• Hobby Lobby: National arts, crafts, and home décor retailer carrying ribbon, floral supplies, and DIY craft components that customers could use to make homecoming mums. Overlaps on craft supply inputs but does not specialize in finished homecoming products or school-specific customization.
• JOANN: Specialty fabric and craft retailer (historically) offering ribbons, florals, and DIY supplies used by homecoming mum makers. Comparable in craft supply adjacency though following its 2024 bankruptcy and store closures, primarily an online brand; does not produce finished mum products.

Others

• Build-A-Bear Workshop: Specialty retailer of custom plush toys with extensive personalization options including accessories, sounds, and outfits. Comparable in the customization-heavy, add-on-driven retail model and use of plushies as gift/giveaway items, though operating in a different product category.
• 1-800-Flowers: National floral and gift retailer with seasonal event product lines and strong same-day delivery infrastructure. Comparable business model around event-driven floral/gift purchases with custom arrangements, though not focused on homecoming or school-specific traditions.
• Oriental Trading Company: Wholesale and retail supplier of party supplies, novelties, and seasonal decorations including ribbons and event accessories. Adjacent to the mum supply chain rather than a direct competitor in finished custom products, but serves similar school and event-driven customers.

Direct peers

• Texas Mums: Another Texas-based homecoming mum and garter specialty retailer serving similar North Texas / Dallas-area schools with custom-made products and school fundraiser programs. Directly comparable product category, customer base, and seasonal business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/themumshop
• Instagraminstagram.com/themumshop
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mum-shop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Mum Shop