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It was Timbrel Wallace’s father who suggested she call her downtown Gettysburg gift shop “Lark.”
“I wanted a name that was happy and uplifting. Of course, a lark is a bird, and the two sayings that come to mind are ‘happy as a lark’ and ‘doing something on a lark,’ indicating spontaneity. That all resonated with me,” says Wallace, and her shop was born, featuring a little bird perched on the “L” of the shop’s logo and signage.
Wallace set out to create a retail shop unlike anything else in Gettysburg. “People ask me what I carry, and I have a hard time describing it, because it can literally be anything,” Wallace says with a laugh. “Anything that offers excitement—that’s what I want. I’m not looking for individual products; I’m looking for qualities: excitement, design, craftsmanship…an element that stands out.”
Lark: A Modern Marketplace opened on—no joke—April Fools’ Day 2011, and Wallace says customer response told her she was on the right track. Residents and visitors alike appreciated her cultivated collection of home décor, artwork, jewelry, candles, fashion, greeting cards, gifts for babies and children, and much more.
“Despite what people say about online shopping, people still want to shop in person too—to hold, touch, and experience the product,” Wallace says.
Located on historic Lincoln Square, sandwiched between Gettysburg Baking Company and Hauser Estate Winery’s downtown shop, Lark has exposed beams, original brick walls and hardwood floors that provide an historic backdrop for the shop’s colorful, often whimsical, displays. In many ways, Lark is a contrast of old and new, vintage and modern, repurposed and reimagined.
Colorful paper star lanterns glow in the shop’s front windows; an inviting seating area and fireplace are graced by artwork created from reclaimed wood and vintage dictionary pages. Uplifting and witty messages include “love you to the moon and back,” “not all who wander are lost,” and “you’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” Behind the register, hanging on vintage brick walls, are modern paintings created by Metro, Adams County’s “painting racehorse” who has been featured on The Today Show, BBC, and other media outlets.
Lark offers a wide variety of S’well bottles (“I like to support women-owned companies,” says Wallace), Natural Life products proclaiming “good vibes only” and “live happy,” baskets of retro candy, kitchen accessories with a vintage vibe (including aprons), a wide variety of scarves and wraps, and “moon phase” jewelry. And Wallace says everyone loves Lark’s socks. “Cute socks, snarky socks—they make people so happy.”
Lark doesn’t contain mass-produced products, nor is it an art gallery. “What you find in the middle are wonderful small businesses making items that are handmade, design-oriented, fair-trade, and unique—although that word is overused,” Wallace says. “Making a connection with independent small businesspeople making unique products and hearing their stories is rewarding.”
Wallace discovers many of Lark’s products through Etsy’s wholesale marketplace. She also attends retail trade shows in New York and Atlanta, plus two trade shows showcasing handmade items in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
“The shop itself is as well put together as the merchandise,” says customer Shannon McConnell of Gettysburg. “I have three small children, and it’s visually stimulating for them. I’ve even taken pictures of the displays—the creativity is amazing.”
McConnell, who has purchased toys, candy, cards, and other gifts at Lark, says, “Whether you’re young or young at heart, there’s something about this store that makes you feel creative and excited.”
Wallace honed her retail skills while working for six years at Crate & Barrel in Atlanta. She says her store management and visual merchandising positions were “great experiences” under Crate & Barrel founder Gordon Segal. “He was super passionate about what he did. He was an inspirational person who made his employees feel like they were doing more than selling things—you were really creating personal relationships and customer service,” she says.
“When you think about retail in those terms, it’s not about selling items; it’s about connecting with people. It’s the right arena for me,” says Wallace, who says owning and operating Lark has brought all her skills and creativity together.
“I love creating fun displays that spark an emotion—helping people feel uplifted,” she says. “I want people to be surprised and delighted when they come into Lark.”
Mentoring the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Lark owner Timbrel Wallace and husband Scott own a second unique shop in downtown Gettysburg, The Nerd Herd Gifts & Games. “I had this gaggle of teens [including son Nick] in my basement playing board games every weekend, so an idea came together in my head,” she says. The couple mentors Nick and seven of his friends, who pour their ideas and energy into creating a pop culture-oriented shop specializing in games—as evidenced by the large chess set outside The Nerd Herd.
The teens are learning how to budget, honing their people skills, and creating everything from displays to a website; the student-run retail shop has done better than breaking even. Wallace says the teens have earned paychecks since the beginning, nearly three years ago. Now, many of the teens are embarking upon college and say their experience at The Nerd Herd has helped them hone critical life skills and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Lark
17 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, PA
717-334-5275 / Larkgifts.com
