OAK FOREST, IL — A South Side woman has found her niche and opened up a shop for it in Oak Forest. Previously a member of the corporate workforce, Takina Morris was looking for something a bit more gratifying to dabble in. She's found her creative outlet and it's nestled in a strip mall off 158th Street and Central Avenue.

Morris' The Plug, 15809 Central Ave. , offers custom printed apparel and paper products—everything from t-shirts, hoodies, baseball hats, to water bottles, signs, tumblers, and a variety of promotional items.

It took Morris a bit to find her passion, but she's so glad she did. The former paralegal jumped in head-first to an internship at The Plug's Mt. Greenwood location last winter, and quickly flew through it, supplementing her time there with her own online education, through seminars, and learning from others. Now she's hoping people will find their ways to her shop so she can show them what she's got.

"I learned pretty fast, and I've always continued my own education, I don't just stick with one person to teach me something," Morris said. "Every day I'm looking at something educational, and I'm always practicing."

Though she caught on quickly to the process of creating custom goods, she has found herself facing some obstacles and unknowns in the early days of her business.

"I had a lot of hard lessons to learn once I actually opened up the shop," she said. "I had to make the mistakes, and it helped me figure out what I did wrong, and what not to do next time."

After some Covid-related delays to securing the space, Morris spared no expense with equipment, making sure she has high-end machines that can deliver products she can be proud of. Much of the build-out of the space is specific to the The Plug brand, with its signature bright bold green, black and white, but she added her own personal touches. The counters where she'll consult with clients are custom-made, complete with chalkboard paint on the fronts, where clients' children can play with their own creativity as Morris helps their parents design their dream product.

She walks clients through each step—from choosing and creating their design, picking a color and shirt material, print method that will work best with the material and every fine-tuned detail. It's the creative process that invigorates her, she said, a complete change of pace from her previous jobs as both a paralegal and working for the Chicago Transit Authority.

"It was different, being creative," she said. "Different type of atmosphere, more artistic. ... Having to think outside the box. ... This is rewarding."

The 40-year-old mother of three ages 23, 19, and 3 found her space in Oak Forest and knew it was where she wanted to be.

"I am so glad I picked this spot," she said. "The neighborhood reminds me of Beverly—a close-knit community. People saw the sign, and stopped in to ask what it is. I'm comfortable here. I like it."

In addition to a variety of products available at the shop, customers are invited to bring their own t-shirts. She can work with most materials, but advises against polyester because it can be a little tricky.

She's hoping that with word of mouth and her products being shared by happy customers, her clientele will grow naturally and exponentially. As her own boss, her days might be long, but she's feeling more fulfilled than ever before.

"This is a fit. The only problem I'm having is you always want it to start out, and it's 'boom,' but it's a slower start than I expected," she said. "But it's definitely a good fit. Even when I work long hours, it doesn't feel like work."

Morris reminds potential customers that she can customize "anything"—league shirts, tumblers, water bottles, hats, uniform shirts for businesses, auto repair shop shirts, family vacation shirts—you name it, she can do it.

There is nothing more satisfying to her than having happy customers walk out her door, she said.

"Being able to see people smile once I give them the end product," she said, of the most rewarding part, "because they're taking a chance on me, they don't know. For them to take a chance ... and they refer people to me, that's even better."

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