By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

Helena resident Lisa Spencer said it was like a light was shining down the day she and her mom visited a nearby donut shop as a food truck stood out in that moment.

Flash forward a few months later, and Spencer can be seen cruising around in her 16-foot Ford truck with her company name “Tyler Décor Haven” emblazoned on the side of the truck she now affectionately calls her “baby.”

Spencer is the owner and operator of the mobile home décor business and in just a few month’s time, she has built a business from the wheels up… Literally.

The inspiration for the business actually came at a dark time in Spencer’s life. Spencer’s father Don Tyler, who was an entrepreneur himself and the reason behind the business name, became sick with cancer last year and Spencer spent the majority of her time taking care of him while also juggling a full-time job as a nurse.

“He became sick last year with cancer and until the end I got to take care of him,” Spencer said. “I always told him I would do something for myself businesswise. I didn’t know what that was, and I didn’t know where to begin or what I was going to do. Long story short, he passed away last year and I ended up breaking my foot May 3 of this year while I was decorating at a coffee shop. I was off of work for three months with a broken foot so then I had time to think. I did a lot of crafting and décor and things to occupy my time.”

While having time to think and after seeing the food truck, Spencer thought to herself, “Why can’t I combine my love for home décor with a food truck to create a business?”

After spending some time doing research about selling home décor from a truck, Spencer came to the realization that she may have a really good idea.

“I researched it and it’s never been done as far as I can tell,” Spencer said. “To me, it was a lot easier to do a truck instead of brick and mortar, cost efficient wise. It took me a couple of months to find my truck but I found her and I had a vision and it came to life, literally. I didn’t know how it was going to do but literally it has taken off. I’m very genuine when I say it, but I didn’t have any idea that it was going to just blow up.”

After purchasing the truck from Chicago, Spencer had help from Bobby Gould who helped create Spencer’s vision for the truck from the inside out with the use of his contracting company RDG Remodeling and Repair. After that, she had assistance from her friend Ginny Foote, who helped design her company logo, business cards and the design of the truck.

Now, Spencer has driven the truck to house parties, festivals, made neighborhood runs and anything in between. She accepts bookings and most recently was at the Griffin Farms pumpkin patch selling her décor in October.

“I stuff the truck like a turkey, but when I go set up shop I have everything laid out,” Spencer said.

Once she is set up, anyone is allowed to climb aboard the truck and view the home décor inventory for sale. Almost everything set up in the back of the truck is for sale minus a few shelves, according to Spencer.

Most items for sale are described as farmhouse style home décor available to those customers seeking comfort and convenience.

“My whole goal with this is to make life easier for people,” Spencer said. “Take the truck to the streets of busy moms. I’d rather go to the front of the neighborhood and buy off a décor truck than to go to Hobby Lobby and be in traffic, especially with kids and everything. Let’s face it, life is hard and I’m just trying to make it easy for people.”

Spencer said her goal is to eventually have enough profit to purchase a larger truck and grow to where she can work at the business full-time.

“It was a dream and I was always that person to say, ‘Why couldn’t I come up with that?’” Spencer said. “Literally, the whole idea that I have come up with on my own is very near and dear to my heart. I feel my father pushing me every day in this truck.”

For more information on Tyler Décor Haven and to view items for sale, visit Facebook.com/tylerdecorhaven/.