Gifts From Handpicked is 10 today!
Gifts From Handpicked is 10 today!
10 years ago today Gifts from Handpicked was launched. Having been made redundant from a 12 year catering career I decided to try something completely new! Inspired by a lovely Gift Shop in Harrogate I visited my first trade show and bought enough items for some ladies nights. Selling online wasn’t part of the plan, all I wanted was a part-time income as my son was just 1. Little did I know the journey I was about to embark on.
I started working from my spare bedroom with an airing cupboard as a store room and the garage as a packing area. Quickly outgrowing this space, I moved to a new house with space to build a double garage with upstairs office. At first it was a luxury but then we ended up with stock back in the house and sheds being erected in the garden for the ever growing stock.
In 2015 we moved into the premises we are in today in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire. I never thought I’d fill it on that first day I looked around, but today every single inch of room is used!! With over 2000 products we are now bursting at the seams. (I must stop visiting trade shows!!) I have 5 members of staff, 3 websites and I’m a go to online giftshop for customers worldwide.
An award winning website that Is easy to navigate, enticing and attractively designed is what’s at the heart of the business, along with amazing customer service, attention to detail and a personalised approach - order from us before midday, we will send your gift that day.
GFHP has featured in the press and even had our products on television. We ship all over the world from Germany, Israel, New York to Australia you name it, there’s probably a GFHP gift somewhere! We do gift wraps too, so we can send your gift straight to the recipient.
Our aim is to enhance your shopping experience, offer choice, excellent customer service and quality gifts which will make you and your receiver smile. Fun, quirky, beautiful and special – there just some of the gifts we sell. From mugs, tins, keepsakes and children’s gifts to our wide range of seasonal - our Christmas collection is never ending!
The last 10 years have been a roller coaster but I would definitely recommend it. Supported by a great team who you will meet over the next few days on our social media posts I couldn’t have done this alone. I am grateful to all of you and of course my husband and children for supporting me when the laptop is out, the phone is ringing and I don’t make it home on time, at Christmas when some days the hours are that long that there isn’t time to change out of my pyjamas!! It’s not all bad there are shorter days, flexible shifts to see school plays and be there for the children at short notice and everyday there is laughter, normally in the form of banter but it works!! If you are thinking about working for yourself give it your best shot, who knows what the future holds. Take a look at www.giftsfromhandpicked.co.uk , an ex caterer who gave it her all with a lot of help from her Mum, a cigarette salesman, a travel agent, a Clarkes shoe fitter and an apprentice, a winning combination!!!
