Toula's Home Gift Garden

Welcome to my blog. We just launched our website, and are so excited about our customers sharing in its success. This is the first monthly installment of Toula’s favorite things. There are so many wonderful items we have gathered together at Toula’s. I want to highlight something new each month, expanding on why we think something is special or unique to us, and hopefully, to you as well. My goal is to dig a little deeper about a certain items we carry, an interesting new designer we found, or just convey a great story about how we stumbled upon some cool new trend. I want to give you perspective in to how we find little gems for the store, and what we think makes a great gift, or addition to your personal space. We value your feed back, so please feel free to let us know what you think. In the ‘Talk To Us’ page of this website there is a option to e-mail us. You may also alert a friend about one of our items in our ‘Gift Ideas’ page. We hope you take advantage of this. We know that word of mouth is our best advertising.

 I must tell you that the question I get the most in the store from customers is about our name. Toula is my mother’s name, and I borrow it for our business because I know it comes with a rich, and unique history. My mother is a strong, southern woman with a lot of get up and go, who with my father, raised three children, shuttling us all over the globe in the process. It was at an early age that my mom taught me the art of travel, and instilled in me the desire to find simple treasures in far off places. Things that are made well, and hold unique qualities are worth having. I strive for that idea today at Toula’s.

The other topic I find myself discussing in the store is about our vintage photos seen in our advertising both in-store as well as print ads. All these photos are of my family take in a span of almost one hundred years. I love the idea of incorperating family photos in our advertising, and in-store visuals. It has also inspired our customers to reflect on their own family photo history in a way I had not expected. I often have conversations in the store regarding the importance of learning about, and saving family photos. It is a great way to start a conversation with someone you love about the past, and where your families roots began.

 Speaking of roots, Toula’s celebrates it’s third year of business this fall. I am proud, and so grateful to our many customers who have made our store such a success. I must also extend a huge thank you to the Toula’s team for working hard, and making me look so good. I could not have done it alone.

 Eric