Mary Jane Twedell (left) and Lucy Hall opened Two Friends Gifts in Friendswood in 1998.[/caption]
Friendswood has a much different look today than it did in 1998, Lucy Hall said. Although things around the city have changed, Hall said Two Friends Gifts—the store she co-owns with Mary Jane Twedell—has withstood the test of time for nearly 20 years.
“Through the years, the store has evolved,” Hall said. “We’ve got a lot of wonderful lines, [and] we’ve got great customers who have supported us; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”
Two Friends Gifts offers a variety of boutique products, such as handbags, jewelry, candles, lotions, home decor and women’s fashion accessories. Hall said the store provides everything customers need for presents—including complimentary gift wrapping—for various occasions throughout the year.
Two Friends Gifts offers a variety of women’s fashion accessories, including jewelry.[/caption]
“We’ve had a lot of ladies [come in] on the way to their event,” she said. “They know they can come in here, get a quality gift, have it gift wrapped, get a card, and they’re out the door.”
During summer months, Two Friends Gifts features graduation presents and patriotic decor. Hall said she decorates the store to match the seasons.
Before going into business together, Hall and Twedell each sold gift items at a co-op in Richmond. The two met while working at the shop.
“A lot of people said in the beginning, ‘Oh, you’re not going to be friends for long,’” Hall said. “Well, we have proved them wrong. We continue to be friends. We work through things. It has taken both of us to make the store successful. She has her forte, and I have mine. It’s just worked.”
Not many believed the business would be successful, Hall said. Despite such concerns, the duo opened Two Friends Gifts to provide a new option for presents in the city.
“I moved to Friendswood [in 1997], and my husband asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up,” Hall said. “I said, ‘Well, I’d like to have a little store in Friendswood. I’m not seeing anything like what I have in mind.’”
Two Friends Gifts partnered with a private labeling company to create its own scent.[/caption]
Today, Two Friends Gifts has a loyal customer base. Hall said support from the community has helped the business thrive.
“Being here in the community and seeing the city evolve and grow and being prosperous, it’s a good feeling to be a part of that,” she said. “Our method of advertising is word of mouth. That has been our best advertising.”
Although the store’s success has prompted Hall to consider expansion multiple times, she said she wants to maintain the intimacy and feel of Two Friends Gifts.
“We’ve thought about expanding over the years,” Hall said. “It has lots of pluses but minuses as well, so we’ve decided to stay small and create a small-town atmosphere.”
Two Friends Gifts
156 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood 281-648-4111 www.twofriendsgifts.com Hours: Mon.-Thu. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., closed Sundays
