"We’re totally different perspectives, so when we’re out buying and trying to find our unique items, we’ve got to both agree on it,” Tillman said. “If both of us agree on an item, it tends to work in the shop.”
Tillman and Lester opened Lizzy G’s Fine Gifts in Vintage Park in November 2011. As someone who grew up working in a gift shop, Tillman said owning her own shop was something she had always dreamed of.
“I kind of assumed my ship had sailed,” Lester said. “But we were both ready for something new, and we just said, ‘Let’s take the first step and see what happens and go until the door closes’—and the door never closed.”
While the store began in a 1,200- square-foot space, Tillman and Lester said they quickly realized that was not enough room and expanded after six months. The gift shop offers products ranging from Kendra Scott jewelry and Lollia bath products to Nora Fleming dishware and seasonal decor.
While they find many of their product lines at markets in Atlanta and Dallas, Lester said she also spends much of her time searching for unique products from smaller markets.
“I love to find the handmade pieces and the story behind it,” Lester said. “We have some wooden ducks that one man makes out of old fence posts. ... I just love to find things like that.”
Every gift purchased at Lizzy G’s is wrapped in the shop’s signature brown paper and green bow upon purchase—a complementary service Lester said has many customers saying “brown is the new blue.”
“So many people say, ‘I know when I get that box, it’s going to be something special,’” Tillman said. “It’s a personal touch—you lose so much of that in this era of online shopping.”
The duo said going forward, they will continue to change their inventory to meet the needs of customers while staying true to their roots.
“We really like to listen to what our customers want,” Tillman said. “But as their desires are changing, we’re still keeping the core of who we are.”
Junior League Holiday Market
Nov. 21-24: Lizzy G’s Fine Gifts is participating in the annual Junior League of The Woodlands Holiday Market, which includes a preview party Nov. 21 followed by three days of shopping. 7:30-10:30 p.m. (Nov. 21), 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Nov. 22-23), 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Nov. 24). $15. The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, 1601 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands. 281-376-5754. www.jlthewoodlands.org
Lizzy G’s Fine Gifts
126 Vintage Park Blvd., Ste. L, Houston
281-251-5866
www.lizzygsfinegifts.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu., Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; closed Sun.
