Drawing on her love of stationery and a desire to revive letter writing, Hollee Ganner opened Hollee & Ivie in October 2015 on Commerce Street. Using her best friend’s last name—Ivie—she named her paper goods boutique with a nod to the classic Christmas carol.

Hollee & Ivie offers small boutique items and handmade goods, such as candles, pottery, hair clips, letterpress cards and vintage trinkets. Hollee & Ivie offers small boutique items and handmade goods, such as candles, pottery, hair clips, letterpress cards and vintage trinkets.[/caption]

“It’s very old-time [and] vintage-looking, and vintage is my thing,” she said. “I love retro and things done the old way. I’m trying to bring back snail mail.”

In addition to an assortment of letterpress and vintage cards, Ganner stocks a variety of handmade gift items, such as candles, pottery and stamped teaspoons.

“I love paper products and stationery, but I learned very quickly that just a paper products store probably won’t work,” she said.

Ganner said she seeks to fill her customers’ need for finding unique gifts.

“When you need a clever, unique little gift that doesn’t cost a lot but you’re not going to see it everywhere, I want to be where people come for that type of thing,” Ganner said.

Ganner said she differentiates her boutique from other downtown Tomball businesses by offering handmade and locally made items.

“I look for handmade and local made [items] as much as possible,” she said. “I think I’m the only [downtown business] who does the paper products side of things.”

Ganner said she enjoys meeting her customers, many of which stop by to shop during Tomball’s many festivals.

“I like being part of the community of downtown Tomball,” she said. “I love meeting all the people that come in.”

While the winter holidays are the busiest, Ganner said her inventory is appropriate to give as a gift year-round.

“I just want to be the place [that] if you need a nice card and a unique gift, this is where you can find it,” she said.

Hollee & Ivie
108 Commerce St., Tomball
512-826-3494
www.holleeandivie.com
Hours: Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday