by Crystal Clear Photography
Esther Miller was living the dream — or so it seemed. She was working for Dickies, where she spent seven years in licensing, managing multimillion-dollar businesses while traveling the world.
But, as enviable as the gig may seem, Miller found herself longing to do something that would give her more purpose.
So, in 2018, she left Dickies to pursue the opening of a small gift shop in The Foundry District. Two years later, that shop — Gifted — has become a destination in the burgeoning neighborhood. It checks off the boxes in terms of style. Aesthetic displays. Unique items. A space filled with calming scents of candles and incense.
What sets Gifted apart, however, is the purpose behind each product, Miller says. Gifted requires goods to meet four criteria in order to make it on the shelf: It must be sustainable, independently designed, artisan or ethically made, and good for mind/body/soul.
Think accessories from local brand Tribe Alive. Reusable grocery bags from Baggu. And natural skin care products from Nash and Jones.
“Just because it’s cute, just because it’s trendy, or it will sell well, that does not allow the product to be in the store,” Miller says. “It has to check off the first three things.”
Her current focus for Gifted is refining its product curation and studying customer demographics. For Miller, one of the best feelings is seeing a shopper discover a product for the first time — what she refers to as “joyful surprises,” when a customer finds what they’re looking for.
And, despite the inherent challenges of working in retail, Miller says opening Gifted has helped her find what she was looking for — purpose.
“I’m not in this to just make money; I really want to change the way people buy products,” she says. “We’re counterproductive to ourselves because we tell people to buy less but buy better.”
by Crystal Clear Photography
What’s in Her Bag:
Cream foundation, Kjaer Weis
Marigold net bag, Baggu
Ono Ono Multi-Benne Stain Stick, Noto
Genet Multi-Benne Stain Stick, Noto
No. 2 Le Long Fond Eau de Parfum, Maison Louis Marie
Pencil case (for entertaining her daughter), Oso and Me
Noise-cancelling headphones, Bose
Mini hair clip, Machete
Perfect Brow Pencil, Anastasia Beverly Hills
