Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Paden.
Hi Lisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! My name is Lisa Paden and I am the founder and owner of The Personal Gift Basket Co.
The Personal Gift Basket Co. is a full-service artisan gifting business specializing in gift designs for corporate events, and personal gifting occasions. I created The Personal Gift Basket Co. in 2003 while working full-time for a local investment firm.
I wanted to do something that I absolutely had a passion and drive for and that would bring me out of corporate America. I can’t say the process was as smooth as I thought it would be, however, in 2015 (yes, 12 years later) I retired from corporate America and began running my business full-time.
It was one of the hardest, scariest, yet most fulfilling steps I’ve ever made in my life. Over the years, The Personal Gift Basket Co. has had the pleasure of working with amazing brands like Mercedes Bens, AMC Networks, and Delta Dental to name a few.
I live in St. Charles county with my amazing, supportive husband (who happens to be one of my biggest cheerleaders) and our chocolate labradoodle named Milo. My husband and I have four amazing children (all grown) and one beautiful and talented granddaughter. When I have free time, I love volunteering at my church, cooking, baking, and spending quality time with my family and friends.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! I have cried HOT tears and wanted to give up many times but every time I thought about giving up I would find the strength to make it another day. I always feel back on my Why.
Pricing was one of my biggest struggles. I was afraid to price my gifts and services adequately because I was afraid my clients would think I was too high and they wouldn’t want to do business with me. I was so stressed about making a great impression that I would basically give the gift away without making a sustainable profit! You definitely can’t run a business like that.
Another issue I faced early on was that I thought everyone could do what I do, but I quickly found out that everyone can’t and they needed my expertise. There are many people who can do it, but don’t want to or don’t have the time to, and I learned that if they can’t do it or can but don’t want to, these people are my clients.
There is value in knowing your worth and not being afraid of it. The right clients will pay.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Personal Gift Basket Co. creates artisan gift baskets, gift boxes, and care packages for corporate events and individual gifting needs.
We are known for working with our clients to create personalized gifts that make the receiver feel valued and appreciated. I am most proud of knowing my clients by name and building lasting relationships with them.
It’s important for my clients to know who they’re working with.
What matters most to you? Why?
There are a few, but first integrity and character are number one. I want my clients to trust that I have their best interest at heart and that I listen to their needs. Gifting is so much more than things in a basket or box, it’s the why and the end result. I want to help capture that for each client I work with.
Second, I want to make sure I am giving my clients the best their money can afford. This is why I take seriously the products (food and non-food) that we curate for our gifts are from companies I know and trust.
I am always on the lookout for aesthetically pleasing packaging that looks great in a gift. Still, more than that, I am looking for the people who make the items: small companies, women-owned companies, and family-owned companies that love what they do just as much as I love what I do and have a story behind why they do what they do.
Pricing:
- Our gift prices have a wide range, from $30 to whatever your heart desires.
