Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Paden.
Hi Lisa , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My entrepreneurial journey began while I was working full-time in corporate America. Although I had a successful career, I knew I wanted to build something that truly fulfilled me, a business I would be excited to get up for every morning. I’ve always believed that gift-giving is about more than the gift itself. It’s about creating memories, celebrating life’s milestones, and making people feel valued, appreciated, and seen. That passion inspired me to start my gifting business on the side while continuing to work full time.
In 2015, I took a leap and left corporate America to pursue my business full time. It was an audacious and very scary step, but I knew I wanted to build a career around something I genuinely loved doing. For over eight years, I operated my business from my home studio. As the business continued to grow, I quickly realized I was outgrowing my space. What had once seemed like a dream began to evolve into a reality. Finding a retail space where I could grow The Personal Gifting Co., better serve my customers, and continue building the business I had envisioned was not as far off as I thought.
Two years ago, my dream of opening a brick-and-mortar shop came true. Having a storefront has allowed us to become an even bigger part of our community, expand our products and services, and continue focusing on the personal connections that inspired me to start this journey in the first place.
Today, I still wake up excited and motivated to do what I absolutely love. Whether it’s a customer coming in to shop for a gift or working with us to create something completely personalized, our goal is always the same: to help them celebrate the people and moments that matter most. One of the greatest joys of owning a storefront is getting to meet the people who walk through our doors. I love hearing their stories, helping them find or create the perfect gift, and being a small part of their life’s celebrations. Looking back, I’m grateful that I took a chance on a dream that started as a side business because it has grown into a career, a community, and a business I truly love.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
l wish I could say the journey has been easy, but the truth is that every stage of growing my business has brought its own set of challenges. Looking back at everything I went through, I wouldn’t change a thing because each obstacle has taught me valuable lessons and helped shape me and my business.
In the beginning, balancing my full-time corporate job while trying to build a business meant long days, late nights, and weekends. When I finally left corporate America in 2015, I was excited and scared. Walking away from the security of a steady paycheck to pursue my dream was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken.
As my business grew, so did the challenges. I eventually outgrew my home studio, which was an exciting milestone but also meant taking another leap by opening a retail storefront. With that came a whole new set of responsibilities and a steep learning curve. Running a brick-and-mortar business is very different from running a home-based business, and I’ve learned that being a business owner means constantly adapting, solving problems, and wearing many hats.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about being willing to learn, adapt, and keep moving forward. Every obstacle has reinforced why I started this journey in the first place: to build a business I love while helping others celebrate the people and moments that matter most.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Personal Gifting Co. is a boutique gifting destination focused on helping people celebrate meaningful moments. We specialize in thoughtful gifts for all occasions—from birthdays, weddings, and new babies to holidays, business milestones, and daily moments.
What makes my gift shop unique is the combination of our curated retail gifts and our ability to create truly personalized gifts. Customers can come into our shop and find the perfect gift from our selected collections, or they can work with us to bring an idea to life through customization. We love helping our customers create gifts that feel personal, memorable, and meaningful to the person receiving them.
At the heart of The Personal Gifting Co. is the strong belief that gifting is more than just giving a gift. A great gift tells someone, “I thought of you,” “You matter,” or “This moment is worth celebrating.” We take pride in helping our customers express those sentiments in a way that feels unique and intentional.
One of the things I feel I am most proud of is the community we have built around our brand. Since opening our storefront in Foristell, we have had the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and become part of their reasons for gifting. Whether we are helping a customer choose the perfect gift or creating something completely custom, we love being part of the stories behind those gifts.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is our family vacations. We always traveled in a car, and some of my happiest memories are from those long road trips. We’d play games, sing songs, laugh together, and simply enjoy being together as a family. Looking back, it wasn’t necessarily where we were going that made those trips so special; it was the time we spent together and the memories we created along the way.
I also have wonderful memories of celebrating the holidays. My family always made holidays feel special, and I loved the traditions, the excitement, and the thought that went into making each celebration so special. My mother was and still is a great hostess, and she mastered how to make our guests feel appreciated and loved. She taught me that it’s the little details and shared moments that people remember most.
I really do think those childhood memories have played a big part in how I built my business. They reinforced my belief that we should not only celebrate the big things, but also the small things. We should celebrate the people we love and create meaningful moments together. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about what I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ThePersonalGiftingCo.com
- Instagram: @ThePersonalGiftingCo
- Facebook: @ThePersonalGiftingCo
- Youtube: The Personal Gifting Co
