The Gift Box Boutique isnโt anything like your typical big box โdepartmentโ or mall store.
Itโs quaint and warm, with a variety of items that belies its just-the-right-size corner location in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, between Ciccioโs Cali and Stonewood Grill & Tavern.
But, what owner Jennifer Colรณn says really sets her shop apart is the customer service. You wonโt want to hustle in and out, and you are invited to stay as long as you need to in order to find the perfect gift items.
โWe have spent the last 2-ยฝ years listening to customers every day tell us what they like, what they would like to see more of and what they just canโt live without,โ Jennifer says. โWe always strive to take our customer service to the next level, know our customers on a first-name basis and provide a pleasurable shopping experience.โ
It must be working. Jennifer says she has dozens of regular customers who stop in every few weeks to see what is new, and thereโs always something. Colรณn makes sure the store brings in new items frequently, especially around this time of year, as the holiday season cranks up with Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, trinkets and clothing for just about everyone.
โThese days, itโs every day we get a delivery,โโ Jennifer says. โItโs rapid fire in here right now.โ
The store continues to be continually updatedย โย from adding the personal touch of monogramming on everythingย from Corkcicles, cups, compacts, keychains, notepads and holiday ornaments to embroidery on totes, hats andย scarves. You name it, and Jennifer and her crew will monogram or embroider it.
The shop is always adding new items and brands.ย This year alone, The Gift Box has added Spartina, Simply Southern, Kate Spade, Lokai, Pura Vida, Judith March and endless new options in ladies apparel.
Some of the more well-known and popular brands the store carries are Veronica M., the slim-fit NYDJ (Not Your Daughters Jeans), and Lysse Leggings, to name a few.
โI think we offer the uniqueness of the items that we carry,โโ Jennifer says. โWe donโt offer a ton of any one item. That makes it a more special, personalized customer experience. In womenโs apparel, we only buy about six of any one item. So, youโre not going to see yourself, your outfit, walking down the street.โ
Your Holiday Headquarters
Colรณn is looking forward to her third holiday season in New Tampa. She says that virtually any gift you are looking for, from home dรฉcor items, on-trend womenโs apparel and accessories, and gifts for kids, babies and a wide variety of special occasions can be found at The Gift Box.
This time of year, the store can be an especially nice shopping experience if you are afraid of fighting the mall traffic or just want something less stressful.
โSo, why not do your holiday gift shopping at The Gift Box?,โ Colรณn says. โNot only will you find something unique, but weโll also wrap it so it is ready to give. Thatโll be one less thing you have to worry about!โ
Colรณn and her Santaโs helpers have recently stocked the store with a ton of new Christmas goodies, from candles to reindeer with candy cane antlers to display to stylish holiday clothing.
โWe have so many options for your Thanksgiving and Christmas needs, and many great hostess gifts for everyone, whether itโs Christmas-related or a general gift,โ she says.ย And, donโt forget about the sweet little ones, she adds, as the shop is currently stocked with adorable little outfits and fun gift items for them as well.
โWe also have a lot of serving dishes and platters and outdoor home dรฉcor items for your front porch,โ Jennifer says, as well as many other whimsical gift ideas. The Gift Box even has tea kettles, Christmas picture frames and high-quality Stonewall Kitchen food and snack items.
Go Team!
The Gift Box also currently carries a โtonโ of collegiate items, because after all, the holidays have to share their season with Americaโs most popular sport. So, whether youโre stopping by for a new outfit or to accessorize your personal look, why not grab something for the sports fan at home, too?
While maybe not football-related, you can find plenty of University of Florida, Florida State and University of Georgia (yes, Jennifer says, the Bulldogs are a big seller in the New Tampa area)-adorned items like ornaments, cosmetic bags, cutting boards and drink coozies. The same goes for other Florida-themed items that are unrelated to the colleges.
Jennifer credits her many regular customers for their loyalty and honesty as the business was getting started a few years ago, and she and her team โ a group she calls โamazingโ โ has used that feedback to improve the boutique every year.
The Gift Box also continues to support local Tampa businesses, such as Toffee to Go, which has been endorsed by the โMedia Mavenโ for selling her favorite toffee;ย Seventh Avenue Apothecary Candles, with candles that are made with 100-percent soy wax; Tipsy Candle Company, which makes candles in re-purposed wine bottles; and items from the Columbia Restaurant, one of Tampaโs most famous eateries.
The Gift Box is located at 17032 Palm Pointe Dr. For the rest of November, the boutique will be open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and noon-5 p.m. on Sun. And, in December, there will be extended hours โ until 8 p.m., Mon.-Sat., and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sun. For more information, visit Facebook.com/The Gift Box Boutiqueย or call 284-5986.