Business proves gifts do grow on trees

Gift
wooden evening bags
shopping




Superbowl Sunday is not a day most retailers would expect to do big business. But for The Gift Tree, the world’s largest dealer of Edna Hibel paintings and lithographs, the day provided a banner grand opening in the Greentree Plaza, 12 years ago.

Hibel was scheduled to make a signing appearance that day and her son wanted to cancel the visit, concerned that no one would show up, due to the game.

“She’s like my mom. I call her ‘Mom.’ I love her to death,” owner Paul Stanford says of Hibel. “Her son was afraid it would be embarrassing for Edna, for the company and for us, too, when no one showed up. But when she heard about it, she insisted on coming.”

Despite the misgivings, Stanford says the turnout was massive. More than 1,000 people stood in a line that went out the door and around the corner drugstore, protectively holding precious pieces of art to be signed by the legendary Hibel.

It’s been a lot like that ever since.

From Peggy Karr’s delightful fusion glass and Timmy Woods’ hand-carved wooden evening bags, to delicate porcelain figurines by Lladró and George DeBrekht’s line of handpainted Russian Santa Clauses and angels, The Gift Tree’s exquisitely unique inventory offers a magical, mystery shopping trip not soon forgotten.

“I want customers who walk in the door to have an experience that will make them come back again and again and again,” Stanford says.