Fall 2024 - 65

TOSHA GREBE PEARSON (Vice President of Sales,
Road Runners West): You get what you put into it.
The cool thing is there is no cap on how much you
can put into it - they sky's the limit. You have to be
able to absorb the 'punches' that the world/economy/
pandemics can give you. We all know that there can be
some rough waters. The silver lining is we never stop
wanting to celebrate our friends and family, and our
industry provides gifts to celebrate those we love!
CARLOS LLANSO: Be yourself, find your voice and
carve out a place for yourself in the market. There's
plenty of room, especially for a product line that does
not scream 'me too.' Consumers will recognize a knockoff
as quickly as they will embrace a fresh and authentic
new 'whatever-it-is-you-make.'
Moreover, the interactive experience it offers, allowing me
to log in and see the whereabouts of my designated turtle,
Sandy, adds an extra layer of engagement.
What gets you the most excited?
ANDY MEEHAN: The prospect of pushing the envelope -
both literally and figuratively! Whether it's dreaming up
quirky new designs or plotting world domination through
the power of artistry and puns, there's nothing quite like
the thrill of creating something that brings joy to others.
JANICE CHRISTENSEN: Watching younger team
members learn and excel is really rewarding - it
reminds me of my teaching days, just in a new industry.
Partnering with other successful companies is also a
beautiful way to learn new aspects of the business.
What are some of your favorite products or
projects youʼve worked on, and why?
JANINE KWOH: In 2016, my partner at the time passed
away very suddenly. I was 28 at the time, and he was the
first person I loved who I had lost, and I didn't know many
people my age who had experienced a loss. I started
making sympathy cards as a way to process my grief and
to tell myself the things I thought I needed to hear. The
first sympathy card I made is titled 'Permission to Grieve,'
which is essentially a permission slip to grieve in whichever
ways and for however long you need to. When I shared the
cards publicly, I was met with an overwhelming response
that highlighted for me how many other grieving people are
needing to hear honest and empathetic messages beyond
the usual platitudes. Sympathy cards are now a significant
part of my line and are still the ones closest to my heart. The
cards also led to my illustrated book on grief, Welcome to
the Grief Club, which was published in 2022 and is one
of my hardest and most rewarding projects.
JANICE CHRISTENSEN: Any of our giveback products
are super meaningful. Our line of St. Jude minis and the
colorful Band Together pieces that support many local
charities have such an impact - creating them is that
much more fulfilling.
JOURDAIN FOSTER (Sales & Customer Service
Manager, Simply Southern): One standout from our recent
Spring '24 collection is the Turtle Tracking T-shirts. This
season, we've also partnered with BHI Turtle Conservation
to track some of the Bald Head Island turtles through a
QR code on the shirt's tag. Wearing this product brings
me joy, knowing that my purchase is making a difference.
JOURDAIN FOSTER: Witnessing how our product sustains
the livelihood of our customers. While some may perceive
our items as mere bags or T-shirts, they represent more
than that - they signify sales that contribute to someone's
mortgage payments and put food on their children's table.
CARLOS LLANSO: The creativity and entrepreneurship
I see with many of the newcomers to our industry. I am
most excited (and find the most joy) seeing new incredibly
talented card makers come into the market. And when I get
to help them through the mentoring we do in the Greeting
Card Association - that's when the magic happens!
TOSHA GREBE PEARSON: Show time! I love the
markets. You take all the amazing brands, display them
and share them with all the retailers! Finding a brand
that is new and helping them grow is my jam!
MICHAEL SHAW: I get excited when customers tell me
the product I suggested for them sold extremely well.
I love hearing their success stories and helping them
grow their business.
To read more insights from
our honorees, scan here.
A special thank you to our
Spotlight Awards partners:
GIFTSHOPMAG.COM 65
http://www.GIFTSHOPMAG.COM
Fall 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fall 2024
