Q1 2021

49 | Q1 2021 Jan21031 Perfect Personalised Present Situated in Stockton on Tees, Lu Lu’s Personal Gifts is an independent gift boutique. Following its well-deserved success in the Northern Enterprise Awards 2021, we got in touch with Louise Lowes to find out more. Whether it’s a card or gift, Lu Lu’s Personal Gifts carefully source products that will connect directly to the recipient and be something that becomes a treasured keepsake for many years to come. To begin, Louise provides a brief overview of the firm and offers more insight into its clientele. “As a wife and busy mum of three, in 2015 I unexpectedly had to deal with post-natal depression following my youngest child. To aid my recovery I found therapy in my long-term passion of graphic design. After buying a laptop, I found I could lose myself and step out of my own headspace into a creative world of magic. The creation of designs led to showcasing snippets on social media to friends and family which quickly led to unexpected sales of products. Naturally, this re-ignited the flame I had to make others feel happy and here Lu Lu’s was created. “Based on our mission of helping someone touch another person’s heart, we offer a service that has done the thinking for you, providing ideas and inspiration on how to connect to that person’s heart. A personal gift is one that shows the recipient they have been thought of and connecting with the right gift will speak volumes. By primarily concentrating on sustainable products and materials, we class ourselves as being a green, eco-friendly business. At the heart of the business is the world, nature, and animals, in fact the shop was designed to bring the outside inside our windows with dried flowers, rustic wood crates, greenery, animal products. “The Button Head Family is an ever-growing collection of stick characters with natural wooden button heads designed to represent the recipient. If you can capture a moment in time in a photograph, new baby, christening, family photo, new home, or graduation, it can be captured in a quirky button head picture. Featuring backgrounds or simplistic designs, these are popular as framed prints, keepsake greeting cards, cushions, tote bags and notebooks. Recently, our character additions have included keyworker heroes, supermarket staff, doctors and nurses, police and fire.” Since its inception, customer service has been at the heart of the business driving everything as Louise elaborates further. “When a customer is fulfilled and happy, I know everything else in the business will follow. Making others smile and feel special is my aim, so Lu Lu’s is not simply just about the products we stock. Moreover, by building relationships with our customers we have built up a lovely community of regulars.” Despite the store closing due to COVID-19, the business continued to fulfil its customers’ needs during the periods of lockdown and tier restrictions via the website with delivery and click and collect options available. Louise added “Having a website has expanded our customer base all over the UK with many coming from different parts of the country. Due to the pandemic and the difficulties we have all faced with families, friends and colleagues having to stay apart from each other, this has created a demand for ‘thinking of you’ gifts.” Finally, Louise discusses the main benefits of the firm’s location before outlining some of its plans for 2021 and beyond. “Stockton is a historic market town boasting the widest high street in the UK and runs by the River Tees. The town centre is currently undergoing a major overhaul with plans to re- develop the current built up space to an urban town centre with a generous mix of outdoor leisure settings and green space, along with retail and open views of the river. Home to many unique independent businesses who each offer something special, Stockton now more than ever needs its clients. “Despite the turbulent year of 2020/2021, Lu Lu’s continues to thrive with the support of new and existing customers. Moving forward, we hope to connect with more businesses this year with our new ‘ Love Little’ range which are products designed to show gratitude and recognition. Moreover, these products can be designed exclusively to a business for events, employees or customer gifts!” Company: Lu Lu’s Personal Gifts Contact: Louise Lowes Website: www.luluspersonalgifts.co.uk