13 Personalized Gift Business Success Stories [2024]
Personalized gifts are great for celebrating important dates, joyous occasions, and memorable moments. The personalized gifts include photo frames, key chains, to group gifts.
A personalized gifts business is a low-capital idea since you do not need a physical storefront or office space to start the business. Besides, you can put as much time into the business as possible, which means you can run the business as a side hustle.
Check out our guide on how to start a personalized gift business
Here are some real life success stories of starting a personalized gift business:
1. GiftBasketsOverseas.com ($10M/year)
Dmitriy Peregudov, the founder of GiftBasketsOverseas.com, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing difficulties in sending gifts internationally. He realized there was a need for a one-stop solution for personal and corporate gift senders and launched his first website, flowers2moscow.com. Since then, he has expanded to offer global gift delivery in over 200 countries and has seen significant success, with average monthly profits of around $100K.
How much they make: $10M/year
Current team size: 95
GiftBasketsOverseas.com is a global gift delivery company that generates $100k in profits per month and connects more than two million people worldwide for personal and corporate purposes through their platform.
2. Bestowe Gifting ($144K/year)
While attending an event, Catherine started to realize the importance of having a side hustle, and that realization fueled her passion. She reached to family and friends for mental and emotional support towards starting her business.
How much they make: $144K/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
Current team size: 0
Bestowe Gifting quadrupled their sales during the pandemic by shifting to online sales and offering unique, locally sourced gifts, resulting in a successful eCommerce side hustle that allowed the founder to pay themselves and expand their custom business.
So... can you actually make money with a personalized gift business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Bookblock ($3.12M/year)
Tom Strickland, co-founder of Bookblock, came up with the idea for his gifting business while manufacturing notebooks. He saw the success of Moleskine and decided to launch a real leather notebook brand, Monsieur Notebook, at a similar price point. While the notebook business ultimately failed, it led Tom to discover a market for corporate notebooks, which eventually paved the way for Bookblock's growth and expansion into the consumer market.
How much they make: $3.12M/year
Current team size: 30
Bookblock co-founder shares how they grew their corporate gifting platform to a £2m annual turnover, and their plans to expand to the consumer market through their new gifting platform.
4. Australian Woodwork ($240K/year)
Gregory and Sarah, founders of Australian Woodwork, were inspired by their love for traveling and discovering local craftsmanship. They started by opening stalls in markets and eventually transitioned to an online store. Their son, Ben, taught them about online marketing and they learned the importance of SEO, product photography, and customer service in attracting and retaining customers. Despite a slow retail market, they continue to fine-tune their website and aim for steady sales growth in the future.
How much they make: $240K/year
Current team size: 2
Australian Woodwork is a family-owned and managed online store that sells a wide range of Australian made woodcraft, and through a concerted mix of SEO, good marketing and content writing, excellent photography and customer service, they grew to a 20k/month business.
So... can you actually make money with a personalized gift business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Engravers Guild ($2.4M/year)
Elliot Bishton, the founder of Engravers Guild, came up with the idea for his online personalized gift retailer after witnessing the market split between low-cost providers and expensive designer offers. He aimed to fill the gap by delivering premium products at more affordable prices. Starting with only seven pairs of cufflinks, Engravers Guild has now expanded to over 200 lines and is clearing $30,000 per month in revenue.
How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 7
Engravers Guild, an online personalised gift retailer, has expanded its collection from seven cufflink pairs to over 200 lines and now turns over more than $30,000 per month, a significant increase from its $3,000 turnover 18 months ago.
6. Tohfabd ($60K/year)
After successfully launching Tohfabd, Iqbal Anwar and his team focused on attracting and retaining customers. They utilized Facebook Ads campaigns and email marketing to generate leads and spread awareness about their online gift delivery service. Additionally, they offered regular discounts on gift items to incentivize customers and ensure top-notch service.
How much they make: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 10
Tohfabd is an online gift delivery business serving Bangladeshi expats, with over 500 logistics agents covering all of Bangladesh's districts and more than 8000 orders successfully delivered within six months, with a focus on cakes, flowers, and gifts to celebrate special occasions.
So... can you actually make money with a personalized gift business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Well Told Design ($4.99M/year)
How much they make: $4.99M/year
Current team size: 7
Well Told Design, a retail company founded by Brian Johnson, has landed on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies for the second year in a row, ranking 5th in the state of New Hampshire and 90th overall.
8. ConseCrate ($12K/year)
How much they make: $12K/year
Current team size: 1
ConseCrate provides ministers and clergy members with unique subscription boxes containing a range of sustainable and wellness products, and despite only launching last year, the business grew organically through social media and now ships 500 boxes each month.
9. Big Bee, Little Bee ($240K/year)
Founder Amy Leinbach came up with the idea for Big Bee, Little Bee when her 2.5-year-old daughter wanted to wash herself but couldn't find a suitable tool. She decided to create the ScrubBEE silicone scrubber, which quickly gained popularity and became her top-selling product. Despite the challenges of 2020, Leinbach managed to grow her business significantly, gaining features on Good Morning America and expanding her retail partnerships.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
Current team size: 1
"Founder of Big Bee, Little Bee discusses how her daughter inspired her innovative products, including the top-selling Easy-Grip Silicone Scrubber, and how they managed to grow their business after being featured on national TV shows, despite challenges in 2020."
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
