Chances are you’ve given a Hallmark card to someone at least once in your lifetime. Hallmark is the world’s best-known greeting card brand with a diverse selection of cards, stationery, gifts, and home decor products to help people celebrate their special moments. Although Hallmark is a widely recognized brand with over 2,000 stores across the country, most Hallmark stores are independently owned and operated to provide personalized customer service. Nestled in the numerous oak trees and big blue skies of Raleigh is Debby’s Hallmark, who provides their community with the latest in fashion and gifts. Leslie Timberlake, manager of Debby’s Hallmark in North Ridge, talks about their community work and unique selection of products like the MOVA Globe and everything fits into the Hallmark puzzle.
Tell us a little bit about how your store started.
Debby’s Hallmark started more than 30 years ago when Debby’s husband, Marty, bought a small Hallmark shop and surprised Debby with it. Over the years, their little business has expanded to four stores in the Raleigh area, with the Raleigh North Ridge location being the largest with 9,000 square feet of retail space.
Why are you proud to be a small business?
It’s the American dream! Through hard work and dedication Debby and her family has created a pleasant shopping experience for their customers that is the talk of the town.
What makes your store unique? Why do your customers love shopping there?
Debby’s strives to carry the most up-to-date and trending products. There’s a little something for everyone here! Our customers are sure to find ‘just the right’ gift or something for themselves. Long-time customers bring family and friend to our store to experience the wide variety of products we carry. It’s destination shopping at it’s finest!
How are you impacting your community?
We carry products such as Vera Bradley and Life is good who’s proceeds from some sales go to charitable organizations. Hallmark also provides for Toys for Tots, as does Debby’s during the holidays.
What makes the city of Raleigh interesting, and why should people visit?
Raleigh is beautiful! The streets are lined with towering oak trees and the is dubbed The City of Oaks. There are city parks to enjoy, independent, award winning restaurants with unique, seasonal and trendy menus. Four major collage universities call Raleigh home.
When did you first discover MOVA Globes?
Three years ago, MOVA Globes first arrived in our North Ridge location after visiting the Atlanta Trade Show. Since then it’s been a favorite product in the store and we’re happy to tell everyone about it, as it attracts lots of attention!
What are your customers’ general responses to MOVA Globes? Any memorable customer interactions?
It’s mesmerizing! Often, we will observe customers ‘gazing’ at the rotating globes, eyeing it carefully and wondering how it operates. They’re surprised that it continues to rotate when carefully removed from the base and held in hand. We’ll explain how it works and they still can’t take their eyes off of it. It’s a very popular gift for graduates, retirements and for the person who ‘thinks’ they have everything!
Which model is your favorite and why
We love all of the globes. A personal fave of the store manager is the [globe] with the constellations. A new favorite is the Earth with Clouds. Or, maybe it’s the Antique Terrestrial White. Hard to choose! Customers seem to like the Silver MOVA Globe.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Our advice to other retailers is ‘You should have [MOVA Globes] in your store”!
What started as a little business for the Debby’s Hallmark family is now a trend-setting business in their community. Whether you are shopping at Debby’s Hallmark or visiting the many research parks and art and university campuses around Raleigh, you will always find something to be excited about.
6116 Falls of Neuse Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
http://www.edebbys.com/
http://www.facebook.com/debbyshallmark/
Find a MOVA Retailer near you like Debby’s Hallmark and browse through our Reseller Spotlights to learn more about some of our other featured retailers.
