A Gift? For Me? You Shouldn’t Have!

I got home late late late last night. I am the President for a local non-profit (focused on waterfront redevelopment). We hosted the Bremerton Mayor, Mayor Cary Bozeman, for a briefing on their successful waterfront redevelopment. After the cocktail hour, the presentation and Q & A session, a few of us took the Mayor to dinner to further discuss waterfront redevelopment. By the time the brain dump was over, it was well past 10 p.m. I was flagging.

Carrie Gigi from Under The Willow sent me one of the first of her unique products. She has designed some eye catching pillows that come with a storybook card called a “Billow” (yes, the term is trademarked – good thinking Carrie!)

The card is a fable of soaping creation and the possibility of a dream. It comes with a little bar of soap inside and is meant to be sold along with the pillow. The pillow is designed to be a pillow of comfort. Gigi Carrie originally started making them for children and cancer survivors.

Carrie Gigi also included a letter, excerpted here:

“This gift is a little thank you for helping my branches grow. Little did you know but when I went back to school (after 30 years) Bramble Berry actually helped “soothe” my soul. During this time, I returned to making handmade soap and with a short search, I found Bramble Berry and fell in love with of the most amazing fragrances and bases to inspire my passion….So, for the next 30 years, I will keep soaping, creating and loving every minute of it.”

Carrie Gigi also included a lovely bar of soap, made with Bramble Berry’s Almond fragrance and packaged in a unique and attractive manner.

I love the textured top on the bar of soap. It adds interest and spark to to the bar.

Carrie Gigi from Under The Willows has done an admirable job of creating something unique and different, a niche market, with her Billows.

What can you do to elevate your craft, your job, your business to make it truly unique and special? What are your key differentiators in your business?