Jordan and Linda Hardy.
Running Magnolias Gift Shop is Linda Hardy’s second career, but it’s where she found the saying to be true: If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.
“It is the most fun in the whole world,” Linda said. “I love every day that I’m there; when I’m not there, I’m thinking about it.”
She opened the original Magnolias Gifts in 1992 and has been the full-time owner and manager since she retired from her previous career at Kimberly-Clark.
There are now three Magnolias locations: Sylacauga, Pell City and the new Chelsea location that opened in September 2017.
Magnolias sells home decor, tableware, bath and body care items and gifts, including monogrammed items. They also offer bridal and baby registries. Linda said she always enjoys seeing customers get excited about the products they offer.
“We like to think that our store offers kind of a magical experience,” Linda said. “When they come in our store, we want people to be happy. We want them to have a happy, fun, joyful experience while they shop for the perfect gift or just visit.”
Owning a small business is all about building connections and friendships, and after 25 years, Linda knows many of the regulars who come through the doors.
Magnolias’ customer service and personal touch sets the stores apart. One such personal touch is the gift wrapping that Magnolias offers on all its products, which Linda said has become a signature.
“I really do think small boutiques offer more than big box stores,” Linda said. “It truly is a big family.”
It’s a family in more than the metaphorical sense. Linda’s daughter, Jordan, began working at Magnolias in college and in the off-season while playing golf in the Ladies Professional Golf Association.
“She kind of caught the retail bug then,” Linda said.
After Jordan left professional golf, she joined her mother at Magnolias and helped open the Pell City and Chelsea stores. Linda said Jordan “keeps it young and festive,” and the chance to work together with her only child was an unexpected blessing.
“It’s something that I never really expected,” Linda said. “It just gives us another important thing to do together.”
Linda said she plans to keep running Magnolias “as long as it’s growing and it’s fun” and the store is continuing to meet its customers’ expectations.
► WHERE: 48 Chesser Crane Road, Suites A and B, in Chelsea; 125 North Broadway, in Sylacauga; and 2401 Stemley Bridge Road, Suite 12, in Pell City
► CALL: 205-618-9800 (Chelsea)
► WEBSITE: magnoliasgiftshop.com
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