Edition & Year | 23 Gift giving is a love language, the heartwarming process of carefully selecting your display of affection, packaging it just right, and seeing the excited face of your recipient as they open it. Yes, gift giving is a love language like no other, and nobody knows this better than Rachael Dandy, Founder of Eden Gifts Co. As the company is named in The Perfect Gift Awards 2024, we speak with Rachael to learn more. Best Emerging Gift Store 2024 – County Wicklow Eden Gifts Co. opened its doors with a launch party on November 17th of that year, as Rachael felt it critical to launch before the Christmas period. She invested significantly into the event, but six weeks before the party she began to feel unwell once again. Her symptoms persisted for a few days until she went to her doctor and learned she’d had a pulmonary embolism. Following this, Rachael spent five days in hospital and was told if she had received treatment any later, she may not have survived. At the launch party, Rachael could hardly stand but miraculously, she pulled through and even opened the store the next day. Her journey is an inspiration, but it has not come without its challenges. In addition to her physical health, Rachael has also struggled with her mental health following her pulmonary embolism. “Eden Gifts Co. was born out of illness, and that is part of the story,” she says. “I share my story with my followers on Instagram. I think it’s important to be open about mental health and to show people who suffer that they are not alone. I am working on a charity candle called ‘Just Breathe’ with a company called ‘The Wild Glen’ local here in Wicklow and €2 from each sale will be donated to a mental health Charity. In addition to partnering with Wild Glen, Eden Gifts Co. makes a habit of supporting local businesses through its store. Wicklow is an area known for its artisan talent, and Rachael invites creators to stock in her store as she knows how hard the world of online retail is to navigate. She takes the time to learn each brands story, to relay to those interested in the products. Above all else, Eden Gifts Co. strives to create a meaningful gift giving experience to each customer it serves. “Gift giving is a powerful way to spread love and create meaningful connections,” Rachel says. “Each carefully chosen gift symbolises thoughtfulness, appreciation, and affection, conveying emotions that words alone often cannot express. When we give a gift, we share a piece of our hearts.” Contact: Rachael Dandy Company: Eden Gift Company Web Address: https://www.edengiftcompany.ie den Gifts Co. is a physical and online gift store in County Wicklow that takes the art of gift giving to a new level. As a concierge gift service, the company ensures a personalised gifting experience that perfectly encapsulates the recipient. Each gift is delivered in a custom made Eden Box, with thoughtful presentation that shows just how much care and love goes into each gift. With every order, Rachael takes the time to understand who the gift is for, learning details about the person that helps both Rachael and her client find the perfect gift together. Eden Gift Co. strives to deliver the highest level of customer service, which is vital in this industry. “The customer will always come first,” says Rachael. “I designed the store myself to be welcoming and warm, and my Instagram is very much focused on my customers seeing me as a person and not product pushing. I believe that people buy from people they like, so that is my strategy and always has been, even when I worked in financial services.” Before establishing Eden Gift Co., Rachael was on a three-year-period of sick leave following a 22 year career in financial services. She managed a very successful business banking portfolio for many years. However, Rachael unfortunately suffered from an unexpected illness that meant she could never return to her position within the sector. Not wanting to return to a lower-level admin role and fearing for her mental health in her new reality, Rachael took a redundancy package and contemplated her future. She had always dreamed of owning her own business, but the idea and opportunity had never arisen until now. In the spring of 2023, Eden Gifts Co. manifested before her very eyes. “Everything fell into place like a dream,” Rachael tells us. “I really felt like things were changing for me. Three years before, my memory was just two hours long and my heart was constantly tachycardic . I was on a high, and I had a purpose again.” E
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