Exploring Life & Business with Katie Graham of Leelanau Gifts Home of Leelanau Lavender

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Graham.  

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am first a mother of 8, so for many years, I have been at home with the kids. I have always wanted to open a gift store, and for a while, I ran my own Etsy shop sewing custom embroidered blankets and doing craft markets. 

In 2021, as tourism was starting to recover from covid, a space opened up just 2 miles from our home that we knew would make a perfect gift store. With older kids in the house, it was also a good time for me to start working and to even have some extra help at the store. My oldest daughter was 16 and could work at the register. My husband owns a construction company, and without his support and help in building our shelving and tables, I never would have been able to open. He also likes to work the store and meet some of the customers on Sundays. 

Leelanau Gifts is the only gift store located in the Heart of Leelanau County, Lake Leelanau. Inside the store, you can find Leelanau souvenirs, including apparel, locally made gifts, kids’ toys, home decor, and more. 

In 2023 we acquired Leelanau Lavender, in which we sell a wide range of lavender products made with local lavender, beeswax, and high-quality essential oil. Our love for lavender and local products has made this such a perfect fit for our growing business. Lavender is a fast-growing industry that pairs so well with the winery atmosphere of Leelanau County. Soon Leelanau will be known for its cherries, wine, and lavender! 

We love Leelanau County and know how many other people do also, so our goal with Leelanau Gifts and Leelanau Lavender is to always offer unique local products for tourist and locals. Many locals love the store because they can send local gifts to friends and family that have moved away and miss the area. Sometimes it may just be a notecard by a local artist of Leelanau scenery, but it is always special to share Leelanau’s beauty. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
In the beginning, it was really hard to get products. Sometimes the backorders took months, and only half the order would come. When the shipping freighter got stuck in the canal, it backordered our apparel even longer. The trickle effect of covid shutdowns was also harsh on product manufacturers. We took what we could get, but sometimes that meant not getting all the sizes. 

When we first opened in May 2021, we were still wearing masks and keeping distance so meeting new customers and trying to make connections with them was harder to do. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Leelanau Gifts Home of Leelanau Lavender?
We are a gift store in Leelanau County that focuses on Leelanau-based products from apparel to locally products from artists and makers, home decor, and of course gifts for kids because with 8 kids at home, I have to offer something for everyone. 

Our store is unique because it is the only gift store in our little town of Lake Leelanau, MI. I have heard around town that we have a reputation for the best assortment of stickers, but also, we are known for Lake Leelanau apparel and cute local gifts/home decor. 

As of this year, we are unique because we also offer a huge selection of local Lavender products that can also be found online at LeelanauLavender.co I am a big believer in the health benefits of lavender, so I try to get everyone to try a product even if they think they don’t like the smell. 

I’d like the readers to know that Leelanau County is a beautiful place to visit with lots to do. If you are in the area, stop in and check out our unique souvenirs. There’s something for everyone, so stop on by and take home something special from the heart of Leelanau County… 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck? Well, I do feel like a lucky person, but I would attribute it more to always moving forward. I am more of a believer in everything happens for a reason. My motto is to always keep moving forward until the signs tell us to stop. If it’s meant to be, it will be. When we opened the store, the whole process went so smoothly that we just knew it was right. The same has been true for the lavender business, but we have had some other business ideas that just never came to fruition. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leelanaulavender.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leelanaugifts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leelanaugifts/
• Other: www.leelanaugifts.com

Image Credits
Weber Vyn Photography