Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Ruth.
Hi Sam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My mom, Katie Ruth, has wanted to open a gift shop for as long as I can remember. While my dad was still in the Navy, I remember her telling me that after he retires, and we find a place to settle down, she’ll start working on a business plan, and that I could help her work there if I’d like. Lo and behold, once my dad retired in 2018, and bought a house in Imperial Beach, we started putting the pieces together to open up a store of our own. I was out of college, and feeling a little lost with what I should do with my life, and Daisy Ruth Gifts became my passion and purpose– and the fact I get to work with my mom is an incredible blessing. We opened our doors in August 2021. Fast forward almost four years, and both my mom and I have been overjoyed with how far we’ve come since those first days, as well as humbled, truly, by the positive reception our store has garnered in Imperial Beach and Coronado. I remember our first buying trip to Los Angeles right before we opened, not exactly sure what kind of merchandise we should get, or what the future for us would hold, and now we travel to trade conventions twice per year, and rely on our cohort of loyal customers to guide our selections, always making sure to have a good assortment of what they like, and lots of fun seasonal items to keep the store interesting as the months pass by. I’m a shopper at heart, and my mom and I both love fashion and style, so this gig has been really fun for both of us to experiment with decorating and designing the store as a reflection of ourselves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Some of the struggles we’ve faced have been out of our control, like the covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath, as well as supply chain issues which have affected many small businesses in its wake. The initial financial strain of opening a business was also a challenge, and it has taken us until last year to break even. It felt like a huge gamble in those first few months, especially before our customer base grew to the more sustainable level it is today, but thankfully, it has paid off. My mom and I work the store every day, and we’ve resisted hiring employees for as long as we could, as to keep our overhead as low as possible, which in spite of being lots of hard work, was absolutely the right choice. Being open every day, and being consistent with our service to our customers, has helped us grow steadily year on year– it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Daisy Ruth Gifts is a traditional, full-service gift store located in Silver Strand Plaza in Imperial Beach, right off the silver strand coming south from Coronado. We sell a wide selection of soaps, lotions, candles, home goods, accessories, birthday gifts, greeting cards, and more! We are most proud of our top-tier customer service, which includes complimentary gift wrapping, custom orders, gift baskets and boxes, as well as a personalized shopping experience with a smile! We are Imperial Beach locals, and we love to serve the wonderful people of this community, as well as participate in local events. As a true family-run business, you will always see my mom Katie Ruth, or me, Sam Ruth, in the store ready to help (you might even see my dad Mike sometimes– he fills in when we travel!) What sets us apart from others is our sourcing, as we sell items you will not see on Amazon or in big box stores, as well as wares by 15 different local artists from the community. We hope to see you there sometime!
How do you think about luck?
I feel lucky to have such a great relationship with my family, and I feel like it has helped us form an effective team, with each member serving a specialized role in the operation of the business. We play to each other’s strengths. I, for instance, run the social media and networking, my mom works with the sales reps and does much of the sourcing, and my dad works the books, doing our taxes and keeping our inventory in order. We’ve also been lucky to have such nice people become our customers over the past four years, as without them we wouldn’t be able to thrive in the way that we are now, so to them I am endlessly grateful!
Pricing:
- Our goods are affordable! Prices range from $2 to $40 on the vast majority of our items.
- We carry Periwinkle jewelry, which include earrings, bracelets, and necklaces from $12 to $27
- Our card selection is great! All greeting cards, including ones designed by local artists, are $5
Contact Info:
- Website: https://daisyruthgifts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisyruthgifts/?hl=en
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/daisy-ruth-gifts-imperial-beach
Image Credits
Sam Ruth, Daisy Ruth Gifts
