At the heart of the gift industry are makers with unique stories, products and voices that enrich the market.

Retailers know well that the products filling their shelves collectively tell a larger story. When a store tells a story of inclusivity, it transforms them from a shopping destination into a place that fosters connection — a place where customers feel not just seen, but celebrated.

Gift Shop® Plus proudly presents three makers whose stories support cultural representation and help shape a more inclusive, equitable industry. From a Latin-owned, modern Judaica design studio to a luxury wellness brand with ancestral roots to a maker of heirloom-quality baby items, each brand offers elevated products that tell a meaningful narrative.

Daniela & Gabriela Apeloig, Apeloig Collection

Apeloig Collection was founded in 2014 by sisters Daniela and Gabriela Apeloig after moving to Miami from their home country of Venezuela. The sisters were both determined to build modern Jewish homes for their families and now create on-trend, minimalistic products that bring style to their homes and keep Jewish traditions alive.

What inspired you to launch your business?
The business first started as an idea for Daniela’s thesis in a marketing master’s degree at New York University. When she got married, she was doing her wedding registry and could not find any Judaica products that matched her modern style. So, she thought about creating a brand and created a whole business plan around it. She then decided to make it a reality with her sister Gabriela.

What are some of your latest product offerings?
Our latest offering is the Kiddush Wine Fountain. It is used for the wine blessing every Shabbat and on all Jewish holidays. Every family member is supposed to drink a sip of the blessed wine, and we designed this fun fountain that distributes the blessed wine evenly into small shot glasses. It has been a bestseller and favorite that we can hardly keep in stock.

Personal favorite?
Our recent favorite is the Microsuede Kitchen Towel, which was originally designed as a gift-with- purchase item. This towel has become a cherished part of our collection, designed specifically for covering bread dough when baking challah each week. Its popularity among our customers, who loved both its meaning and thoughtful design, inspired us to keep it in stock permanently. The towel comes in three styles, each with a meaningful word: Intention, Mitzvah (a good deed or act of kindness performed to fulfill a commandment) and Faith.

Gabriela was diagnosed with breast cancer this past February and has been on her recovery journey ever since. During this time, she adopted the beautiful tradition of baking challah each week, gathering with family and friends. Baking challah is one of the three commandments uniquely assigned to women, making this ritual even more profound. It not only feels good to perform such a beautiful and meaningful tradition, but using one of our products feels rewarding because it reminds us that our brand celebrates and commemorates our Jewish rituals and our products bring joy and a spiritual connection to their users. We feel like a brand and products have a soul.

Bestseller?
The Mezuzah Cases are our bestsellers. The case comes in four sizes and 20 colors. It is a simple and minimalistic design, and that is what makes it so special — because they make the scroll that goes inside stand out. The most beautiful part of the mezuzah is the text within, and it is one of the very few options in the market that is translucent, made out of acrylic, which ensures the mezuzah scroll housed inside is always visible.

What are the benefits of embracing diversity in the industry? Speaking to retailers, what is the benefit of reflecting diversity through their product offerings?

We’re proud to represent a unique blend of perspectives as a women-owned, Latin-owned and Jewish-owned brand — a true “diversity trifecta.” Our background shapes everything we do, from our design inspirations to the values we carry, offering a fresh and distinctive narrative in the industry.

We are a Jewish brand with Judaica products that are designed for the Jewish niche. We connect with our audience immediately because we design for this niche market in mind, resonating with their stories, experiences, culture, values and history of traditions. Many retailers that carry our brand are located in Jewish neighborhoods. These retailers who actively incorporate diverse products build stronger, more authentic relationships with their customers who feel represented. By embracing diversity not only they enhance customer loyalty but also position themselves as forward-thinking, welcoming to all, and committed to positive cultural representation.

Nowadays, with the tensions in the Middle East war and the rise in antisemitism in the U.S., retailers who choose to sell our products have the opportunity to celebrate a more inclusive industry selling products that represent their customers’ cultural heritage and traditions makes the Jewish customer feel welcomed and understood.

Mani & Nate Tilani, Opulent Scents

Opulent Scents was co-founded by Mani and Nate Tilani, a husband-and-wife duo from New York with combined decades of experience in the corporate beauty industry working for luxury brands. Through their own spiritual journeys, they were moved by the connection between crystals, scent and energy and felt called to create unisex crystal-infused perfume through Opulent Scents.

What inspired you to launch your business?
Opulent Scents was born from a deep appreciation for the power of fragrance to elevate mood and promote mindfulness, alongside the transformative energy of crystals. We believe that scent connects us to our truest selves and helps align our intentions. By infusing our products with crystals, we create a ritual for our customers that fosters luxury and meaning in an intentional, sustainable way. Each scent is designed to inspire self-discovery, reflection and grounding.

Our inspiration also stems from a desire to reconnect with our Indian roots and integrate the wisdom of Ayurveda and mindfulness into modern fragrance. We wanted our scents to be more than beautiful; they are expertly crafted with carefully chosen ingredients to support energetic alignment. After years in the corporate beauty industry, we felt a void — a lack of meaningful connection in the products. We realized true luxury lies in experiences that resonate with the spirit, leading us to create Opulent Scents as a brand that is intentional, spiritually inspired and mindful.

What are some of your latest product offerings?
Our latest offerings include crystal-infused perfumes, designed to resonate with the seven chakras and promote holistic well-being. Each fragrance is carefully crafted to align with these specific energy centers, allowing for a transformative sensory experience. Additionally, we’re excited to introduce our new Discovery Set, which caters to customer needs for sampling the scents before committing to the full size.

We’re also proud of our beautiful candle and diffuser collection, which complements our perfumes perfectly, bringing the energy into your whole home. These products are designed to create a serene atmosphere while enhancing mindfulness and tranquility in any space.

Together, these collections embody our commitment to luxury and intention, inviting customers to engage in meaningful rituals. As a brand, we are continuously attentive to market needs and committed to innovation, so stay tuned for more exciting product launches in 2025 that will further enrich your experience with Opulent Scents.

Personal favorite?
Mani: I have a special connection with our ENLIGHTEN Clear Quartz Crystal Perfume. Clear quartz has a beautiful, clean aesthetic and is known for its energy-clearing properties. I find it helps me stay centered and connected to my intentions throughout the day. The scent is fresh, clean and unique. Plus, I get tons of compliments while wearing it, which is always a major confidence boost!
Nate: My personal favorite is TRUST Tiger’s Eye Crystal Perfume. This scent, infused with Tiger’s Eye — a stone of courage and confidence — serves as a daily reminder to trust in myself and stay grounded through life’s ups and downs.

Bestseller?

Our bestseller is TRUST Tiger’s Eye Crystal Perfume. This fragrance, infused with the grounding energy of Tiger’s Eye, resonates powerfully within our community, inspiring both confidence and courage. Customers are drawn to its deep, lasting scent, which is a true head- turner, making it a top choice for those looking for a bold fragrance and a striking presence.

Additionally, it was recently awarded AskMen’s Best Oud Fragrance, celebrating its unique combination of strength and warmth. With rich, earthy notes that are both grounding and empowering, TRUST is perfect for cultivating an intentional grounded mindset each day.

What are the benefits of embracing diversity in the industry? Speaking to retailers, what is the benefit of reflecting diversity through their product offerings?
Embracing diversity means honoring the unique stories, perspectives and experiences that shape each of us. In the fragrance and wellness industry, diversity allows us to better understand and serve the wide array of needs and traditions our customers bring with them.

For retailers, reflecting diversity through product offerings demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity, creating a welcoming space for everyone. It’s a powerful way to support individual expression, foster a sense of belonging, and ultimately offer customers a more meaningful experience with their purchases.

Briana Raday, Sun & Lace

Briana Raday founded Sun & Lace to create heirloom- quality, handcrafted shoes and accessories for babies and kids. What started out as an Etsy shop is now being carried in Nordstrom, The Store at MAD and boutiques across the world.

“My kids remain my reason for continuing on,” Raday explained. “My oldest is quite proud of me and tells every adult that he meets about my shop; my middle guy loves to help lace shoes and learning about the financial part of running the business; and my youngest wants to have a studio for making shoes just like mine, but ‘more organized.’”

What inspired you to launch your business?
I’ve always been a maker at heart, so when it was time for my first son to wear shoes and I wasn’t finding any in a neutral aesthetic, I set out to make my own. My goal was to have a pair or two that could be his everyday shoes that would coordinate with all of his outfits — quality over quantity. I thought there may be more people out there with my same values, so I opened up an Etsy shop to offer them our little handcrafted shoes.

What are some of your latest product offerings?
We recently launched our preteen crossbody bags for everyday essentials. They are larger versions of our little kid crossbody bags. We also launched our Birth Flower Collection, a line of hand-stamped leather baby shoes and keychains inspired by the beauty and symbolism of birth flowers.

A new custom color is coming soon that we’re excited about! We’ll use it for our soft-soled shoes as well as for our little kid purses and preteen crossbody bags.

Personal favorite?
It’s hard to pick a favorite! Our signature Bella Janes are the most personal to me, as the design came to me in a dream while pregnant with my daughter. They’re a sweet shoe for special occasions all year around.

Bestseller?
Our slip-on style in the cream or latte! They are easy to put on and they stay on. Customers have said ours are their favorite because the elastic around the ankle helps the shoes stay on quite well. Plus, they’re easy to stash in a diaper bag (or a coat pocket, as my husband did!) for those times when shoes may be needed after leaving the house.

What are the benefits of embracing diversity in the industry?
The makers’ space seems to be following along society’s shift toward more inclusivity and representation. One benefit of embracing diversity in the makers’ industry, therefore, is a more diverse product offering to the general public. At the local level, craft fairs and markets are a fantastic way to experience products with different cultural influences and to talk with makers of different backgrounds. It is in this conversational environment that stereotypes can be broken, new ideas formed and inspirations unlocked.

As a mom, I’m always thinking about the future. By putting myself out there, I hope to inspire some young ones from the next generation to go after their dreams.