It started out as an idea…Create a Gift Store unlike any other where shoppers are exposed to products that they have never seen before and all have a certain “wow factor”. That is how the Nifty Things! concept was born.
In 2005 Doug and Martee Hickman moved from Metropolitan Detroit to the northern woods of “Up North” Michigan. Both had worked in Corporate America for most of their careers and had extensive retail and food service credentials.
A friend of Doug’s owned a Model Train Company that was exhibiting at the Atlanta Gift Show and invited Doug and Martee to join him in Atlanta. He was trying to figure out if the Gift market was right for his products and asked Doug and Martee to scout out the entire Show to see “just how the Gift Industry works”.
After interviewing dozens of Gift Vendors it was apparent that Doug’s friend’s business was not a good fit for the Atlanta Show. However, it was during this time that Doug and Martee got the “bug” to make their Nifty Things! concept a reality.
The first Nifty Things! store was only 450 sq. ft. in size. It opened in April of 2006 in Alden, Michigan located on the shores of Torch Lake, regarded as one of the three most beautiful lakes in the world! Nifty Things! store is located directly across the street from Alden’s Mill House, a world-renowned Spice and Kitchen store that draws hundreds of customers every day to buy their spices and kitchen gadgets.
Back then Doug and Martee were the sales staff as well as the buyers, bill payers, janitors and wore any other hat that needed to be worn. It only took a few weeks to realize more staff was needed to handle the waves of customers showing up at our door each and every day. The “Nifty” concept was a success and the “word” got out quickly.
In July of 2006 the Executive Director of the Elk Rapids, Michigan Chamber of Commerce (about 20 miles away on the shores of Lake Michigan) happened in our store and began raving about all of the “nifty things” we had. She loved the store so much that she returned several weeks later with a bus load Elk Rapids residents to show them Nifty Things!
It was during that visit that the Chamber Director approached Doug asking if Nifty Things! would have any interest in opening a Nifty Things! Store in her town. After some thought, Doug said yes, but stated that a prime location would have to be located in order to make the move possible. The Chamber Director left stating she knew of a possible storefront that might be coming available in the near future. Sure enough, the absolute best storefront in Elk Rapids became available and Doug and Martee jumped at the opportunity to lease the space.
During that same time a neighbor of Doug and Martee came into the Alden store to shop and in conversation we found out that she had a background in the Gift Industry. Previous to her move to northern Michigan Kathy ran one of the premiere Gift showrooms at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. What luck! We obviously offered her a job and she accepted almost on the spot.
Today, Kathy (Trilla) is our General Manager and is responsible for most of the products we sell at Nifty Things! She also has lots of experience in store design and layout so our impending move to Elk Rapids became a lot easier with Kathy on the team. Nifty Things Elk Rapids opened in October of 2006 and was a hit with the locals from Day 1!
Running two stores proved to be a lot more work than just one! We found out real fast that we needed more staff, but finding the right people for Nifty Things! is not easy. Kathy again came to the rescue. She told us of a young woman who had babysat for her on numerous occasions and had the right personality to work at Nifty Things! Welcome Julie Bean to the Nifty family.
Julie was attending college, working at a local resort, but was looking for a change. We gave her that opportunity and she has grown with us almost from the beginning. Today, Julie is our Elk Rapids Store Director, buys a good amount of the products we sell, and attends the various Trade Shows as part of the Nifty Team.
In 2008 Nifty Things! Moved to the “Big City”, Traverse City that is with our largest store right in the prime downtown Front Street shopping District. From Day 1, out TC store was a hit with the tourists and the locals alike. In spite of the weak Michigan economy, our Traverse City store continues to amaze even us and today our TC store has the designation of being “the most shopped store in Downtown Traverse City!”
