Selected
Article:
Cindy
Tyler of Mississippi Gift Company in Greenwood
Questions & Answers
(Cindy Tyler is the owner and CEO of Mississippi
Gift Company based in Greenwood.)
DBJ:
What was your first job?
Tyler: Sales rep for a Dallas Company representing 6 lines
in MS/LA.
DBJ: If you could change or improve something about your
business, what would it be?
Tyler: We would like to be able to provide more locations
to better serve our customers. We have had numerous requests
from our customers to open additional locations in their
city. We currently have 3 locations, Greenwood Retail Location,
Jackson Retail Location and a Worldwide Retail Location
on the web at www.TheMississippiGiftCompany.com <http://www.TheMississippiGiftCompany.com>.
DBJ: Are there any business books you would recommend to
other CEOs?
Tyler: I recently read Raving Fans which was about providing
the best customer experience possible and really exceeding
customers expectations.
DBJ: What has been your proudest moment with the Mississippi
Gift Company?
Tyler: I have been very blessed in my business. In 2001
I opened a second location in Jackson. My mother who had
also worked in retail for 20 years, quit her job to manage
our Jackson store. We worked together on everything from
finding the location to searching antique stores to find
great fixtures. We opened our store in November, 2001 and
had a blast working together. She has always been so proud
of me and my accomplishments and I was as equally proud
of her. Our first Christmas was a huge success. My mother
was killed in a car accident New Years Day of 2002. We shared
so much together, but working side by side those last months
was a very special time for me.
DBJ: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Tyler: I find it so fulfilling getting to know my customers.
Most customers become friends. We have been in business
for 10 years now and it has been so rewarding building these
relationships. By knowing who your customers are, you are
better able to fulfill their needs and wants.
DBJ: Conversely, what is the most challenging part of your
job?
Tyler: As my business has grown over the years, I have had
to hire more employees and have had to handle more tasks
and duties of running a business. Especially since the opening
our Jackson store. This brings with it many more challenges;
management of employees, budgets and advertising, just to
name a few.
DBJ: What do you think the next five years will bring to
your business?
Tyler: We are dedicated to remaining true to our niche,
by exclusively offering products made in Mississippi. That
is what makes us unique, and makes us unlike any other gift
company out there, Mississippi is all we sell. We plan to
continually search for the finest gift items offered by
the many Mississippi gourmet food companies, entrepreneurs
and artists, while making it as easy as we can for our customers
and corporate customers to do business with us. When companies
buy our Mississippi made gifts for corporate gifts, they
are supporting other hardworking Mississippians, while keeping
the tax dollars here in our state. Mississippi folks like
doing business with Mississippi folks. DBJ
