What is your favorite pastime? 

My favorite pastime is drinking coffee with my husband every single morning — on the veranda when it is warm and in the living room when it is cold, discussing every possible topic imaginable.

How did you get involved with this business?

I have been teaching piano since I was 18 years old, all the way until my 50s. There was never a year when I did not teach piano. At some point, I began working in retail along with my teaching, and I discovered that I liked selling more than I liked teaching! My first retail job was as a beauty consultant for Estee Lauder. When I saw that Gibson’s was for sale, I bought it.

How has your life experience made you successful in your field today?

Earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree in piano performance taught me discipline. I practiced 8 to 10 hours a day, and when I performed my graduate recital at the Music School at the USC, I was eight and a half months pregnant with my third baby, and I had two toddlers. The extremely hard and consistent practice for such long periods of time taught me to be disciplined, and this helped me in my success owning Gibson’s. I am very disciplined in emotions and work when I need to be, although I am emotional and undisciplined by nature.

How has the community benefitted from your business?

Gibson’s is built upon a wonderful formula that has worked for 67 years: gifts, cards, and stationery. We sell the best brands in stationery, and we also provide service for customers who want personalized notecards and invitations. Our gifts are unique, and they are not easily found in other stores. I have never, ever gone to the market. I feel that the market limits the imagination, creativity, and possibilities. I am not the one to think inside the box.