GiftyKitty Featured in Gifts & Decorative Accessories Magazine

This Whimsically-Designed Shop is a Cat Lovers’ Paradise by Linda Cahan

I discovered GiftyKitty while searching for the best new gift shops in the Portland, Ore., area and my jaw dropped as I entered the shop.

I didn’t know where to look first – the colors, shapes, lights and fixtures all caught my attention. It is the most artistically inspired shop I’ve ever visited. And that’s saying a lot –  I’ve seen a lot of gift and decor stores during my 25 years writing for Gifts & Decorative Accessories. I’m not easy to buy for. Friends tend to gift me with cat-related items as I have two kitties. They figure it’s a sure bet that I’ll love anything cat related. Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of cat tchotchkes, but I always appreciate the thought, if not the actual gift.

Although cat owners in the U.S. are estimated at 49 million, GiftyKitty is the first “cat only” gift shop I’ve visited, and it was featured in a Travel Oregon video. To save you a google search, dogs are the most popular pets and are owned by approximately 68 million households.

I was there on a Saturday and the place was packed with people of all ages perusing the fantastical floor fixtures shaped like cat trees and wandering through the forest that feels like it belongs on a different planet – in a good way.  As I walked in, their entry mat caught my attention – it was a rectangular black mat cut out like an abstract cat head and body with two round eyes and a triangle nose. Co-owners Larry Lydon and Clody Cates began with a visual commitment, and it continues throughout the shop.

This visual commitment, combined with their core values of joy, equity, eco-consciousness, kindness, art and the support of local artists, creates an impactful retail space that is unlike any I’ve seen so far. Clody is the creative mastermind, artist and co-builder behind the visuals and marketing while Larry delivers the warm customer experience, operations and focusing on sourcing special products.

If you check out their “Our Purpose” page online at www.giftykitty.com, they explain how they work with local artists committing to higher commissions and eco-minded products and packaging. They also give money from sales to a local no-kill shelter every quarter. The last “purrpose” they list is “creating an immersive store experience that is free and accessible for all to enjoy.”

They sure did!

Big MeowYous & Purrs to Linda Cahan for this fantastic article! 😻💖😻
photo by Linda Cahan
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