#giftstoresincincinnati

[tsgcincinnati]

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Jennifer of Pomegranate & Lime

We believe in storytelling here at The Scout Guide, and love telling the unique stories behind our business owners. This Member Spotlight focuses on Jennifer, the owner of one of our favorite gift shops in Cincinnati, Pomegranate & Lime, located in the Mariemont Strand. This great gift store opened in August 2010 and offers gifts for the home, ladies, gents and kids. 

How did you get into retail and open Pomegranate & Lime?

It was always a dream of mine to have my own store and was fortunate before having children to have extensive retail experience including hiring employees (staffing), running the business and running the merchandising side of retail. 

I started in department store training at Pogue's located in Carew Tower, and then as a ladies ready-to-wear buyer (ladies sports wear). I would go to NYC for buying trips and loved those. I then worked as a buyer for 5 years and then left the company to work at Talbots for 10 years and eventually managed up to 15 stores. I put retail “on hold” to raise my two children.

What do you love most about owning your store?

Building relationships with customers. (I witnessed this first hand, as when I asked her this, she really connected with each person, knew their names, helped with gift suggestions and gave them each personal time and smiles!) 

I’m in my 10th holiday season and have had customers who have attended all ten holiday open houses, which is very special for me to see. 

Why did you choose Mariemont to open your store?

As a recent empty-nester, I needed a purpose. I saw the open spot in the Mariemont Strand, I said to myself “that's my shop when the lease is available.” The prior jewelry store left the spot and I took the risk and never looked back. 

Why the name Pomegrante and Lime?

I wanted it to be unique and have it’s own identity. I started out with “Pomegrante” which is something I have always loved - it’s healthy and I love the look of the fruit. I’m a very visual person and loved the letters and shape the word creates. My daughter said it needed another word to go with “Pomegrante.” That’s when “Lime” came to mind along with the tag line - “classic gifts with a twist.” 

Explain to us more about how you pick your assortment. 

As a buyer, I have always been curating my assortment of goods I love. I consistently had a mental list building throughout my time in retail, which has made it a lot easier and fun working on the lines for the store which include baby, jewelry, home goods, mens and giftware. 

What are some of your favorite things you carry?

In Jewelry, I love Julie Vos &  Enewton (and have even met and been visited by Elizabeth Newton who is lovely!) In baby, I love Pixie Lily and Jelly Cat since they’re timeless and soft. My favorite right now in Giftware is Michel Design, and in Men's, it’s Smathers & Branson. I love to support other small businesses when I pick out lines to carry. 

Anything else you want to tell our readers about you and the store?  

My favorite holiday is Christmas - people are usually in a joyful mood and I love offering complimentary gift wrapping, which I feel is very helpful and appreciated by my customers. I love being a part of the Scout Guide because supporting dreams matters. I really love the saying, “When you support small businesses you are supporting a dream." 

You can visit Jennifer and her sweet team at the store at 6804 Wooster Pike in the Mariemont Strand, and follow along on her Instagram page --> here. Be sure to tell her Scout sent you and thank you for reading our stories! 

Jennifer, her husband Scott and their dog, Sophie. Photos by Ross Van Pelt.