Maggie’s Gift Emporium has everything — except Maggie

Mother-daughter team Lora and Alyse Small recently opened Maggie’s Gift Emporium along Industrial Park Road in Ferdinand. Unique gifts for every imaginable occasion are offered in delightfully designed displays. *Photo by Eric Tretter*

A new gift shop in Ferdinand opened for business on Tuesday, March 7.

Maggie’s Gift Emporium is located on the south side of town, in the complex currently home to Subway and China Garden. Unique gifts for all occasions, along with upscale Indiana-specific souvenirs, are featured in an artfully decorated setting.

Owner Lora Small and her daughter, Alyse Small, run the shop seven days a week.

So, how did they come up with Maggie’s Gift Emporium?

“My grandpa has always called me Maggie,” Alyse explains. “Plus, several other relatives are named Maggie.”

“Maggie’s” sounded like a catchy name. Maggie’s Gift Emporium it is.

“Grandpa’s happy,” Alyse smiles.

Lora Small had long dreamed of owning a gift shop, Alyse relates. Lora earned an associates degree in business management, then began crunching numbers to see if opening a shop was feasible.

“And here we are,” says Alyse.

Gifts for any conceivable occasion can be found at Maggie’s Gift Emporium. Made-in-the-USA items share space with free-trade wares from Peru, India, Myanmar and Guatemala. Lovely jewelry and home décor line the Emporium’s shelves, along with truly unusual items, such as absinthe kits from Lenore’s Absinthery. The herbs, which can be used to infuse any alcoholic spirits, are grown, harvested and blended in Kentucky.

“Absinthe was once banned in the United States,” Alyse explains, “but this uses a legal strain of wormwood that was thought to be dangerous.”

“Church Puzzles” are located at the check-out counter. Originating in rural Scotland, an immigrant fashioned puzzles from discarded newspaper images and labels to keep children occupied during church services.

Indiana-specific souvenirs — such as a variety of Indiana Artisan cookies and pretzels from the Sisters of St. Benedict’s Monastery Baked Goods — are featured, as well as items specifically designed for tourists visiting Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari, such as Fitkicks active ware shoes and waterproof pouches to hold cell phones.

Many of the shop’s offerings benefit a variety of causes — bracelets for veterans’ charities, candles for endangered honeybees and pollinators, and coming soon, Alyse’s wood-burning art, benefiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Lots of seasonal gifts are currently on display. And, Alyse and Lora are happy to make up Easter baskets — for children or adults. Beautiful felt Easter baskets are ready to be filled with the Sisters’ cookies, adorable stuffed bunnies, chicks and lambs, or, for grown-ups, sweet-smelling English soaps and lotions. The possibilities are nearly limitless.

Maggie’s Gift Emporium’s Grand Opening will be held this Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join in for a day of celebration with giveaways, tasty treats and product introductions.

Maggie’s Gift Emporium, 75 Industrial Park Road, Suite C, is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday, 12 – 4 p.m. Call 812-998-2025.

Help them reach 500 likes on their Facebook Page by tomorrow.