Welcome

It is a pleasure to welcome you to the Words Lovely Words Gift Shoppe. In order to help you feel "at home," we are proud to present our store Mission Statement and Store History.

Mission Statement

To provide a positive, relaxed shopping experience that "feeds the soul" by offering unique gifts and cards that reflect humor, inspiration and beauty.

To ensure the highest level of customer service, superior product quality and reasonable prices.

Store History

Words Lovely Words Gift Shoppe was started by the mother - daughter team of Linda Bruce and Phyllis Arthur on April 1, 2000 in a very small (400 square feet) space at Mission Mill Museum in Salem, Oregon. Owning a business of their own, in particular--a gift shop, had been a dream of theirs for a long time. They have always enjoyed stores where they could find unique, tasteful and beautiful things for their own homes or to give as gifts--especially cards, plaques and books with lovely words that had a lasting impact. Thus, the name and focus of the store was created to convey that interest. Initially, most of the inventory was just those items.

Only four months after its founding, it became clear that more space was needed to meet the growing demand, and they expanded the store to 1,400 square feet. After one and a half years in operation, Linda and Phyllis determined that it would be good to test the market for their products in the part of Salem where most of their customers lived. After much searching, they opened their second store of equal size in south Salem. In record time and a whirlwind of activity, they oversaw the remodeling of the new location, purchased new and used fixtures, traveled to gift shows, ordered, received and displayed new marchandise, and opened the day after Thanksgiving 2001.

Due to the tremendous success of the new venture, and wishing to concentrate their efforts, they decided to phase out the store at Mission Mill Museum and concentrate on the south Salem location, where sales have nearly tripled.

In October 2003, due to continued growth, the store again moved to a space double in size within the same Cherry City Center they moved to in 2001 on South Commercial Street. The new address is 4635 Commercial Street, SE, Salem, OR 97302.

It has become a true family business, often aided by family members--including Phyllis' husband Alan, Phyllis' daughter Caitlin, and Linda's dog Cocoa. Linda's husband Lorrell was a great help too, until he passed away unexpectedly in July of 2003.