About US
Our Story
It all began in my final year of university, navigating what I thought was the worst heartbreak of my life. One day, two of my friends decided to start a gifting company after struggling to find a gift for a mother. One of them, a close friend, invited me to the first meeting to take my mind off things. Another friend joined, and just like that, the four of us became co-founders.
We each put in KSH 10,000 from our savings—which was everything we had. We went to Nakumatt Mega, selected items we thought would work as gifts, and had another friend take photos for us. With no pitch decks, no business strategy, just four young women, one heartbreak, and a lot of passion, Gift Wand was born.
Why "Gift Wand"?
During our first meeting, I was tasked with coming up with a name. I didn't see myself as creative, so I called a friend, Eric, a film director. I gave him one rule: the name had to include the word "gift" so people could easily find us through Instagram hashtags.A few minutes later, he texted me: "Call it The Gift Wand. You know, like a magic wand... because you guys will be creating magic". I had never heard of a magic wand, but it sounded cool. I shared it with the team, and it stuck immediately—no voting, no second options. Simple, spontaneous, and perfect. We’re still waving that wand years later.
Unforgettable Moments
We've had many highs and lows. I'll never forget our first TV appearance for Valentine's packages. We got stuck in traffic and had to get ourselves and our packages onto boda bodas to make it just in time
Then there was our first corporate order from POSTA when we were still operating out of someone else’s office, which caused quite a bit of chaos. Another low was when our social media pages were hacked; it felt like our storefront had burned down.
Then there was our first corporate order from POSTA when we were still operating out of someone else’s office, which caused quite a bit of chaos. Another low was when our social media pages were hacked; it felt like our storefront had burned down.
But there have been many validating moments, too. A woman we admired for her taste placed an order for her boyfriend and loved what we curated. Slowly, as life happened, the founding team had to move on, but I stayed.
Our Promise
We believe gifting is more than just pretty bows and perfect boxes. We wrap stories, love notes, inside jokes, apologies, milestones, and memories. Our promise is that every gift we send out is filled with intention, making the recipient feel celebrated, seen, and thought of. We obsess over the small details, personalize each gift, and back it all up with great customer service. We do what we do because we've seen how a gift can soften a moment, shorten distance, and light up a room.
The Magic Behind the Box
Gifting has completely changed my career path and my life. Now, I audit every gift I receive, checking if the ribbon knot is upside down or if a scented candle could be added to our catalogue.
Holidays are a marathon now, not a celebration. Christmas is a full-blown marathon, and I get jittery thinking about delivering gifts between Christmas and New Year's. Valentine's Day is even more intense—we need to book red roses by the end of November. Delivering 200 orders to 200 different locations in nine hours on Valentine’s Day is our reality.
Despite the challenges, I wouldn't trade it for anything. This world of bows and gift boxes has taught me that planning is power, joy is in the little details, and everyone has a creative side. Every package that arrives on time makes it all worth it. Always.
