Discover fair trade, hand-crafted gifts, home decor, accessories and jewelry from around globe.
Topanien Global Gifts wakens the bohemian in you with remarkable gifts, home decor and accessories from around the world. Pick up an African Basket and instantly transport yourself to Ghana. Wrap a sensational Alpaca Scarf around your neck and you are in Peru. Shake open a hand-block printed, fair trade table cloth and magically you experience India. And rich Picasso Pillows, Miro Cushion Covers and Kandinsky Throw Pillows will make you smile!
Keywords: Gift Shop, gifts, contemporary pillows, Picasso pillows, Miro pillows, Kandinsky pillows, inspirational banners, African baskets, bolga baskets, global gifts
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
About 24 years
What is your primary product or service?
Global gifts, home décor and accessories that will make you smile.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
Interest in other cultures, language and people along with a love of travel and adventure. - Nadine Lefkowitz, owner
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
We give you an experience that will make you smile while supporting the artisans as well as your style. We do not just offer you a gift. We give you a fairly traded, hand-crafted, alebrije (wooden folkart animal) from Oaxaca, Mexico that has been signed by the artist and who you can meet and read about on our website.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We have one physical location in Multnomah Village in SW Portland at 7832 SW Capitol Hwy along with our on-line store at http://topanien.com
Provide detailed directions to your location
If coming south on I-5, take the Multnomah Blvd exit and head west. Take a right at the second light. we are just to your left at the first stop sign. However, you cannot go left and so have to go around the block to get onto our street SW Capitol Hwy. If heading east or west on Capitol Hwy, just keep going til come to our address, 7832 SW Capitol Hwy.
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash, Visa, Discover, Debit and online we accept Paypal, Stripe or credit card.
Which areas do you service?
We receive orders from all over the world and foot traffic to our physical store mainly from people in Portland along with their friends and family
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
I, Nadine Lefkowitz, own Topanien Global Gifts. However, my staff runs the physical store and assists customers there. I am sometimes available at the store and almost always available on-line.
What are your hours of operation?
Mon - Sat 10 - 6 p.m.
and Sun 11 - 5 p.m.
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
This place make me so happy I can't stop smiling. (and customers actually say this as they go around and around the store exclaiming over all the new things they keep discovering.)
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
"Work is the grand cure of all the maladies and miseries that ever beset mankind." from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett