Anabel Gray is the Owner & Creator of MEMO Box. She graduated from CSULB with her Bachelor’s degree in Business, minor in Marketing. Aside from MEMO Box, Anabel has a full time job as an Event Marketing Manager, is a momma to a wild 2 year old and is happily married to her high school sweetheart.
1 | Tell me about your company… What does your company do?
MEMO Box makes gifting a breeze! What does that mean exactly? Well, think of an occasion where you needed a gift- whether it was a birthday, your friend got a new place or you simply wanted to send a good friend a “just because” gift. Usually you go to multiple stores to gather your products/gifts, then you have to figure out shipping, and finally you have to package it up and make it look all pretty. Well, MEMO Box does all of that for you! I wanted to make life a little easier for people and give them a place to go and get their gifting done all in one place!
MEMO Box offers curated gift options or you are can create your own with any of the products on the website. An added bonus is that you are supporting other small businesses. The majority of the products I offer are sourced from Etsy sellers as well as some local businesses- all of which make your gift that much more unique and personal!
2 | How long have you been working in the gifting industry?
The Memo Box is a great gift because it is not subscription based like other “boxes” out there! You can choose when you purchase a gift for yourself or someone else!
3 | What are some challenges you have faced being an entrepreneur in the gifting boutique environment?
Competition and brand awareness! There are many gifting websites- some tailoring to only certain parts of the market, some subscription based, etc. Differentiating myself from other brands is something I try to do every day.
4 | How much has social media impacted your business?
100%! Being active on social media has been my focus because the reach it has is like no other. I have established some partnerships and also credibility. It’s hard to trust a new company, but social media breaks some of those barriers as you show more of the “human” side of your company.
5 | What motivated you to take the leap and start your own brand?
I always knew I wanted to have my own business. Not only did I want to work for myself (still working on this!) but I wanted to see something I created from the beginning and watch it grow. What motivated me? Honestly, I’m an overthinker but I finally turned all of my what ifs into a big fat- WHY NOT. I didn’t want to live with the regret of not starting this lil business, so I went for it!
6 | What advice can you give to your fellow millennial entrepreneurs?
There will never be a perfect time to ____. This can fit in many parts of life- but for me it was starting my business! I work full time as an Event Marketing Manager, I have a wild 2 year old and my husband is currently in school finishing up his degree. This was definitely not the ideal time to start a business- but is there ever a perfect time? You just have to trust yourself and take the risk! Work hard and if you ever feel stuck, ask for help.
7 | What is your favorite product and why?
Oh this is a tough one! Lots of time went into researching products and companies and I really do love all the products I offer!
My favorite ‘single’ item would have to be the Rose Gold “You got this” water bottle. This was actually a custom order because I could not find exactly what I wanted. I had the idea in my head and found someone that brought my idea to life! I love the look of it but most importantly I love the message!
My favorite curated gift box would be the “At Home” gift. I love the neutral tones and really the overall aesthetic of it!
8 | Who is your biggest influencer or inspiration?
There are many things/people that inspire me in life, but in terms of business I would say my sister-in-law. She is also an entrepreneur and I have watcher her grow her business in ways everyone dreams of. She is a well known aesthetician and she continues to grow her business every day. She never stops hustlin’! She shares her future business plans with me and that inspires me to work even harder on my own goals. Not only is she successful but she also helps others be successful. She is always there to answer my questions and has supported my business since day 1!
9 | Do you have any promos that Bossfidence Babes can use to get your products this holidays season?
I would love to offer Bossfidence Babes a 15% discount on any order from now until December 17th! Use code BOSSBABE15 at checkout!
Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/shopmemobox
https://www.facebook.com/shopmemobox
