We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Locker Kaufman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel Locker, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a little girl, I turned my playroom into a make-believe store. I had a cash register, credit card imprinter (remember those?) and a Mickey Mouse phone, and I would “sell” my toys to members of my family. I always dreamed of one day owning a real store of my own… About 20 years ago, my mom, Harriet, and I moved to Boca Raton, Florida to be closer to my aging grandparents. We would get our nails done weekly at Boca Nails in Royal Palm Place and always pop in to the gift shop next door. We loved browsing around, spending our Saturdays together, chatting and shopping (whether we needed something or not!). A few years ago, my mom was offered a part-time job there and learned the ins and outs of running the store. Her decades of sales experience came in handy – sales started booming and she got to meet many of you! Last year, while pregnant with my first child, I was looking for a way to continue working while also having the flexibility to stay at home to raise my son… As luck would have it, the store’s owner was retiring, so my husband & I bought the store and my childhood dream became a reality! My mom is now the manager and I’m often in the store with Max, my adorable eight-month-old (who we like to call the store’s official “Max-cot”).

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My undergraduate degree from American University and Masters Degree from FAU helped prepare me for life as a business owner. I spent the majority of my career in administration which helped me hone in on my attention to detail. When I was promoted to manager, I learned how to coordinate and run a team to reach a common goal and operate efficiently. Anticipating the needs of the clients I worked for prepared me for giving my customers the best service they deserve when they walk in the door or shop online.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would start at Cote France in Royal Palm Place (where our store is located) for delicious pastry for breakfast followed by manicures and pedicures at Boca Nails. Stroll around the lovely outdoor shopping center and have a healthy late lunch at Purgreens. Shop some more and have a special dinner at Chops for steak and seafood. Burn off all of the day’s calories by dancing the night away at Platforms Nightclub next door.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my smart, strong husband Karl Kaufman who has made this dream come true. He’s always said that I deserved it all since the day we met and has lived up to that promise. He and my inlaws made this come true by helping us purchase the business from the previous owner and allowing us to make it our own. In addition to his help and support I’d also like to give a shoutout to my mother Harriet Locker who always led me to believe that anything I want to achieve is possible. These two favorite people of mine have been there for me through many life changes, both good and bad, and I’m only a stronger woman because of their advice and support.

Website: www.lifestylesgiftware.com
Instagram: instagram.com/lifestylesgiftware
Twitter: twitter.com/lifestylesgift
Facebook: facebook.com/lifestylesgiftware
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lifestyles-giftware-boca-raton?osq=lifestyles+giftware