The Local Gift Revolution: How Neighborly Gifts Transformed Corporate Gifting

Sarah Richardson, of Rochester, Minnesota, never expected to transform corporate gifting. As a graphic designer, she was focused on helping clients build their brands. But when the pandemic hit, a weekend idea to create an e-commerce platform for locally sourced Easter baskets turned into Gift Rochester, raising $6,000 for local businesses in one week. When Mayo Clinic sought employee recognition gifts, the project exploded, growing 12,000% in its first year. Now known as Neighborly Gifts, the company operates in five states, partnering with 200 small businesses to create curated gift boxes for corporate clients.