The Gift Shop: A Haven of Beauty and Color in Valdez

Celeste Addison has chased business ideas since age 12, starting with Bubblegum Bows. She hired her little sister and her sister’s two best friends as her first staff. “I always had a brain for business,” she says, and it definitely didn’t take long for it to become clear that fusing creativity and small business was her calling. She went on to found her art business, Celeste Addison Art, and to co-found the Valdez Art Co-op. Most recently, in 2024, she opened her own store: The Gift Shop, Valdez’s first Black and woman-owned storefront in Valdez, Alaska.

Celeste describes The Gift Shop as  “a vibrant space that brings joy and value to my small Alaskan town, where options for retail and community connection are limited.” The shop’s offerings range from locally made artists’ wares to consigned clothing and accessories.

Step inside. Celeste will give you a warm greeting and show you around. Some of her favorite products include scrubs and skin products from Pure & Coco, a woman- and veteran-owned business, and Shana Anderson, a local fiber artist and Business Impact NW client. Other Business Impact NW clients include Bobbin’ Around and Tailbone Designs. Celeste’s own art is featured as well.

Community is Key

Celeste is proud that her shop is “deeply connected to our community and actively supports small businesses across the country.” She explains that by offering space to a carefully selected group of local and national artisans, The Gift Shop creates a space that also offers a mood boost to visitors:

“The Gift Shop offers a completely new kind of retail experience for Valdez—not just because of what we carry, but because of our mission and atmosphere. Every purchase supports at least two small businesses… What truly sets us apart is the environment: a carefully curated blend of scents, sounds, and dopamine decor that engages the senses and transforms shopping into a joyful, uplifting experience.”

Business coach Carrie Jean Shepherd agrees.

“In high-snowfall, low-light environments like Valdez, access to beauty and color can be vital. Celeste [Addison]’s shop is more than retail—it’s a mental health resource, a mood boost, and a cultural act of resistance to seasonal isolation. This aligns with growing research on the importance of aesthetics and creative environments for well-being.”

Tourism and Localism

While The Gift Shop has a strong Valdez base and following, Celeste has also put a lot of thought into how to meet the desires of tourists as well, which is essential for a business to be noticed and thrive in Valdez. Being visited by tourists is important: Valdez’s population surges when a cruise ship docks, creating a temporary economic boost. Businesses that thrive work on attracting visitors during the off-seasons as well, explains Faith Harris, Executive Director of Discover Valdez.  “Valdez business owners will find the struggles of any small town here. Knowing how to mitigate those challenges and be prepared with alternative solutions is key.”

Celeste meets the challenge of a balanced customer base: The Gift Shop’s curated products provide sustainable choices to visitors that go beyond the traditional souvenir. One-of-a-kind repurposed and consigned clothing and accessories wait for a new home in the colorful racks at The Gift Shop. Products from local businesses such as Hungry Bear Jellies offer a sweet way to remember a trip to Alaska. And locally crafted jewelry gives visitors a unique memento of Valdez.

It Takes A Village

Celeste credits creating community as a big part of her inspiration, and she strives to honor and give back to that community every day.

“This specific journey in entrepreneurship has taught me how much community matters. The way my community has come together to support me…  (and) has taught me that it takes a village to run a successful business. I have friends help me with working my front counter, donating goods, and even helping me to secure a business loan. This journey has taught me how much people want me to succeed and how much they are willing to help me do so, so I can keep providing value to our town.”

In fact, if Celeste had one piece of advice she wishes she could give her past self, it’s “LET PEOPLE HELP YOU!!!! I have had many, many offers for help, but refused them because I like to suffer or something like that. After one year in business, I am finally accepting more help without feeling guilty. People want you to succeed, and they want to help you to succeed.”

The Help of Business Impact NW

Celeste was able to find some of that support through her connections with Business Impact NW. She credits her business coach, Carrie Jean, with helping her through challenging business situations, such as the dissolution of an early business partnership.

“Carrie Jean has been such an inspiration and given me so many wonderful ideas and opportunities!… Carrie Jean has helped me by introducing me to people who have been helpful in the growth of my business. Her pep talks have honestly been what has been the most beneficial to me.”

Celeste is looking forward to more involvement with Business Impact NW, including taking classes on finance and marketing. She has already attended as many events hosted by Business Impact NW

The Gift Shop is clearly a very special place in Valdez. Not only is it a delightful shop to visit, but it is an example of how a business can serve a community both economically and emotionally. A business that is  “creative, personal, and deeply rooted in community,” as Carrie Jean says, “is one small, powerful example of that movement—(of) building something beautiful and sustainable in one of the snowiest towns in North America.”

What’s next for Celeste and The Gift Shop? Her goals are to begin hosting regular craft nights and eventually expand, creating a coworking space and a mini bowling alley. If you can’t visit in person, she also gives her Instagram followers a taste of her visual magic.