B Gifted first got its start in Calgary's Jewish Community Centre (JCC) in 1985 as a charity-supporting gift store. Staff members Marilyn Brietman and Debbie Krygier decided to purchase it in 2004. “We bought this place because we thought Calgary needed more nice gift stores,” Marilyn says. “The JCC is in the southwest of Calgary in a residential area, and we thought that that location would be perfect for many reasons.”
The convenience of the residential location was a big plus for Marilyn and Debbie. “We know that people don’t like going downtown to do their gift shopping,” Marilyn says. “It’s more convenient in a residential area. There’s more parking and you don’t have to pay for it.”
Marilyn and Debbie brought in higher-end items to increase the range of products available in the shop, including a mix of Jewish and non-denominational items to pique anyone's interest. “We have about 40 per cent Judaic items and 60 per cent non-denominational,” Marilyn says. “We have gifts from $20 to $1,000 – there's something for everyone.”
