The Story Behind the Drop Shipping Division
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Opportunities in business rarely come wrapped in perfect timing.
They usually show up in the middle of chaos.
This one showed up in mid-2025.
Debbie, a respected name in the gifting industry and the owner of Jocelyn & co. had built and grown a gift drop shipping division over the years. She had done it well. It was established, profitable, and supported by strong industry relationships.
But like many founders, she was running multiple divisions and saw an opportunity for someone else to take this one further.
That’s when she reached out.
She had found me because I’ve been working in the gifting industry for years, building Apple Blossom and carving out our own space. We connected quickly. In this industry, Debbie is well known. If you know gifting, you know Debbie.
We talked through the structure of the opportunity and agreed on one thing immediately: nothing happens during Q4. The Christmas season in gifting is not the time to make big moves. It’s organized chaos.
January in Arizona
After the holiday season slowed down, I flew to Arizona in January to meet her at her warehouse in Tempe.
I brought mom (aka my busienss partner), stepdad and my kids so we could enjoy some January sunshine. While my stepdad took the kids swimming, Lisa and I went to the warehouse.
Seeing what Debbie had built in person was energizing. Her warehouse was so fun (I totally geeked out over the streamlined processes she had)
I met her team. Her husband and son, who are both super sweet. Her son is skilled in photography, so of course we talked about product photography for a while. Her husband treated us to Cinnabon while we discussed how the transition would go.
In the middle of it, I had to step out to take phone calls because my remote desktop wasn’t working and of course, that’s when orders started coming in back home. That’s entrepreneurship. It never waits for convenient timing.
We walked the warehouse. Reviewed inventory. Discussed logistics. Talked through technology. Met with app developers. Mapped out what the next phase could look like.
And we laughed a lot, especially at my lack of wine knowlege... what can I say, I'm a beer girl. That is Mom's department.
Why This Made Sense
Debbie had built something strong. I had built something strong. The drop shipping division needed focused expansion. I specialize in operations, branding, fulfillment systems, and scaling structure.
The opportunity made strategic sense.
As I grow the drop shipping company and she continues growing her other divisions, there’s natural crossover ahead. I’ll stock her products. We’ll collaborate and continue a relationship in the future.
That’s how good partnerships work.
I drove a bright blue minivan down the Arizona highway through Phoenix traffic slightly stressful, but the "super sweet" minivan delivered, while mom and I discussed the opportunities ahead. Back to the Airbnb in Glendale to soak it all in along with some delightful sunshine.
I came home energized and got to work!
- Building the new website
- Reviewing and refining photography
- Purchasing inventory
- Working through technical integrations
- Mapping out the backend structure
There are still kinks to work out. That’s part of launching anything meaningful.
But we’re close.
And I’m already looking forward to heading back to Arizona, partly for business, partly for the weather.
The Bigger Picture
This drop shipping division isn’t just an addition.
It’s a strategic expansion.
It allows us to:
- Support other gifting companies behind the scenes
- Scale product distribution nationally
- Build stronger vendor relationships
- Create long-term operational leverage
And it represents something else too.
Leveling up.
I’ve spent years building credibility in the gifting space. This opportunity felt like recognition from someone deeply established in the industry and that matters.
We’re almost ready to launch.
And this is just the beginning.