Nifty Things

It started out as an idea Create a Gift Store unlike any other where shoppers are exposed to products that they have never seen before and all have a certain "wow factor". That is how the Nifty Things! concept was born. In 2005 Doug and Martee Hickman moved from Metropolitan Detroit to the northern woods of "Up North" Michigan. Both had worked in Corporate America for most of their careers and had extensive retail and food service credentials. A friend of Doug's owned a Model Train Company that was exhibiting at the Atlanta Gift Show and invited Doug and Martee to join him in Atlanta. He was trying to figure out if the Gift market was right for his products and asked Doug and Martee to scout out the entire Show to see "just how the Gift Industry works". After interviewing dozens of Gift Vendors it was apparent that Doug's friend's business was not a good fit for the Atlanta Show. However, it was during this time that Doug and Martee got the "bug" to make their Nifty Things! concept a reality. The first Nifty Things! store was only 450 sq. ft. in size. It opened in April of 2006 in Alden, Michigan located on the shores of Torch Lake, regarded as one of the three most beautiful lakes in the world! Nifty Things! store is located directly across the street from Alden's Mill House, a world-renowned Spice and Kitchen store that draws hundreds of customers every day to buy their spices and kitchen gadgets. Back then Doug and Martee were the sales staff as well as the buyers, bill payers, janitors and wore any other hat that needed to be worn. It only took a few weeks to realize more staff was needed to handle the waves of customers showing up at our door each and every day. The "Nifty" concept was a success and the "word" got out quickly.