By Anna Skinner
With Marilyn Bullock’s oldest three of six children spread at two colleges throughout the state, she realized the importance of care packages.
Bullock’s care packages sparked an idea that maybe there was something more to her idea.
“I felt like God was calling me and telling me this is something I should do because I enjoyed doing for my own daughter,” she said. “I love the shopping part of it and the packaging of it, and I wanted something different that was out there, and that’s when I decided to decorate the inside of the boxes with a theme.”
Bullock’s shopping, packaging and decorating of the care packages eventually led to the creation of her online business, Eight of Hearts.
She created the name of the business from her maiden name, Hart, and her family has eight members. She also said her dad’s family is into card playing, and so became Eight of Hearts.
“The fun thing about it is that these boxes are going out all over the place,” she said. Although she only ships to places within the United States, she recently got a request to ship to Italy.
The business originally began as college care packages that parents or loved ones could order online and customize, then send to their student. But it morphed into themed holiday packages, seasonal packages and more.
“It’s challenging, trying to find the right niche,” Bullock said. “Initially, I thought it would just be college care packages, and I’ve slowly grown into a little bit of everything, like a get well box and children boxes.”
Another recent idea for Eight of Hearts is Bullock wants to start gaining businesses as customers, and she makes thank-you boxes she said are ideal for business clients, such as a Christmas or holiday thank-you package.
The items included in the specific boxes are listed online, although Bullock said she offers customization.
“I know a lot of times there might be something in these boxes that the buyer knows the recipient would prefer to have something else so I can always switch things around,” she said, specifying sometimes price adjustments are necessary for the customization.
Prices for the boxes vary from $22-$80. Shipping is included in the price.
“What I like about all of this is they’re very practical, affordable gifts, and I’m doing this from my heart as far as designing these, but also I think it’s a great act of love,” Bullock said. “That’s what I envision, people are sending their love in these boxes, because they have a personal note and they have chosen this gift to whomever they are sending it to. Their love is something the recipient can keep.”
For more, visit www.eightofheartsgifts.com.
TOP 3 BOXES
Fall theme
Healthy snacks for college kids
Christmas thank-you boxes
