Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Zahn.
Hi Lisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For 17 years, I pursued a career in public relations and brand marketing; building brands and shaping the stories behind some of the country’s most recognizable consumer companies, including Campbell’s, HomeGoods, American Eagle Outfitters, Clairol, and Jif peanut butter. From the outside, I had built the career I’d always worked toward and loved the work and climbing the corporate ladder.
But everything changed when my dad was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in August 2024.
Walking alongside him through his illness gave me a perspective I never expected. It forced me to confront how precious and unpredictable life really is. I realized that if I was ever going to pursue the dream I’d carried for years, the time wasn’t “someday.” It was now.
Owning a boutique had always been a dream, but one I had comfortably tucked away while I focused on building my corporate career. In many ways, my dad’s diagnosis gave me the courage to stop waiting. What started as a small pop-up shop on weekends quickly became something much bigger. In the span of a year, Glimmer evolved from a side hustle into a full-fledged business, and I made the leap from corporate executive to entrepreneur, opening my shop in September 2025.
Today, Glimmer is a thoughtfully curated gift boutique and custom gifting service in Media, Pennsylvania, built on the belief that gift giving is a love language. We help people celebrate milestones, express gratitude, and make everyday moments feel a little more special. Whether we’re creating custom corporate gifts, helping someone find the perfect birthday present, or hosting community events, everything we do is rooted in bringing people together through thoughtfulness.
Ironically, the skills I developed throughout my corporate career have become some of my greatest strengths as a small business owner. Storytelling, branding, customer experience, and relationship building remain at the center of everything I do. I also continue to freelance, consulting with brands on communications strategy, giving me the opportunity to bridge both worlds.
My family was my biggest cheerleader and Glimmer really became a glimmer we all were excited and passionate about. My dad helped me tag merchandise, paint the shop and build fixtures and truly was beside me every step of the way. We sadly lost him in January 2026. I am so grateful I got to have 6 months of bonus time with him, working daily together in the store and am comforted knowing his finger prints are all over my store.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh goodness no. I’m sure when you walk by a cute boutique it looks like the grass is always greener — and while I absolutely love what I am doing and the purpose I now have bringing such a joyful, beautiful business to my community — I’d give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant I’d have my dad back and healthy.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Glimmer Gifts & Goods was created around a simple belief: gift giving is a love language, and finding the perfect gift shouldn’t feel overwhelming.
We’re a thoughtfully curated gift boutique and custom gifting service in Media, Pennsylvania, specializing in meaningful gifts for every occasion—from birthdays and new babies to client appreciation, holidays, and life’s biggest milestones. We also help businesses strengthen relationships through custom corporate gifting, making thoughtful gifting effortless for companies of all sizes.
What sets Glimmer apart is that we’re much more than a retail store. We think of ourselves as a gift concierge. Our goal is to remove the stress and guesswork from gift giving by helping customers find something that feels deeply personal. We offer complimentary in store gift wrapping, shipping directly to recipients, and personalized recommendations so customers can spend less time worrying about what to buy and more time connecting with the people they care about.
Community is also at the heart of everything we do. From pop-up events and creative workshops to collaborations with local businesses and makers, Glimmer was intentionally designed to be a place where people gather, discover, and celebrate together. We believe shopping should feel inspiring and personal.
What I’m most proud of is that people don’t just come to Glimmer to buy a gift—they come because of how we make them feel. Whether someone walks in looking for one small item or trusts us to create gifts for hundreds of clients, our hope is that every interaction reflects thoughtfulness and genuine care.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t know that I’d call it luck, but I do think life’s hardest moments have shaped me more than its easiest ones.
The biggest turning point in my life and business was my dad’s terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Before that, I had spent 17 years building a career I genuinely loved. Glimmer existed as a dream and a small side hustle, truly to just fill my creative cup.
Watching someone you love navigate a terminal illness has a way of stripping away the illusion that we have unlimited time. It gave me a completely different perspective on what mattered and the courage to stop waiting for someday.
In the year that followed, Glimmer went from a weekend pop-up to a full-fledged business, and I made one of the biggest career pivots of my life. While I would give anything to have my dad back, his journey reminded me that our time is our most valuable resource. That lesson has become the foundation for how I live, lead, and build my business today.
If there has been any “luck” in my story, it’s been the incredible people who have rallied around Glimmer along the way—my family, friends, customers, and the Media community. Their support has turned a deeply personal leap of faith into something far bigger than I ever imagined.
Pricing:
- we work with budgets of all types and happily take custom orders via our custom gift form on our website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://glimmergiftshop.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giftglimmer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glimmergiftshop
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@giftglimmer
