Glenda Gordon – Born And Raised Living Out Her Dream!

Glenda Gordon – Born And Raised Living Out Her Dream!

Glenda Gordon always wanted to have her own business. Even as a child, she would sit with her younger sisters and talk about ideas for her future store. 

By Justin Geurin

She still has some of the notebooks where she listed details of what they would sell. So when she got the chance to purchase a store on Main Street in Water Valley, she jumped in with no hesitation, and is now the proud owner of GG’s Flowers and Gifts on Main Street.

For Gordon, Water Valley is a place she knows well. After all, she was born here 51 years ago in Dr. Spears’ clinic and has worked at several businesses around town. As a former buyer for local stores, she has traveled to places like Dallas and Atlanta, but Water Valley is home and she says, “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” 

For Gordon, the people are what make this town great, especially in times of hardship, as there are always people willing to help in anyway they can. And in many ways, the people are why she is now a business owner. When she got the chance to buy the store, she first spoke to her sister, Melinda, who immediately agreed it was a great idea and asked what she needed. When Gordon told her parents, they had a similar reaction. 

“Everyone kept saying to me, okay, what do you need us to do or help with?” Gordon recalls.

That support and confidence was just the boost she needed to take on the challenge and she has not looked back. When you walk into GG’s on Main Street, you will be greeted with a friendly face and a great collection of unique items, although be careful, Gordon loves to rearrange and by the next time you walk in, she may have moved everything! 

With any small business there are any number of challenges, but Gordon does not spend much time worrying. Instead she focuses on all of the aspects she loves about owning and operating a business. Her favorite part…the people walking in the door, as she says, “I will talk to anybody!” 

Gordon loves visitors, especially those who are in Water Valley for the first time as she relishes the opportunity to guide those newcomers to the sights they need to see before leaving town. 

By her own admission, she is not a planner and sometimes struggles with scheduling and making sure deliveries are taken care of, but once again her family is more than willing to help out, as her Dad and son, Mack, are her, “delivery guys.” 

The toughest thing about being the owner, she has realized though, “There is no one to yell at if something goes wrong…it’s all on me,” she jokes. 

On the business side, Gordon is trying to find her niche in the Water Valley market. “I want to have something with a twist or eclectic. Something you cannot get down the street at another shop,” she explains. She tries to stay ahead of the curve in terms of new trends and products using magazines and the internet to constantly research new ideas. 

“I just want to stay true to myself,” she says, “and create a friendly atmosphere where people feel free to walk in and visit.” Some of her favorite items in the store are her own personal paintings. For her, it is the perfect opportunity to do something she loves while providing people with something they can make part of their home. 

When asked about giving advice to someone who wanted to start their own business, Gordon had plenty of ideas to offer. First and foremost, she thinks it is important to have a plan and be patient. 

“It is not going to happen overnight, you have to start small and be as prepared as possible,” she stated. She is constantly using her family as a sounding board for ideas, especially her sister, Melinda, and her best friend, Carla. The combination of their differing styles and opinions gives Gordon the chance to make good decisions about what to offer in the store

Gordon hopes to continue to grow her store by possibly adding a small food line to offer dips, salsas, or sauces for gift baskets among other things. She also hopes to continue promoting the floral side of her business, especially silks, while also adding more inventory for the baby section as well as gift ideas for men. 

One of the best aspects of being a business owner on Main Street, according to Gordon, is the opportunity to promote our town and its success. She makes it a point to be open and available during any events going on downtown. 

“We have a quaint, peaceful, small town with unbelievable people,” she states. She herself loves to shop at the other stores downtown and loves being a part of a friendly business community. She raves about people’s willingness to help others, whether raising money for the school or the town coming together to fill a supply truck to support victims in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She closes by saying, “This town is a great place to live, to work, and to raise a family and I hope it continues to grow. As Water Valley does continue to grow and thrive, you can bet Glenda Gordon and stores like GG’s will continue to play a vital role. 

Now for the rapid-fire questions to close the interview with Gordon

What was your first car? 

– A powder blue mustang, my Daddy went hunting and I had saved money so I went to the bank and the bank called my mother. Then my Daddy would always say he couldn’t go hunting because there was no telling what I would do while he was gone! 

You are stranded on a desert island, what three things do you want to have with you? 

– TV I’m a news and housewives show junkie! Books not an iPad or Kindle, I need actual books! And gray electrical tape, Mack told me I needed to have it so I will take his advice! 

Is a hotdog considered a sandwich? 

– No

If you could have one superpower, what would it be? 

– The ability to read peoples’ minds

It’s karaoke night, what is your go-to song to sing? 

– Lonely is the night – Billy Squier 

Last meal, what do you want? Entrée, desert, and beverage? 

– Sweet tea with lemon, wild rice with a grilled shrimp kabob and mushroom sauce from the old Downtown Bar & Grill, chocolate ice cream