With Thanksgiving a mere three weeks away, Brenda Kinsman and Chris Wood are making memories with every sale. Gram’s Inspirations welcomes shoppers with handcrafted, made-in-the-USA aprons for moms and kids and encourages families to get back to baking-basics with sensible products that withstand the test of time.
Gram's Inspirations' Chris Wood (Courtesy photo)
Q: Tell us a bit on the inspiration for your store.
A: Brenda and I have known each other about three years and have similar life philosophies. The name “Gram’s Inspirations” comes from our love of each of our grandmothers, in honor of them.
Q: Your clients may not realize, but you have a new location in the Target shopping center. How has the move gone so far?
A: We are quite at home here already. We love being able to offer our products to people who don’t get to the mall. And our regular ‘mall’ clients followed us here.
Q: The holidays are right around the corner and it looks like Gram’s Inspirations is ready. Do you have a favorite story to share about the holidays?
A: Last Christmas, a young mother and her three daughters came into the store and asked if they could put on our darling cupcake aprons and for us to take a picture for her husband, who was serving overseas. We both started crying, and of course took their picture. Gram’s Inspirations ended up adopting the family and when he came back, we bought a flag in his honor at “Field of Honor” in Murrieta. They truly are and always will be very special to us. In fact, Ernie is one of our vendors and he makes these wonderful bracelets to honor our warriors.
Q: You discuss being able to use and pass down your products through generations. Do you have a favorite thing that your mother or grandmothers passed down to you?
A: My grandmother passed down her amazing recipes and I remember each time I read them how much she loved me. I will always remember my grandmother baking with my sister and I when we were little in her little kitchen and she always made a special little pie just for us. It made us feel so special and loved. I also have her inherited tea pot that is Civil War-era. I cherish the piece and will pass it down to my own granddaughter someday. Brenda has a set of her grandmother’s fine china that was made in the USA.
Q: Made in the USA is a theme with your store.
A: That’s true. God, country and the preservation of family is the most important and precious aspect of Gram’s Inspirations. We have knives and forks that are modeled after original pioneer flatware. I love sharing the stories behind our products and explaining that we only sell items that were made right here in the country we love. Selling USA-made products is our basic mantra. It’s so important to us that we support USA companies and keep our money in our country. Our customers really love that our products are made here at home.
Gram’s Inspirations is located: 27540 Ynez Rd. J-7, Temecula.
To learn more, visit www.gramsinspirations.com.
Ashley Ludwig is a local writer and regular contributor to SWRNN.
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