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ReShon Anderson is general manager at gift seller Things Remembered, which was acquired by 1-800-Flowers in 2023.
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in retail? I lead Things Remembered, a brand that’s all about helping people share meaningful moments through personalized gifts. We’ve been around since 1966—some people might remember us as a mall staple! Now, we’re fully online, offering over 2,000 unique products including handbags and home décor items. My role is to keep growing our presence as an e-commerce leader in personalized gifts, making sure we continue to help people celebrate life’s special moments in a memorable way.
One thing we can’t guess about your job from your LinkedIn profile? Even though “general manager” in retail usually makes you think of running physical stores, Things Remembered is now completely online. So, I like to think of myself as the Chief Everything Officer. I dive into as many areas of the business as possible—whether it's strategy, marketing, or operations—to help grow and build this brand as an e-commerce leader. It keeps things interesting and definitely keeps me on my toes! Something else that’s not on my LinkedIn, but I’m really proud of, is that before Things Remembered, I was on the marketing team that launched The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. Watching something so iconic come to life was an amazing experience, and it’s one of the highlights of my career so far.
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What’s your favorite project you’ve worked on? Redesigning our homepage at Things Remembered has been one of my favorite projects. We’ve shifted to a more lifestyle-focused brand, bringing a lot more heart and emotion into our photography, and the homepage really reflects that. It’s exciting to see how we’ve stayed true to our brand’s essence while refreshing our look to reflect where we’re headed. It’s a great balance of honoring our history while embracing the future.
Which emerging retail trend are you most excited about right now, and why? Brand and social influencer collaborations. Influencers have this amazing ability to connect with their audiences in ways that brands can’t always do as easily, and they bring so much authenticity and buzz to the collections. It’s a great way to reach a wider audience and create excitement around products.
What’s your go-to coffee order? Lavender latte with oat milk.
Worst piece of advice you’ve received? “Starting a business is the path to wealth.” While it can be true, I’ve seen that the majority of successful entrepreneurs behind billion-dollar brands didn’t focus on the money—they were driven by a passion for creating quality products that truly connect with consumers.
What was your favorite retail product when you were 15, and what’s your favorite retail product now? As a proud LA native, I was obsessed with the LA Gear sneakers when I was 15. Flash forward to today, and I’m loving the Lancôme Advanced Génifique Face Serum. My 15-year-old self would’ve never seen that coming!