Frequently Asked Questions
You can find answers to our most common questions here.
About Flourish
What is Flourish Gift Shop?
Flourish Gift Shop is a curated pop-up shop and e-commerce store. Visit our About page for more info!
Flourish is a small business based in Buffalo, NY. We are woman-owned.
Where are you located?
We are based in Buffalo, New York and operate in the Western New York area. You can find us at local events (check our home page for upcoming events), and we ship throughout the United States from our online store.
How do I contact Flourish?
The best way to contact us is through email at amy@flourishgiftshop.com. You can also use the contact form below or reach out via Facebook Messenger.
What are Flourish's values?
Flourish is a small, woman-owned business. We value other small businesses and strive to work with woman-owned, minority-owned, LGBTQ+-owned, and handmade businesses whenever possible.
Authenticity and transparency are incredibly important to us. We believe that building trust with our customers is the best way for small businesses to thrive.
Collaboration and community beat competition every day. There is room enough for all small businesses, handmade brands, and artists to succeed. A rising tide lifts all boats!
Our Brands and Products
Where are your products made?
Whenever possible, we choose products that were made in the USA. Some of these products may contain components that were made elsewhere, such as a piece of jewelry that contains beads made in India.
You can check out our brands to see where they are located.
Some products are made in China. Most of these items we source from companies within the United States.
If you have questions about a particular product, please reach out and ask, and we will do our best to get the information to you.
What are "Amy Lee Jewelry", "Amy Lee Books", and "Shane Lee Books"?
Amy Lee Jewelry, Amy Lee Books, and Shane Lee Books are the owners' brands! Amy and Shane are the husband and wife owners of Flourish Gift Shop. We humbly began our business as authors under the pen name "Lee", which is where everything began.
From there, Amy expanded into jewelry-making and beaded bookmarks. She began selling at craft shows under the name "Amy Lee Books and Beads", with her jewelry line branded as "Amy Lee Jewelry."
We continue to write and create jewelry, so we kept these names as brands within Flourish Gift Shop.
How do I get my products in your store?
We no longer offer consignment with local businesses. We do wholesale only. Although not currently expanding our offerings, if you would like to be considered for future wholesale opportunities, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Our Jewelry
Where can I find more of your jewelry?
While we showcase just a few pieces on our website here, you can find an even wider variety available at local events (Western New York) or catch us on a live sale on Facebook or Whatnot.
Is all your jewelry handmade?
Most of our jewelry is made by our hands! We may also feature some specifically curated non-handmade pieces. As much as we love making jewelry, we love shopping for it! And we just can't resist a really cute piece to pass along. These pieces will be indicated by a different 'vendor' on the product page - if it doesn't say Amy Lee or Lisa, it isn't handmade.
What metal does your jewelry use?
We use a variety of metals depending on the style and price-point we are aiming for (or what we have left in our stash!). Each product listing will state what metal is used for that piece.
Silvers:
Sterling Silver - 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper alloy, these elements are sterling silver throughout.
Silver-filled - a thick layer of Sterling Silver over a base metal, often copper or brass.
Silver-plated - a thinner layer of Sterling Silver over a base metal, often copper or brass.
Golds:
10K, 14K, 18K Gold - the karat rating of gold, the higher number means there is more gold, and therefore more expensive. We rarely use full gold pieces to be mindful of cost, but the different ratings can be used in gold-filled or gold-plated elements.
Gold-filled - a thick layer of Gold over a base metal, often brass or copper. Will be paired with a karat rating.
Gold-plated - a thinner layer of Gold over a base metal, often brass or copper. Will be paired with a karat rating.
Goldtone - No actual Gold, but instead a thin layer of color over a base metal, often brass or copper. We rarely use this, often just for cute fashion earrings with charms.
Other potential metals:
Stainless Steel - a tarnish-resistant, darker silvertone metal. We rarely use this, often just for cute fashion earrings with charms.
Pewter - technically a tin alloy, in jewelry 'pewter' may also refer to a zinc alloy. These are usually a darker, less shiny silvertone and are mostly found in charms. We use them rarely.
Will my jewelry tarnish? How do I care for it?
Some jewelry, especially pieces that include silver, can naturally tarnish over time. Tarnish is a normal chemical reaction between the metal and elements in the air (especially sulfur), which can cause a gray or black discoloration on the surface.
The good news: tarnish is usually easy to remove and doesn’t damage your jewelry. A silver polishing cloth or a jewelry-safe tarnish remover (we like Shine Bright!) will restore its shine. Just be sure to follow directions carefully, as some stones and pearls can be sensitive to liquid cleaners.
If your jewelry includes sterling silver, silver-filled, or silver-plated components (like clasps, ear wires, or accent beads), those parts may tarnish with time and wear—this is completely normal.
To help slow tarnishing:
- Store jewelry in an airtight container or with anti-tarnish strips
- Avoid leaving pieces out in open air for long periods
- Remove jewelry before showering or swimming
- Apply lotions, perfumes, and sprays before putting jewelry on
You can also gently clean most pieces with mild soap and water to remove buildup—just be sure to dry them thoroughly before storing.
Stainless steel and gold-finished components are highly resistant to tarnishing, but may still need occasional cleaning to maintain their appearance.
If you notice a dark brown spot that won’t polish away (often on ear wires), it likely means the plating has worn down, revealing the base metal underneath (commonly brass or copper). This happens gradually with wear over time and is completely normal. The good news: components like ear wires can usually be replaced to make your piece feel like new again.
Shipping and returns
What are my shipping options?
We use USPS to ship orders within the United States.
When you choose shipping at checkout, you have three options:
Economy is sent via USPS Ground Advantage and usually takes 2-5 business days.
Standard is sent via USPS Priority Mail and usually takes 1-3 business days.
Media Mail may be available to orders containing books only. USPS Media Mail usually takes 3-8 business days.
For more information on USPS shipping, visit their website.
Can shipping be combined for multiple orders?
If you wish to place an additional order before your first has shipped, we would be happy to help you in changing your existing order!
If you've already placed the second order, shipping on one of your orders may be eligible for a refund.
In both cases, please email amy@flourishgiftshop.com.
Please note: if you have already received an email stating your order has shipped, shipping costs cannot be combined.
Do you offer local pickup?
Although we used to offer pickup inside our store at the mall, we no longer have the space to accommodate that. All items must be shipped when ordered through our online store.
You can still shop in-person at our local events.
What is your return policy?
Returns may be accepted within 30 days of receipt of your order. Please email amy@flourishgiftshop.com to initiate a return and include your name, order number (if you have it), a description of the item and your reason for the return request. Refunds or exchanges are considered. Items must be in new condition or otherwise have been damaged during transit to be eligible for a refund.
Orders
What do I do if something is wrong with my order?
Whoops! If your received your order and something isn't quite right, please email amy@flourishgiftshop.com first! We will do whatever we can to correct our mistake.
How do I change or cancel my order?
Changes and cancellations can be made to orders as long as they haven't been shipped out. If you need to make an adjustment to your order, please email amy@flourishgiftshop.com.
Refunds to the original form of payment will be processed for canceled orders.
To change a product ordered (such as accidentally choosing an incorrect size) or to add an additional product, price changes may result in refunds or charges. We will let you know before we charge anything additional to your payment method, pending your confirmation.