Daughters Of Zion CNPP Grantee Announces Michael & Janice Thompson – Gift It & More As The DOZ CNPP Entrepreneur Of The Week- July 24 – July 30, 2022

Michael and Janice Thompson

Gift It & More

Phone # (901) 649-4035

Number of Employees:  2

Slogan: “We decorate any occasion you choose to celebrate.” 

As part of our follow-up to the progress the Daughters of Zion CNPP grantee is making within Memphis, Shelby County, and beyond- we are highlighting the weekly Entrepreneur of the Week award. When asked why Micheal and Janice Thompson  were selected as the entrepreneur of the week, Dr. Gerald Kiner, Ph.D. declared, “

What an amazing couple- in love, in business, and in God. They are a dynamic duel. Whenever they are in the Saturday MasterClass their energy and their spirit spread throughout the room. Micheal and Janice Thompson will never let you down. If they don’t have it,  they know how to get it,  or they can refer you to who can do it. That’s real service. They are true business icons within our community. I am so blessed to announce them as our entrepreneurs of the week. I am better for having them in my life -if you work with them,  you will be too. “

Michael and Janice Thompson answered several questions for the entrepreneur of the week.

Q: Please tell us your full name and the name of your business.

A: My name is Janice Thompson and my name is Michael Thompson and the name of our business is Gift It & More. 

Q: How did you come with the name of your business? 

A: One day while I was laying in bed the name just came to me, Gift It & More because the Lord had given me that the gift is already in you and He has already given me the gift. 

Q.What are the services that you provide for your business? 

A. We started out our basic base just decorating for all the occasions at the church. Whatever event the church was having, I would be the one decorating and my husband has always been right there assisting. We started out with the church anniversary, the Pastor & Wife anniversary, Christmas, Resurrection Sunday, just whatever occasion we were responsible for handling the decorations.

Our company offers balloons, back drops, and the full service of table settings.

Q: What are some of the biggest compliments you have gotten at events you have serviced? 

A:   To be able to look back and see something that you have done or that God has given you and receive a compliment from it just leaves a stamp that you know this was God, this was really His work. To have the feeling of knowing this was something that God had really given you to do is the greatest compliment because I don’t take the compliment for myself the glory goes to God because the gift came from God.

Q. What is one of the events that you have done that shocked you on how good it was? 

A. Each year when we provide decorations for our Pastor & Wife’s anniversary, our goal is to supersede the previous year. Each year when the plan drops in my spirit it is always something different to do that will outdo the previous year.  Another event that I decorated for was a graduation celebration and I had just a backdrop but it turned out really nice. 

Q. How did you all find out about the Daughters of Zion Community Navigator Pilot Program? 

A. From a dear friend of mine, Dana Pearson, who has also been a previous entrepreneur of the week for her business Gals at Rest. She first received the information on 95.7 and said she would go first and if everything was just as the ad said on 95.7 then she would share it with us. And the rest has been history.

Q. What are some things that you have gotten from coming to the Saturday Masterclass? 

A. We have gained so much knowledge and the tools we need in order to apply for and write the grants. The comradery, the testimonies, and the stories from others have just boosted us even more in letting us know that if God could do it for them He could do it for us as well. God is no respect of persons and we definitely know what He can do for us through what He has done through others. We also believe in being a blessing as we are blessed. We are blessed for us to be a blessing and it is our job to be a blessing towards others so when someone is doing well we always want to acknowledge them. There is no sense in being small minded so if God can do it for them He can surely do it for us. We are always happy for the things God is doing for others because He is no respect of persons.

Q. What would you say to another small business that may need to attend the Saturday Masterclass? How would you extend the invitation to come to Daughters of Zion?  

A. I would just tell them you can do it because we started at ground zero and I feel that though we are not too many steps farther from that we look not at where we are right now and that is what I would share with anybody to not look at where you are right now because you will grow. Look at where God can bless you with just as a result of you positioning yourself in a place where you can receive the teaching and the knowledge that you need to progress.

Q. What would you say to somebody that says there are a lot of event planning businesses out here why should I hire you for my special event?

A. Our business is going to gear what we provide to you because it’s tailor made. We will not just give you anything or a standard cookie cutter set of decorations. We want to know what is the background of your event, what you really want to see happen, and how we can wow you just by listening to your story behind the details in what you want. Each event is tailor made exactly to your specific situation and we go above and beyond the norm.

Q. Is there anything else you want the world to know about your business? 

A.We definitely want to be a blessing. We are here to be a blessing and we look forward to working with anyone that is interested in working with us. The services we provide are budget friendly. We can tailor our services to fit any budget.