About Me
Now, If you are wondering how Naturally Gifted began; I started my first business in 1988 in a hotel in a suburb of New York City selling elegant gifts and confections. The reason I started a business in a hotel was so that I would be near my family. They were, and still are, my pride and joy and the guiding force in my life. I have two beautiful children of my own, my son, Gary and my daughter, Andrea, two stepsons, Nick and Alek, and my husband, Brian.
After 8 years I decided to expand my wings and decided to venture out into another business so that I could showcase my artist side and design children's furniture and gifts. I kept both businesses for about 3 years and then we had the biggest tragedy that NY has ever encountered, 911. Most people around our country don't realize how many small businesses were affected by that horrific tragedy. Due to the fact that we were mostly a corporate hotel business travel practically stopped and our business came to a skretching holt. After 6 months I needed to make a decision about the direction of my business so I sold them both and to try my hand at my other love, confections.
Coming from a culinary background, with a father who owned and operated his own restaurants, and having an art degree, I decided to combine them both and design a elegant line of gourmet chocolates. As a chocolatier, me creativity exploded. This is how our "LolliBrides" were born. I have incorporated my love of elegance and culinary into this creation. Every LolliBride is created with the same attention to detail the first one was. Our brides are thrilled to receive such a unique and exquisite piece of art.
I am excited to offer our creations to you and will be designing more and elegant creations in the future.
God Bless you
Linda Ustin,
founder, Naturally Gifted