Personalised gifts with a story behind them

Welcome to CalEli Gifts — a small, independent personalised gift business based in Edinburgh, Scotland, created from a love of thoughtful gifts and a desire to make every occasion extra special.

CalEli Gifts began in 2016 when I decided to follow my dream of running my own business after spending 17 years as a Primary Teacher. I loved teaching, but I wanted a new challenge and the opportunity to build something of my own.

The idea behind CalEli came from a very personal frustration. As a mum, I often struggled to find personalised gifts for my two sons, Callum and Elliot, with their names spelt correctly. I realised there must be many other parents looking for unique gifts that truly feel made for their child — not just something mass-produced with a name added.

That was when the idea for CalEli Gifts was born.

Choosing the name was the easy part. I combined letters from my sons’ names, Callum and Elliot, to create CalEli — a name that represents the family inspiration behind the business.

From one personalised decoration to thousands of unique gifts

CalEli Gifts started with personalised Christmas tree decorations and has grown into a collection of over 1,000 bespoke gifts for every occasion — from birthdays and new arrivals to weddings, anniversaries, Christmas and everything in between.

Every gift is created with care. I personally hand-finish some of our products, while working with trusted specialist suppliers, engravers and publishers who help bring our wider collection to life. Together, we personalise everything from wood and glass to ceramics, jewellery and books, ensuring every item is made with attention to detail.

One of my proudest creations is our Highland Cow ornament, which I designed myself. It perfectly reflects my love of Scotland and my passion for creating unique gifts that customers won’t find everywhere else.

A journey I’m incredibly proud of

Building CalEli Gifts from an idea at my kitchen table into a successful independent business has been an incredible journey. I was honoured to become a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards for Scotland — an achievement that meant so much after competing against hundreds of other entrepreneurs.

Although I didn’t win, reaching the final was a huge milestone and a wonderful recognition that my leap into entrepreneurship was the right decision.

Thank you for supporting a small family business. Every order placed with CalEli Gifts helps me continue doing what I love — creating personalised gifts that become treasured keepsakes and memories for years to come.