We sit down with Plano-based business Gifty Gal’s founder, Raema Mauriello to talk inspiration for the business, how it works and future goals.

Raema Mauriello, a U.S. Navy veteran and author whose writing centers on faith, recovery and motherhood, has brought her perspective to Plano with her gift-giving service Gifty Gal. Mauriello, who previously served as a Navy search-and-rescue swimmer and journalist, has since written several books reflecting on personal transition and accountability while building a small business focused on faith-based gifting.

We chatted with Mauriello to learn more about the Plano-based business.

Photo courtesy of Shelby Whitten.

What was your professional background before starting Gifty Gal?

Before starting Gifty Gal, my professional background spanned service in the U.S. Navy, nonprofit work, writing, and over 15 years of full-time ministry. Across all of these roles, the common thread was people; understanding what they value, how they experience care, and what builds trust over time.

Ministry, in particular, taught me how to truly listen, how to show up consistently, and how small, thoughtful actions can make a big impact. When you spend years walking alongside people through celebrations, challenges, and transitions, you develop a deep sensitivity to what makes someone feel genuinely seen and cared for.

That foundation ultimately shapes how I approach business today: thoughtfully, strategically, and with a strong emphasis on human connection.

What inspired you to start the business?

Gifty Gal started in 2022 and I noticed a consistent gap in how businesses were trying to build and maintain relationships. Many companies were sending gifts, but the gifts themselves were often generic, poorly timed, or disconnected from the relationship they were meant to support.

I understood that care isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about intention, timing, and follow-through. I saw that businesses cared deeply about their clients and partners, but lacked a system to express that care consistently and thoughtfully.

Gifty Gal was created to solve that gap by helping companies build structure around how they show appreciation, without the internal friction and guesswork that usually comes with gifting.

Photo courtesy of Shelby Whitten.

How does Gifty Gal work?

Gifty Gal is not a traditional gifting company. We’re a relationship infrastructure partner that uses gifting as the delivery mechanism. In simple terms, we help businesses consistently show appreciation in a way that feels intentional, on-brand, and memorable, without the internal scramble.

Step-by-step: How a business works with us

Intro + Goals
We start with a short conversation to understand who you’re gifting to (clients, prospects, teams), what you’re trying to accomplish (retention, appreciation, conversions), and what “on-brand” looks like for you.
Brand + Budget Alignment
We confirm gifting style, branding preferences (subtle vs prominent), budget ranges, timing, and any restrictions (industry rules, alcohol preferences, dietary concerns, shipping considerations).
Gift Strategy + Recommendations
Based on your goals and recipients, we recommend gift directions that match the moment. This is where we help you avoid the common trap of generic gifting that doesn’t land.
Curation + Customization
We source the items, manage personalization (engraving, custom notes, branded components), and ensure everything feels cohesive and elevated.
Assembly + Fulfillment
We assemble everything in our Plano warehouse and handle shipping, tracking, and delivery details. Your team isn’t chasing addresses, vendors, or last-minute issues.
Repeat + Scale
Some clients work with us for one-off gifting campaigns. Others use us ongoing through our corporate subscription or custom programs, so gifting becomes consistent, not reactive.

Photo courtesy of Shelby Whitten.

Is there a particular story or gift that you’ve remembered since starting the business?

There are two stories that really capture the heart of what we do at Gifty Gal.

One involved a client who wanted to connect with a prospect in a way that felt personal and respectful. Instead of another email or follow-up call, we created a simple, physical invitation that cost about $25, designed for the client to hand-deliver. The invitation was to a Veterans-focused event, making it timely and personally relevant to the recipient.

That small, intentional gesture led to the gentleman attending the event, hearing more about my client’s offering, and ultimately signing a $9 million contract over three years. It’s a powerful example of how thoughtful, well-timed gestures can open doors that traditional outreach often can’t.

Another story reflects a very different, but equally important side of our work. We partnered with a client whose customer was going through an incredibly difficult season — their daughter was a Make-A-Wish recipient. In that moment, business wasn’t the priority. Care was.

We helped curate and send a gift the family could use during the Make-A-Wish trip. It wasn’t branded. It wasn’t work-related. It simply communicated, “We see you, we care about you, and we’re thinking of you during this season.”

Both stories reflect what Gifty Gal is really about. Whether the goal is to move a business relationship forward or to show up for someone in a deeply personal moment, thoughtful gifting, when done with intention and care, can communicate what words often can’t. That’s why we focus on building relationship infrastructure, not just sending gifts.

To what do you attribute Gifty Gal’s growth?

Gifty Gal’s growth has been driven by trust, creativity, and intention. Our clients come to us because they want to stand out in a meaningful way, and they trust us to help them do that thoughtfully.

We take a very hands-on, outside-the-box approach to gifting. From beautifully branded packaging to on-trend and seasonal items, every element of a gift is chosen with purpose. We don’t believe in copy-and-paste gifting. Each campaign is curated individually based on the client, their brand, the recipient, and the moment the gift is meant to support.

We’re also intentional about avoiding overlap, especially within the same industry. If a client is sending gifts to peers, partners, or competitors within their space, we ensure their gifts feel distinct and unique — not recycled or familiar.

That level of care and creativity gets attention, but more importantly, it builds trust. Clients know that when they work with us, their brand will be represented well, their relationships will be respected, and their gifts will feel thoughtful rather than transactional. That consistency and discernment are what have fueled our growth year over year.

Your resume is quite diverse. How have your experiences shaped your work today?

Each part of my background contributes directly to how I run Gifty Gal. My time in the U.S. Navy taught me discipline, systems thinking, and the importance of execution. Ministry taught me how to care for people well — how to notice details, anticipate needs, and show up with consistency and empathy.

I’m also a mom of four, which has taught me how to think creatively, adapt quickly, and solve problems with flexibility and resourcefulness. Parenting forces you to think outside the box constantly — and that creative problem-solving shows up in how we design and execute gifts for our clients.

Together, these experiences shape a business that values structure and care equally. Gifty Gal operates with intention, creativity, and a deep respect for people.

Who is Gifty Gal best suited to work with, and what types of businesses benefit most from your approach?

Gifty Gal is best suited for businesses that care deeply about relationships and how their brand shows up in meaningful moments.

We work especially well with founders, sales leaders, client success teams, and executive teams who understand that relationships don’t end once a deal is signed. These are companies that want to retain clients, deepen trust, and stand out in a crowded marketplace — not through louder marketing, but through more thoughtful follow-through.

The types of businesses that benefit most from working with us are often in professional services, technology, consulting, and other relationship-driven industries where trust and long-term partnerships matter. Many of our clients are growing quickly and recognize that as they scale, maintaining personal connection becomes harder without the right systems in place.

That’s where our work comes in. Gifty Gal isn’t about one-off gifts or seasonal gestures. We help businesses build structure around how they show appreciation — consistently, thoughtfully, and in a way that aligns with their brand. For companies that value intention, creativity, and care, having a relationship infrastructure partner allows them to scale without losing the human element that made them successful in the first place.