Talk Shop: Abby Crowley // Persay Gifts
ABOUT ABBY
You could say that Abby Crowley’s love language is definitely gift-giving. Long before Persay Gifts came to life, Abby was the friend who loved giving gifts more than receiving them. She loved everything about it; scouring sites and shops for the item, choosing a beautiful greeting card, and wrapping the gift with a bow—always a bow. With the belief that gift-giving should be just as delightful as receiving mixed with the fact that gift-giving happens all year long, Abby founded Persay Gifts.
Persay provides a curated collection of gifts for each zodiac season and all major holidays along with gifting tips and curiosities throughout the year. The site itself is organized by gifting occasion to reduce search time, too. We had such a lovely time chatting with Abby about how Persay came to be, her gifting do’s and don’ts, and more. Enjoy!
Describe your style in three words or less:
My personal style: Casual, classic, and monochromatic … promise I’m more fun than this!
My home style: Cozy, warm, and intentional.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Living in New York City
Traveling. Particularly to Copenhagen and Rome
Moving so often! Knowing how to source pieces that will work in different spaces and places
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
Persay came to life because I saw my then-boyfriend, now-husband struggle with gift giving. It made me realize that traditional retailers only offer gift guides during the Q4 (October-December) selling season. However, gifting is seasonless––birthdays, anniversaries, housewarmings, promotions, etc. occur 365 days a year! As such, Persay is organized by gifting occasion along with curated seasonal pages. We also offer in-house gift wrap and handwritten greeting cards for each gift. I love seeing all the sweet messages people have written on our greeting cards.
What does your home say about you:
Neutrals bring me comfort but pattern brings me joy.
Where do you find inspiration:
Pinterest! Still use and love it.
Who are your style icons:
The TikTok girls who have the confidence to make ALL the content and give us great styling tips!
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Wine, lots of it. And have signature dishes that are fail-free. Ours happens to be homemade pasta and tiramisu.
Oh, and for larger parties have McDonald's fries delivered late…!
Do you collect anything:
Matchbooks, Christmas ornaments, and unique serving platters.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@kellyrutherford, @marlienrentmeester, and @diannacohen.
What gifting “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
Wrapped gifts must have a bow… they look naked without! Hmm, I don’t think handwritten thank-you notes are always necessary. Phone calls can be great, too.
What are you working on right now:
Prepping for pop-ups Persay is either attending or hosting this summer!
Wardrobe staples:
AGOLDE straight-leg denim, Common Projects sneakers, La Ligne Marin sweater(s), and Uniqlo U-neck t-shirts.
Best gift-giving advice you ever received:
Price doesn’t matter, it’s all about intentionality.
Best career advice you ever received:
Start smaller than you think, have patience and the growth will come.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Invest in… art and any piece of furniture you sit on!
Save on… coffee tables––random, I know, but was given that advice from a dear friend and decorator!
Your greatest extravagance:
Jewelry.
Favorite places to shop for gifts:
Persay, obviously! But I also love Odd McLean in Atlanta, Willkie’s for littles, and Nickey Kehoe.
Most prized possession and why:
My then-boyfriend, now husband, got me Poetry of Place by Bobby McAlpine along with a beautiful serving bowl for my birthday the first year we were dating. He gave both to me along with a note saying he couldn’t wait to build a life and home with me. Neither were wrapped but the sentiment was extraordinary.
Your interiors motto:
Make it cozy.
Your gifting motto:
Jewelry always fits!
Your life motto:
“Comparison is the thief of joy.”
Advice for someone looking to define their own style:
Do a wardrobe edit! Remove anything you don’t like then start buying pieces that coordinate with those that remain.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Pasta
Drink: Old Cuban
Film: It’s Complicated
Hotel: Mezzatorre
City: New York
Bedding: Matouk Ansonia
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Decaf (!) latte with whole milk
Playlist: Schmooze
Weekend Activity: Coffee, croissants, and a trip to the Farmers Market
Design Book: A Place to Call Home by Gil Schafer