Babcock Gifts

I’m not a typical Babcock bride, I mean I’ve decided to spend the rest of my life not drinking from Waterford Lismore glasses, yet somehow I passed the admission test everyone seems to think they have and was permitted to select items for my dear friends to purchase from the bridal room.
Anytime I’ve been in Babcock I’ve been greeted and helped without issue. In fact on my last visit I was the rude one — no appointment and I might have expressed some frustration when I was offered a Tuesday appointment (I work, which apparently also differentiates me from the typical customer). Macy’s just doesn’t have everything and I was just looking to get one more thing crossed off my busy bride to do list. Anyway, my fiancé and I were able to select our flatware and let the kind lady helping us know the glasses I already knew «we» wanted. She was even kind enough to pull out the China we already have so we could see how the flatware options look with it.
We were given the 411 on how the registry works — people actually buy gift certificates and we’ll get a card in the mail and can order the actual items at one point in time. We were offered to look at other items and weren’t treated like we imposed upon them when we kinda did. Oh, and they gave me a six pence (something old, something new, some borrowed, something blue and a six pence for your shoe) on our way out — how cute is that?
My fiancé did find the whole thing a bit pretentious though so I’m deducting one star because they’re doing something to not make people feel welcome.

DO NOT REGISTER HERE. These people live in the dark ages. Everything is hard copy paper, you can’t order from the website, they mix up everything, they have a terrible selection, and the employees are FLAT. OUT. RUDE! I was in there every day for weeks picking up wedding gifts and they never once remembered me. Stay away from this horrible, terrible, bad bad bad establishment. The worst store in the world.

Awful bridal registry experience — unorganized, rude to buyers and bride — as well as making everything absolutely inconvenient in every way possible.

The older ladies in my family agree: if it came from Babcock’s, they love it. Unfortunately, unless I go in escorted by a woman thirty years my senior, I’m not worth the courtesy or attention of a salesperson. I’ve experienced this before, but the coup de grace was when I went in at Christmas looking for a specific model of collectible ornament, and after having to ask one of the women staring at me if she worked there and if they had what I wanted, she ASKED IF I HAD CHECKED AT TARGET. I’m sorry if my leggings and work bag didn’t pass muster, but I’ll be damned if I go in wanting to pay $ 50+ for an ornament to be overlooked and insulted. Get a clue, ladies, this is 2015, and my Lululemon yoga pants ARE indicative of my predisposition to spend in your price range. (They’re also comfortable for running 1,000 errands during Christmas week). Common courtesy and an absence of condescension go a long way toward earning my business.

I absolutely LOVE Babcock Gifts. Not only do they have an amazing bridal registry (I was once registered there many years ago!), but they have amazing baby gifts, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, etc! Plus, they carry such a unique variety of things that just can’t be found anywhere else. I live in Nashville now, but I still get the great customer service and timely delivery. I can call in a request for a particular event I need a gift for and know that the helpful sales associates will find just that unique and special thing perfect for the occasion. My husband also uses the helpful Babcock Gifts staff to help him with gifts for his clients and business associates. They are quick to help and quick to get the items delivered. I appreciate the outstanding customer service and variety of unique items Babcock Gifts has to offer.

Great selection of items with prices from just a few dollars ($ 5/​$ 10) to high priced china! Fun to browse and pick just the right thing! Staff is very friendly and willing to let you just browse or make suggestions, whichever you prefer.

As someone who chose thoughtfully not to register here, because of its pretentious reputation, I write this review as a non-​bride adult.
Half the time I’ve visited Babcock, they’ve been fine. Half the time, they’ve been standoffish. This place used to be an antique store in Germantown, and it evolved into a gift shop with (I must say) a tremendous selection of china for which a bride can register, especially if your parents’ friends are megawealthy. $ 500 a place setting? No thanks.
Let’s take a moment to clarify I am exactly the demographic that Babcock wants. East Memphis WASP with plastic. If I’m dolled up, they love me. If I’m in shorts or jeans, I get the body scan.
They do carry some McCarty pottery, which is the only reason I have to go there anymore, since all my friends are already married. However, you must be a royal or politician’s wife to be on the call list for such treasures. I was told «a shipment is coming Thursday», so I went the Monday of the following week. «No, THIS Thursday.» God, help me.
I’d like to offer a list of things to say when you go into a snooty store, to let sales associates know you’re quite alright:
«I’m just poking around.»
«I’m looking for just the right gift– my friend is very particular.»
«Yo no hablo ingles.»
«I am a duchess from the Arthur Court– here to review our dealers’ displays and sales.»
«Can you double gift-​wrap this? It’s super expensive.»
«Sorry, I left my Tory Burch sweats at home.»
«Is this Gifts & Art?»
«Hey, did I see you at AA/​NA/​SA?»
«Do you take Amex Black?»
«Edward told me to buy a dress. I’d like to buy a dress. I’ve got money to spend in here. Big mistake. HUGE.»

I really hate giving one or two star reviews. I like to focus on the positive that Memphis has to offer. That being said, I also think it is my duty to share where NOT to go and save your hard earned money from places that pride themselves on being snooty and overly expensive.
As mentioned in other reviews, this is bridal registry central for Memphis. I was throwing a bridal shower for a friend last Saturday and a few days before I received a voicemail from Vick. He told me that someone from out of town had bought a gift and requested it be delivered to my house by Friday. He asked me to call him back. I called and he was not there. Then he called me back and left another voicemail saying he needed to talk to me. So I called back and asked to speak with him… this time I got hung up on accidentally and figured surely they would just deliver the gift. (I should note that he never said why he needed to speak with me in any of the voicemails so I couldn’t leave whatever info he needed.)
He left his third and final voicemail Friday and when I called him back I left a voicemail asking him to please call me back. Saturday morning (the day of the shower and I was running around with a million things to do) I was annoyed that the gift had still not been delivered (even though they were told to deliver it by Friday) so I swung by the store.
My personal rule is to never buy anything from a store where you are not greeted. Since I was picking up a gift already bought, I let it slide. I stood there for a moment until a woman asked what I needed. So I told her that I was picking up a gift that was supposed to be delivered. She asked for the name and I gave it to her. She looked it up on the computer and then said there was nothing for a person by that name. So I asked her to look up my name. Again, she said there was nothing. I was confused by this time so I said, «Well, is there someone who works here by the name of Vick because he has left me 3 voicemails. I can play them for you if you like.» The lady became agitated at this point and said «Yes, there is a Vick that works here but we don’t have anything for you and he’s not here.» I explained that the gift was supposed to be delivered to my house the day before and that it wasn’t and I had people coming to my house in an hour and I really needed this gift. She let out the biggest sigh and said she’d look in the back.
I browsed while she went to search for my lost item and I couldn’t believe the ridiculous prices on their inventory. After 10 minutes (I assure you that time was not all spent looking for my gift) she walked over to me and handed me the wrapped gift and said «You have to sign for it.»
…that’s it. No apology — nothing!!!
1. They were supposed to deliver it. 2. There was no real communication 3. I had to drive over the day I was throwing a shower. 4. Then they tell me they have nothing for me like I was making it up 5. The attitude 6. No apology or customer service
I don’t care if this place has been around forever. I remember coming here with my mom when I was little (nostalgia factor typically gets bonus points from me) but times are changing and if you can’t be polite then you don’t get my business.

I feel bad that i’m just now getting around to write a review about this place. Hands down, my go to place for bridal gifts. There is usually always a sales associate available to greet you at the door… which I love! Typically, I can be in and out of there within 30 minutes with a gift (and wrapped for FREE!). You can find anything from soap to fine china here.
Tip: There is a section of recycled glassware (on the china side of the store) that is reasonably priced ($ 25 for a large platter) and makes as an impressive gift.

Lovely gifts in a variety of price ranges (I’ve shopped there several times — the least expensive gifts I’ve bought were $ 25, the priciest $ 95.) I’ve found the saleswomen to be friendly and helpful and the store very attractive and well run. I like that they gift wrap.

My mother requested a specific brand of candle holders and I knew the brand she wanted was carried at Babcock Gifts. So on a lazy Monday afternoon (not their busiest time) I strolled in to find said candle holders. Upon entering, the saleswoman took a good 7 seconds to check me out from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I thought to myself, either this woman is a raging lesbian looking for love or a superficial snob. I decided it was best not to give the wrong impression so I quickly left.

Totally agree with the other reviewer (Erica B… couldn’t have said it better!) The pretentious saleswomen were the first annoyance, then when I saw all the «bridal prerequisite» pieces which I often see at estate sales and even yard sales for a fraction of the cost I was a little turned off. I guess a lot of people like to feel important by having poor people chase all over town buying overpriced gifts for them.

This is a very nice gift shop in east Memphis, specializing in upscale gifts for brides and babies.
They have a beautiful china department, with all the famous names you’d expect, along with elegant crystal and flatware and silver. One of the most gorgeous serving trays I have was a gift that came from Babcock. It’s still one of my favorite pieces.
They have a bridal registry and offer free gift wrapping and delivery.

I was eagerly anticipating entering Babcock for months. Sadly, it seemed as if every time I arrived, they happened to be closed. When I finally was able to get inside those big doors, I was kind of underwhelmed.
They have a lot of seriously pricey dishes, vases, platters and the like. In fact, I wouldn’t call this place a «gift shop» I would call it the «bridal registry central.» You see, Babcock is filled to the brims with those nonsensical things that we as women are told we «must» register for. You all have them. The china that sits unused in your cabinet or basement, the silver platter you should really just serve up a frozen pizza and Fritos on cuz that’s what you tend to eat for dinner, not pot roasts and quiches.
I perused the aisles aimlessly, trying to find something, anything that caught my eye. For the most part, I thought everything was horribly overpriced, and in the way of gifts, seriously lacking a lot of thought. I don’t tend to buy my friends or family gifts simply because it was made by some fabulous company or designer. Instead, I buy them things I know they will use and love.
Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are folks who love them some Babcock gifts, I am not one of those gals. It’s a little too fancy and classy for this gal. I was also really annoyed by the overabundance of sales women following me around the store. There were about 7 of them. (Seriously?! Does it get that crowded to warrant 7 sales women in a store that size?) They kept asking if they could help or show me something, and I got really annoyed. I actually cut my visit short because of it. I told them all numerous times I was just looking and would let them know if I needed any help.
I will say on a positive note that Babcock has some amazing candles. Amazing. The scents are to die for and they are wrapped up ever so fabulously in little boxes and bows. But, it ends there, cuz at $ 35 bucks a candle, I think not. It’s literally like burning your money.

I could easily spend a small fortune at Babcock’s. I never fail to find about 10 items that I immediately want to scoop up and take straight to the counter.
I love the selection of soaps, candles and lotions– the Seda France candles are so beautifully packaged and smell lovely. They’re great to give as gifts, but you’ll find lots of other gift items here too, such as cute Scout tote bags, Arthur Court serving pieces, personalized tumblers, and adorable little enamel trinket boxes.
Need a baby shower gift? Pick up a Bella Bliss blanket or an engraved rattle.
You’ll also find beautiful fine china and stemware here, from trusted brands like Waterford, Lenox, Spode and Wedgwood.

An upscale gift shop carrying very nice crystal, silverware, nicknacks, and stationery. Brands carried include Annieglass, Waterford, Juliska, Pomeroy, Bernardaud, La Maison, William Yeoward, and many others. Also found are nice lotions and soaps, including Archipelago Botanicals, Fringe, and Niven. I spotted a very cute leather peace wallet for a reasonable thirty dollars as well as a cute frame. A good place to go for a wedding or housewarming gift.