Every shop has a story. Ours starts with a chainsaw, a rugby team, and a whole lot of gnome energy.
Before OG was the cheerful little face of Ornament Shop - the one helping you find the perfect keepsake, answering your questions, and popping up in emails like he owns the place - he was just an idea. Well… technically, he was a tree stump.
See, Scott (one of our fearless co-owners) had some time on his hands before Ornament Shop came along. And a yard full of aging trees. So what did he do? Firewood? Nah. He got creative—chainsaw in hand, sculpting whimsical gnomes from the stumps. Not just any gnomes, either. These had personality. Beard flair. Big red noses. Hats too tall for their own good.
But OG’s roots (pun intended) go even deeper...
Scott’s fascination with gnomes actually began years earlier—on a rugby tour. One day, stuck on a team bus waiting around, he and his teammates "borrowed" a garden gnome from a stranger’s yard. That gnome went on the road with them, sending cheeky postcards home to its owners like: “Having a blast in Boise—wish you were here!” When the tour ended, they returned the gnome to its original home, a little more well-traveled than before. And from that day on, Scott was hooked.
Fast forward to the launch of Ornament Shop. We needed a mascot. Something fun. Memorable. Full of heart. Someone said, “What about one of Scott’s gnomes?” And just like that, OG—the Ornament Shop Gnome—was born.
But the look? That took a little time (and a lot of laughs).
We had a few options—different beards, poses, and hats. At first, OG only appeared on the 404 “Page Not Found” page, peeking around the corner like he was searching for your lost ornament. But something about him stuck. He had presence. He had charm. He had… customer service potential. So he graduated from error-page duty to full-blown Ornament Shop guide, personality, and professional cheer-spreader.
Until OG stepped in.
With his round belly, fluffy beard, and endless enthusiasm, OG knew things could be better. He began guiding shoppers through the site with helpful tips, joyful vibes, and just the right sprinkle of holiday magic. Frowns turned into smiles. Cart abandonments turned into happy deliveries. And slowly but surely, The Curmudgeon faded into the background (he still hangs around muttering about "the good ol' days," but we let him).
These days, OG is our Head of Customer Delight, your go-to guy for finding the perfect ornament, answering burning questions, and reminding us all that every memory counts.
So if you see him pop up on the site or sneak into your inbox—give him a wave. He’s not just here to help.
What OG Does Around Here
