With its friendly staff and unusual gift items, Willow Manor; part of Rancho Santa Margarita since 1988, has won best neighborhood gift boutique again this year.
Long considered one of Orange County's finest gift boutiques, Willow Manor is meant to provide one-stop shipping for all gift-giving and home decor needs.
General Manager Abigail Sellers says the store tries to provide customers with "the whole shopping experience."
"I always say to people, 'We're like a mini department store," Sellers said.
Sellers said the compassionate employees are a major draw.
"We greet people; we say goodbye to them; we know people by their names; we try to remember what they bought last (and ask), 'Did it work out?'" Sellers said.
Goods include baby clothes and toys, jewelry, collectibles, purses, candles and potpourri, souvenirs, cocktail accessories and dog apparel.
As a Brighton Collectibles store, Willow Manor even carries all of that company's products lines (shoes aside).
The store's ever-changing holiday decorations keep customers coming back. Special events take place throughout the year, the most popular of which is Girls Night Out in early December. It's a night when women are invited to come in an enjoy fun, games and early access to the new holiday merchandise.
The store offers free gift wrapping with its signature cellophane wrap, so even last-minute gifts look like a million.

- John Crandall
The 16th annual Best of Orange County
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