Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Whitney Holofchak, founder and owner of Bonnie + Bud, migrated to Charlotte, North Carolina in search of adventure. She earned a Bachelor’s in business administration from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, unaware that Charlotte would quickly become her permanent home.
In December of 2014, with a one- and two-year-old at home, Holofchak was disheartened by her lack of “time or resources to create thoughtful gifts for loved ones for the holiday.” The name was given to her in a dream, the namesake a reference her grandmother and uncle, Bonnie + Bud was created to fill this need in Holofchak’s own life—a desire to provide thoughtful, southern-made gifts for the people she cared about most.
“My favorite gifts are the most simple ones. I am especially appreciative when it’s clear that the giver knows me so well and has put thought into the gift.”
Inspired by her childhood habit of handwriting notes, she explains, “My favorite gifts are the most simple ones. I am especially appreciative when it’s clear that the giver knows me so well and has put thought into the gift.”
Holofchak was raised in a big family and taught to “value con
nection with others, to show gratitude, and that the smallest gestures of kindness can mean a lot.”
With boxes for a variety of occasions, such as “Welcome Little One,” “For the Foodie” and “Gentlemen’s Boxes,” Bonne + Bud provides numerous selections to choose from, in addition to custom boxes for both weddings and corporate events. You can even provide Bonnie + Bud with a list of your own personal preferences, likes and dislikes, and what you hope for the box to encapsulate.
“Our goal is to take on the role as the giver and take the pressure off of our client to find the perfect gift.”
Each Bonnie + Bud box arrives alongside fresh flowers, succulents, or air plants, alongside a handwritten note from the gift-giver, as yet another element of connection for the recipient. “Each gift is very personal and we take a lot of care and detail in creating each one,” she says. “We hand-select every item included in the gift boxes that we send out. Our goal is to take on the role as the giver and take the pressure off of our client to find the perfect gift.”
For Holofchak, a typical morning starts with a cup of coffee and spending time with her two children before they head to school. Often, her time is divided between curating boxes, meeting with artists and craftsmen, tending to emails, and creating corporate proposals. “Every day is so different with a small business. No day, project, or box is ever the same,” Holofchak explains.
Started within her home with her own friends and family in mind, Holofchak emphasizes working with local small businesses and partners, expressing that it’s “fun to be able to work with friends and support each other.”
Currently, Bonnie + Bud has been partnering with local businesses like Nectar Flowers, Cloister Honey, Meadowbrook Soap, Pour Olive, Living Kitchen, and Twine & Twig, amongst other brands. Holofchak credits much of her inspiration to meanderings around farmer’s markets, antique stores and craft fairs, filled with these types of local artisans.
In the future, Holofchak hopes for Bonnie + Bud to continue to work with local collaborators and to continue to provide a variety of new products and selections. All the while, Holofchak strives to maintain a sense of family legacy and classic southern traditions, while extending the careful curation of Bonnie + Bud to clients both old and new.
