Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Backus.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Housewarming Project began during COVID, when being with loved ones for life’s biggest moments wasn’t always possible. I couldn’t show up in person to celebrate new babies, new homes, milestones, or to support friends and family through heartbreak and loss — so I started sending thoughtful gifts instead.
What began as a simple act of creating meaningful gift boxes with handwritten cards quickly grew into something more. Friends, family, and eventually people I had never met started asking me to create gifts for them, too. That led to the launch of our website, where customers could easily order curated gifts for any occasion.
Over time, The Housewarming Project evolved from personal gifting into a full-service custom and corporate gifting company. Today, we create thoughtful, beautifully curated gifts for individuals, companies, conferences, retreats, weddings, corporate events, and special celebrations.
We now have a brick-and-mortar storefront in Old Town Scottsdale where customers can shop, build, and curate their own gifts, along with a Scottsdale warehouse and dedicated gifting space where our team assembles bulk orders, corporate gifts, event gifts, and custom branded gift boxes.
At The Housewarming Project, every gift is rooted in thoughtfulness, care, and connection. Whether we’re creating one meaningful gift or thousands of custom gifts for a company event, our goal is always the same: to help people feel seen, celebrated, and at home.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges I faced while building The Housewarming Project was learning how to grow a business while also growing my family.
I opened the doors to our first space in March, and just two months later, in May, I found out I was pregnant. I was incredibly excited, but I would be lying if I said it wasn’t also overwhelming. I was stepping into two completely new roles at the same time: becoming a mother and becoming a business owner.
Starting a custom gifting company in Scottsdale came with so many moving pieces — sourcing products, building vendor relationships, creating curated gifts, managing orders, helping clients, learning how to lead a team, and figuring out how to grow a brand from the ground up. At the same time, I was preparing to become a new mom and trying to understand what balance would look like in a season that felt anything but balanced.
Finding my footing as a new mom, founder, boss, and entrepreneur was one of the hardest parts of the journey. There were moments when I felt pulled in every direction and wondered how I could give enough of myself to my baby, my family, my team, my clients, and the business I was working so hard to build.
But that season also shaped the heart of The Housewarming Project. It taught me the importance of thoughtfulness, support, flexibility, and showing up for people during life’s big transitions. In many ways, becoming a mother made me even more connected to our mission: helping people feel seen, celebrated, comforted, and cared for through meaningful gifts.
Today, The Housewarming Project has grown into a Scottsdale-based custom and corporate gifting company, serving individuals, companies, conferences, events, and celebrations of all sizes. Looking back, that challenging season taught me resilience, patience, and the power of building something with both heart and purpose.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At The Housewarming Project, we are a custom and corporate gifting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in thoughtful, curated gifts for every occasion. We create meaningful gifts for individuals, companies, conferences, retreats, trade shows, employee appreciation, client appreciation, holidays, weddings, milestones, and special events.
Whether you need conference welcome gifts for 200 employees, holiday gifts shipped to 200 clients around the world, branded merchandise for a trade show, or a one-of-a-kind gift for a new baby, new job, new home, birthday, sympathy, or celebration — we’ve got you.
We specialize in creating gifts that feel personal, intentional, and beautifully curated. Every gift is designed with the recipient, occasion, brand, and message in mind. From sourcing products and customizing packaging to handwriting notes, assembling gifts, and managing shipping, our team handles the details from start to finish.
We are known for working with small businesses, local makers, women-owned brands, and unique vendors to create gifts that feel thoughtful and memorable — not generic. We love finding special products that tell a story, support small vendors, and make people feel genuinely seen and appreciated.
Our work includes:
Custom corporate gifts
Conference and retreat gifts
Event gifting and room drops
Employee appreciation gifts
Client appreciation gifts
Holiday gifting
Branded merchandise and custom packaging
One-off personal gifts for life’s meaningful moments
What I’m Most Proud Of
I am most proud of our team. Maggie and Faith run our day-to-day operations, and this company would not be what it is without them. They bring so much care, organization, creativity, and heart to everything we do.
I’m also incredibly proud of our 20 support team members who help make sure every project runs smoothly — from product prep and assembly to packaging, fulfillment, and quality control. Behind every beautiful gift is a team of people making sure each detail is just right.
What sets The Housewarming Project apart is that we are real people helping real people create meaningful gifts. We answer your calls. We listen to your needs. We ask the right questions. We guide you through the process. And we work with you every step of the way to make sure the final gift feels thoughtful, polished, and aligned with your vision.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all gifting. We believe the best gifts are personal, intentional, and rooted in connection.
Whether we’re creating one milestone gift or thousands of custom corporate gifts, our goal is always the same: to make gifting feel easy for you and meaningful for the person receiving it.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was one of four girls, so I always had a built-in best friend, playmate, and teammate. Our childhood was active, busy, and full of adventure. We spent our time snowboarding, swimming, camping, water skiing, and making the most of every season outdoors.
At the same time, I was always a little bit different in the best way. I loved drama, singing, performing, creating, and doing my own thing. I was never afraid to be expressive, imaginative, or stand out.
I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum, and that is something I’m proud of. I don’t mind if people think I’m different, because I am — and I believe that individuality has shaped who I am today.
That same creativity, confidence, and willingness to do things differently has carried into my life and my business. It’s part of what allows me to think outside the box, create meaningful gifts, build relationships, and lead The Housewarming Project with heart, authenticity, and purpose.
Article Reposted from Voyage Phoenix - August 12, 2026.