Chuck Mires, Co-owner/Operator - Chuck has been engraving for many years. As a United States NAVY Veteran, he has been a machinist for more than 35 years and ran many engraving shops both on board US NAVY ships and US NAVY shore commands. "The United States Navy taught me great attention to even the smallest detail, and I am very much a perfectionist." "I take great pride in each and every job no matter it’s size." He also states, "You can rest assured that whether it be a $20.00 order, or a $2000.00 order, your purchase will be the very best it can be.” Buying Made In The USA is also very important to Chuck. "We strive to buy as much as we can from American companies so that you, our customer, can appreciate the fact that, start to personalized finish, its American families that will benefit. For example, our engraved basswood and butternut wooden plaques are harvested in Wisconsin by another husband and wife team. We appreciate their conservation efforts as they do not just go out into the forest to rob the land of its trees. He waits until land is going to be cleared for one reason or another, and then he buys the wood that would otherwise just go up in smoke. They also have their own saw mill and kiln, and prepare it all to deliver to us here in Missouri several times a year. We've worked with them for nearly 15 years now, and have a fantastic relationship. We are full of stories like this, American businesses helping American businesses. It's what this country was meant to do, and, we are so proud of it."

Chuck and Julie Mires showing off their Custom Made English Bulldog T-Shirts :-)

Julie Mires, Co-owner/Operator - “I believe every day of our lives leads us closer to our destiny, and I believe that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.” Prior to opening Enchanted Memories, Custom Engraving & Unique Gifts I worked in a big box retail store (for seven years just out of high school... seems like a hundred years ago!) Graphic Art and Design and spent many years working in Accounting. All of the things that lead me right to this spot. Enchanted Memories, Custom Engraving & Unique Gifts came from an idea that Chuck and I had. Our own creation. We do what we love and enjoy, and we do it together. People ask us often how is it to work with our spouse. "Awesome! Wouldn't have it any other way!" We have met so many fabulous people since opening Enchanted Memories in 2006, because we deal with the customers directly, and show special attention to every order. We spend time with our customers that come to us for a special personalized gift. We want it to be exactly the way you want it. We don't use templates, so each and every custom order is just that... custom. Custom made just for you! Customers become friends, and they tell their friends and family about us. Word of mouth is our greatest advertisement, and we are blessed to have a phenomenal repeat customer base. We set our standards very high, and you can see that in the job that's done.

Duchess de Bordeaux, Enchantress - Duchess is our special girl and enjoys spending her days with her mom and dad at Enchanted Memories, Custom Engraving & Unique Gifts. She is a rescue and spent the first years of her life as a "Breeder" in a puppy mill somewhere in southwest Missouri. For months this sweet gentle giant was scared of the smallest things, things most dogs aren't at all bothered by. She wouldn't wag her tail or bark or even look at you. She was nothing but a shell longing for someone to trust and longing for someone to love her. She has been a part of our team for two and a half years and oh, the difference in our sweet baby girl. She has come leaps and bounds and acts more and more like a "dog" each and every day. From time to time she will even come out to greet a customer hoping for a little pet on her head. We are so proud of our Duchess and so happy to have been blessed with the rescue of this Dogue de Bordeaux. Click here to be her friend on Facebook, she would be thrilled to have you!
* UPDATE: We lost our precious Duchess on Thanksgiving weekend 2017, and we still miss her every single day. When we lost this sweet and gentle girl, we knew we had to do something to help more. We wanted to do more for other neglected, abused or abandoned animals, who, at no fault of their own, ended up in a rescue. We knew we couldn't bring them all home, but we knew there was surely something we could do to help. Our "Rescue Room" was born in memory of the time we had with our Duchess. I will do a blog on that soon! It's an awesome part of our store that's very zen, and very inspiring. It's filled with positive gifts, pet related gifts, even funny socks! It will grab all of your senses! A fountain and wind chimes for that relaxing feeling, a nine foot tall tree covered with tiny twinkle lights, and branches that cover the ceiling, dim lighting, and a nice pleasurable scent. If you're in the area, stop by, we would love to have you! A portion of the proceeds from our Rescue Room are matched at the end of the year, and donated to an animal rescue organization.

Lady Bertie Bee Lincolnshire, Company Comedian - Also a rescue, our English Bulldog Bertie Bee came to us in September of 2012. She, unlike Duchess, is a rescue with a bubbly personality and is filled with more joy for life than any animal we've ever known. She is funny, sweet and loves her toys more than anything! She too enjoys being part of our team and loves to meet new people every day. We have visitors from all over the country that return during each trip to Branson to see our sweet Bertie Bee. You can't meet her without falling absolutely in love with her.

Our Bertie Bee enjoying the sunshine on a lovely autumn day. 

Sir Laxerus Maximus, Customer Relations Executive - "Max"... to know him is to love him. He is also an English Bulldog rescue. He was dirty, unkempt, underdeveloped, underweight and filled with hookworms when he found his forever home with us. He had never had a bath, a nail trim, or an ear cleaning. He also had entropion so bad that he could hardly keep his eyes open. Not long after he joined our team, Max has all four eyes "lifted", and the difference in his eyesight is like night and day. What adorable big brown eyes he has, and you couldn't even see them before his surgery. He joined our team in December 2013 and though he has required some "work", we can't imagine our days without him. He loves each and every customer and loves meeting new people. He was a bit of a juvenile delinquent when he found us, but through training, "work", and a whole lot of love, he has discovered that life doesn't have to be so darned difficult. He shares his Facebook page with his sister Bertie Bee and they would love to have you follow their silly Bulldog antics!

Our Max soaking in the sunshine. Such a handsome guy!

Sweet Gypsy Rose, Head of Security - Ahhh, her name says it all. Like every other Pit Bull we've ever met, she too is beautiful, sweet, patient, and curious. She loves most every body, but does let us know when someone is "just not right". Dogs have that sense about them, you know. They are a great judge of character. She was rescued from the same organization that Duchess and Bertie Bee came from. What a relationship we have with them now! Because of the Pit Bull ban in the town she was born in, directly to rescue she went. We will also do a blog about the unfair Pit Bull ban around the country soon. At any rate, my goodness, what a wonderful addition to our family she has been. She is our biggest cuddle bug, and she too has a personality you're sure to fall in love with.

Gypsy posing beautifully. She's stunning!

Sir Windsor "Chomp Chomp" Willingham, People Greeter - Our latest English Bulldog rescue. He was born in 2018 in a puppy mill in Kansas, sold to a "Puppy Warehouse" here in Southwest Missouri, and set to be euthanized because he didn't fit into AKC Regulations. With an underbite that's a little more pronounced than most, extremely crooked front legs, hip dysplasia, and a few more issues that come from overbreeding by these puppy mills and backyard breeders, he just wasn't worth keeping. He came to us at 7 months old, and with good nutrition, exercise outside of a small, filthy cage, and a whole lotta lovin', his crooked front legs have straightened out, and we think his underbite is part of what makes him so handsome! He is full of vim and vigor, and you would never know that he has (or had) disabilities that almost cost him his life. What a shame! What a horrible shame! We can't imagine not having this little guy around. He makes every single soul (with any kind of heart) smile BIG! Come see him, he will do his Mr. Cushy dance for you, too! Oh, and he too has to share his Facebook page with his older brother and older sister.

Our Windsor when we rescued him in 2018, and a current photo. What a difference a whole lotta love and good nutrition has done for him. 

We do have other human associates that have been with us for years. Our store Manager, Brenda Williams, and our Visual Merchandiser, Patrica Pugliese. They are a huge part of what helps make this wheel turn. We couldn't be more blessed than to work with these other talented people whom we are proud to call, "The Enchanted Memories, Custom Engraving & Unique Gifts Team".

We believe every animal deserves a loving forever home, a home where they are considered family. In addition to our "Rescue Room", where a portion of the proceeds go to animal rescue, we also have a wishing well, and a donation box at the register inside our storefront for folks to donate to this heartbreaking cause. We also carry CHALA Handbags, an animal themed purse line that also donates a portion of their proceeds to animal rescue. If you haven't heard of them, take a look. You won't find a more unique and stylish handbag anywhere. The sign above the fountain reads, "Give a Penny, Make a Wish, Save a Life", and at the end of the year we match the funds from all of those sources and donate it to a different rescue organization in the area, or outside the area, for that matter. We are honored to help animals in need and if you are too, feel free to send your donations to:

Enchanted Memories, Custom Engraving & Unique Gifts
106 W. Main Street
Branson, Missouri 65616

Interested in nominating an animal rescue organization that has touched your life? Please feel free to contact us, we are happy to consider all nominations! Remember, every single penny helps when it comes to saving the life of a helpless animal. Adopt Don't Shop! "Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” - Karen Davison

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