Tender Loving Empire
Tender Loving Empire is a Portland-based retail marketplace and indie record label operating since 2007. It curates handmade goods from 700+ local makers across five Portland stores, one Seattle airport location, and a Shopify storefront with B2B corporate gifting services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Tender Loving Empire does
Tender Loving Empire is a Portland, Oregon-based, multi-category retail marketplace and indie record label operating since 2007. The company curates and sells handmade goods — ceramics, candles, apparel, jewelry, art prints, home goods, food and beverage, stationery, apothecary, and accessories — from a stated 700+ local and indie makers primarily based in Portland and Seattle. It also operates TLE Records, an in-house music label with 100+ internationally distributed releases, and an in-house apparel and design line under 'Designed by TLE.' Customers are served through five Portland storefronts, a Seattle International Airport (N Gate) concession, and a Shopify e-commerce storefront. Additional distribution is provided through the Faire wholesale marketplace, and a dedicated B2B Team & Client Gifting service handles corporate bulk orders with concierge fulfillment.
The technical stack is deliberately lean and commerce-focused: a Shopify storefront with an integrated Rebuy recommendation engine powering 'You May Also Like' personalization, plus an in-house Build Your Own Gift Box configurator that lets consumers assemble custom gift packages with optional gift packaging ($6 upgrade) and gift notes. Digital eGift cards ($20–$200, no expiration) round out the transactional layer, alongside the TLE & Me loyalty program. The company has cumulatively paid $21.2M to vendors and bands since 2007 and is currently raising capital via equity crowdfunding on Wefunder, reflecting a founder- and community-aligned ownership model with no disclosed institutional backers.
The business model is primarily transactional retail revenue (one-time product sales and gift box purchases), supplemented by B2B bulk gifting revenue (professional services pricing with multi-year contracts and volume discounts) and ancillary income from the record label and gift cards. Pricing is unit-based, ranging from approximately $3 for small accessories to $265 for premium jewelry, with curated gift boxes priced $32–$150 and a $6 gift box upgrade fee. The customer base spans consumer gift shoppers, corporate/B2B clients, and local-goods enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest, served through a horizontal segmentation approach without disclosed named enterprise customers.
Tender Loving Empire firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tender Loving Empire
- Legal name
- Tender Loving Empire
- Website
- https://tenderlovingempire.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tender Loving Empire is a Portland-based retail marketplace and indie record label operating since 2007. It curates handmade goods from 700+ local makers across five Portland stores, one Seattle airport location, and a Shopify storefront with B2B corporate gifting services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tender Loving Empire industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Gift Retail
- NAICS
- Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Gift Sourcing & Procurement (Local & Online) (HSACANAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Branded Merchandise & Corporate Gifts (BPAFAMAA), Personalized & Custom Gift Creation (Engraving/Monogramming/Photo Gifts) (HSACANAC), Group Gifting & Registry Fulfillment (HSACANAL), Greeting Cards, Wrap & Party Supplies Retail (CRALAJAE)
Keywords
Where Tender Loving Empire is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Tender Loving Empire business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail product sales: One-time product sales of handmade goods from local makers including ceramics, candles, apparel, jewelry, accessories, food & beverage, art prints, and home goods. Customers purchase individual items or curated gift boxes.
- Gift box customization service: Customers purchase the 'Upgrade to a Gift Box' product ($6.00) to convert any order into a gift-ready package with gift note capability.
- Digital gift cards: eGift cards in denominations from $20 to $200, delivered instantly via email. Never expire and are online-only.
- B2B bulk gifting: Corporate team and client gifting services with volume discounts, concierge service, and custom curation. Handles sourcing, packing, and direct shipping to recipients.
- Record label (TLE Records): Music releases and merchandise from indie artists, with internationally distributed catalog of 100+ releases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift box upgrade |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | eGift cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Curated gift boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual products |
| Other | Multi-year contract | B2B bulk gifting |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tender Loving Empire product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tender Loving Empire operates a multi-category gift shop and year-round makers market that curates and sells handmade goods from over 700 local and indie makers through five Portland retail locations, one Seattle Airport store, and a Shopify e-commerce site. Its core offerings include curated themed gift boxes, a build-your-own gift box customization service, digital gift cards, in-house TLE-designed apparel and stationery, TLE Records music releases, and a B2B corporate team-and-client gifting concierge service.
Product overview
Tender Loving Empire operates as a multi-category retail marketplace and year-round makers market featuring over 700 local and indie makers primarily from Portland and Seattle. The business model centers on three interconnected offerings: (1) a curated gift box program featuring pre-assembled themed boxes and a build-your-own gift box service, (2) wholesale and B2B corporate gifting services for team and client appreciation, and (3) an extensive e-commerce catalog spanning 20+ product categories including ceramics, candles, art prints, jewelry, apparel, home goods, food & beverage, and TLE's own record label (TLE Records). The company has built physical retail presence across five Portland locations and Seattle International Airport, while maintaining a digital marketplace. Notable brand extensions include TLE-designed apparel, a loyalty program (TLE & Me), gift cards in digital format, and an internationally distributed music catalog of 100+ releases. The platform serves both direct-to-consumer gifting needs and B2B corporate appreciation programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TLE Records: Independent record label with internationally distributed catalog of 100+ releases, supporting local artists and connecting community through music.
Products and services
- Curated Gift Boxes
Quantifiable outcome
- $21.2 million paid out to vendors and bands since 2007
Companies that use Tender Loving Empire
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Tender Loving Empire technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Tender Loving Empire partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- FaireminorWholesale marketplace for retailers to purchase TLE products for their own retail locations. Allows TLE to reach customers through other independent retailers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tender Loving Empire competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Faire: Wholesale marketplace connecting independent retailers with makers and brands. TLE both uses Faire as a distribution channel and competes with it as a curated platform surfacing indie makers.
- Etsy: Public marketplace aggregating handmade goods from independent makers globally. Overlaps with TLE's curated maker marketplace across ceramics, jewelry, apparel, and home goods, though Etsy operates at vastly greater scale with no curated retail experience.
- Anthropologie: Lifestyle retailer with curated home, gifts, and apparel assortment and strong store presence. Overlaps with TLE on gifting and home categories but at far greater scale and with broader inventory mix.
Direct peers
- Sendoso: B2B gifting and direct mail platform serving corporate clients with curated gift boxes. Direct competitor to TLE's Team & Client Gifting service, though Sendoso focuses on enterprise tooling and scale.
- NOVICA: Online marketplace specializing in handcrafted artisan goods from around the world. Comparable to TLE's handmade marketplace model and gifting positioning across jewelry, home decor, and gifts.
- Loop & Tie: Sustainable corporate gifting platform with curated gift collections and custom curation. Directly comparable to TLE's B2B gifting motion, particularly on values-aligned corporate clients.
- GOODEE: Curated marketplace for home goods from independent makers globally, with strong design and values-driven branding. Directly comparable to TLE's curated indie-maker positioning in home, ceramics, and lifestyle categories.
- Uncommon Goods: Direct-to-consumer retailer of unique, often handmade or artisan gifts and home goods. Closest analog to TLE in combining curated assortment, gift box positioning, and storytelling around independent makers.
- The Citizenry: Direct-to-consumer home and lifestyle brand featuring artisan-made goods from global makers. Comparable to TLE on curated artisan assortment, design-led storytelling, and online-plus-physical distribution.
Emerging players
- FabFitFun: Subscription box curating lifestyle, beauty, and home products across price points. Comparable to TLE's curated gift box concept, though FabFitFun operates on subscription rather than transactional gift-giving.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tender Loving Empire social profiles
Digital presenceTender Loving Empire financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tender Loving Empire leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Tender Loving Empire subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tender Loving Empire funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tender Loving Empire M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tender Loving Empire
What does Tender Loving Empire do?
Tender Loving Empire operates a multi-category gift shop and year-round makers market that curates and sells handmade goods from over 700 local and indie makers through five Portland retail locations, one Seattle Airport store, and a Shopify e-commerce site. Its core offerings include curated themed gift boxes, a build-your-own gift box customization service, digital gift cards, in-house TLE-designed apparel and stationery, TLE Records music releases, and a B2B corporate team-and-client gifting concierge service.
Is Tender Loving Empire a public or private company?
Tender Loving Empire is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tender Loving Empire founded?
Tender Loving Empire was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Tender Loving Empire based?
Tender Loving Empire is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tender Loving Empire make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Retail product sales are the primary driver. The others are gift box customization service, digital gift cards, B2B bulk gifting and record label (TLE Records).
Who are Tender Loving Empire's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Faire, Etsy and Anthropologie. Direct peers are Sendoso, NOVICA, Loop & Tie, GOODEE, Uncommon Goods and The Citizenry. FabFitFun is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tender Loving Empire have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tender Loving Empire.
What industry is Tender Loving Empire in?
Tender Loving Empire's product category is Specialty Gift Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACANAB, Gift Sourcing & Procurement (Local & Online), with a secondary code of BPAFAMAA, Branded Merchandise & Corporate Gifts. Its NAICS code is 459420 and its SIC code is 5600.