Care for a latte or espresso with that birthday card?

BRANDON - When Karen and Grayson Orman moved their two-year-old Karen's Hallmark business to a new building off Highway 80 East in Brandon's Crossgates neighborhood in 1999, their ambition was to reserve one corner of the 5,000-square-foot space for something Brandon didn't-have - a coffeeshop nook

But as a franchise, the couple had to follow the rules set down by Hallmark Cards.

"Hallmark wasn't even allowing people to do anything like this until just recently," said Grayson Orman, who also manages another family business next door, Orman Jewelers.

So they watched as coffee shops moved in all around the area - skipping Brandon in favor of locations in Flowood, Jackson and Ridgeland. "There are five coffee shops on Lakeland alone," said Grayson.

But with a remodel in the front of their store, Karen's Hallmark opened the doors on Brandon Perk on Sept. 28, offering mochas, lattes and other coffee fare to an area where the only cappuccino for sale often came from a gas station coffeemaker.

Bob Dillard, their Hallmark regional sales manager, visited the shop a couple of days after it opened and hails the concept as a first for the company, known for its varied gift offerings, ranging from greeting cards of all styles to the famous Hallmark Christmas ornaments and beyond.

"This is really the first concept of its kind that I'm aware of," said Dillard. "It will be kind of interesting to see it develop and see if it, in fact, does anchor itself well in the business and contributes to the overall success of the store."

Grayson Orman said the closest other Hallmark shops come to the concept are a few in the Northeast that sell cookies onsite. But Brandon Perk offers a wide range of prepared specialty beverages and sweets, from the coffee drinks to specialty hot chocolate, flavored teas and lemonades.

Another distinctive feature of Brandon Perk's offerings is a relationship between Karen's Hallmark and Broad Street Bakery Company, where Brandon Perk is the first site in the area to offer Broad Street's specialty pastries, including sticky buns, cinnamon twists and chocolate chip scones - which Grayson picks up at 5:30 a.m. everyday from Broad Street's location.

"This will be the first time we've been in Brandon," said Jeff Good, co-owner of Broad Street. "Grayson and Karen are a couple of sharp people. I get a lot of calls and talk to a lot of people who want to get into the food service business but don't quite know what they're getting into."

"It's a great guest amenity; look no further than Barnes and Noble and Borders for the trend," said Good.

Future plans to expand the food offerings include the possibility of desserts like cheesecakes, brownies and other cake-by-the-slice selections from a cake caterer across the street, The Cake Shoppe. "We've found it's best to partner with people who do things well," said Grayson of their selection of partners.

Using these suppliers has another benefit as well, in Karen's point of view. "I don't have to cook any of it," said Karen.

If the business expands, they hope to offer ready-made sandwiches from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for the lunch crowd in the area. "Everything happens in Brandon from 11-2," said Grayson. And if they outgrow their current 450 square foot space, Grayson already has a site picked out across the road for a larger location. "If we get 80 people in here wanting coffee, you see that pad right there? That's where we're going," said Grayson, pointing out the window.

Karen plans to offer several services to tie the gift shop sales to the coffeeshop's offerings. For example, Karen negotiated with their single-serving flavored coffee supplier to ship special orders of bulk sales. Customers who sample the singleserve flavors can then order five pound bags of the blends to take home or give as gifts, said Karen.

Their current Hallmark offerings have largely stayed the same, with some additional 8,000 cards in stock, as well as "little girl items" (like trendy picture frames), new religious/inspirational gifts and men's gifts. They're not sure if the coffeeshop clientele will encourage them to stock more literary or music selections but will be watching closely. "We always try to adjust inventory to what the customers require," said Karen.

After growing up in Rankin County, Grayson and Karen see a spirit of community in the Brandon area that mimics the qualities of a typical Hallmark customer, making the concept a natural one, Grayson believes.

"The type people who come here are family-oriented, wholesome people - who care about other people," Grayson said.

And the hoped-for synergy between selections but will be watching closely.

"We always try to adjust inventory to, what the customers require," said Karen.

After growing up in Rankin County, Grayson and Karen see a spirit of community in the Brandon area that mimics the qualities of a typical Hallmark customer, making the concept a natural one, Grayson believes.

'The type people who come here are family-oriented, wholesome people - who care about other people," Grayson said.

And the hoped-for synergy between

a coffeeshop clientele and Hallmark customers is of interest to Hallmark as well, according to Dillard.

"I'm delighted with it; I think, really, it's going to add to the Hallmark store, it's an exciting concept, and certainly it looks like something the community needs," Dillard said. "So we're hoping that will be good for Hallmark, good for the store and good for the community."