Best of Boston

Niski—with his calming aura and purring voice—is the rare store owner, along with partner Kate Brizius, who isn’t about the sale; instead, he aims to make his Beacon Hill gift store approachable for budgeters and spendier shoppers alike. Years spent as a creative director in retail soured him on the mechanical “Can I help you?” approach. Instead, he lets guests browse; never, ever talks a shopper into an impulse buy; and intuitively appears at a customer’s side when they seem lost. Good, indeed.