<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                        AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

            THIS AMENDMENT is made as of March 31, 2004 by and between
KIRKLAND'S, INC., a Tennessee corporation (the "Company") and CHRIS LAFONT (the
"Executive").

            WHEREAS, the Company and Executive are parties to an Employment
Agreement dated as of February 6, 2003 (the "Employment Agreement"); and

            WHEREAS, Section 13 of the Employment Agreement provides that the
Company and Executive may amend the Employment Agreement by mutual agreement in
writing; and

            WHEREAS, the Company and Executive wish to make certain changes to
the Employment Agreement.

            NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual
promises contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, effective
January 1, 2003, the Employment Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

            The first paragraph of Section 3 is deleted in its entirety and
replaced with the following:

      Compensation. As base compensation for the services rendered hereunder to
      the Company, Executive shall be paid an annual base salary of $240,000.00,
      paid twice monthly, in arrears. The base salary amount will be reviewed
      annually by the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors.
      Executive's base salary shall not be reduced below the amount set forth in
      this Employment Agreement, unless such reduction is generally applicable
      to the senior management group of the Company.

      In addition, with respect to each fiscal year of the Company ending during
      the term of this Agreement, Executive will be eligible to receive an
      annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus"). The amount of such Annual Bonus, if
      any, payable with respect to a particular year will be determined by the
      Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Compensation
      Committee"), in its sole discretion. The Compensation Committee may
      establish specific corporate or individual performance goals, the
      achievement of which may trigger the payment of a specific bonus amount,
      may award an Annual Bonus based simply on its assessment of Executive's
      and/or the Company's performance during the applicable year, or may award
      an Annual Bonus based on a combination of subjective and objective
      factors. If deemed necessary or desirable by the Compensation Committee,
      the payment of any Annual Bonus based upon the achievement of performance
      criteria may be conditioned on the approval of the Company's shareholders
      in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (the
      "Code") and related regulations. In any case, any Annual Bonus awarded by
      the Compensation Committee will be paid as soon as practicable following
      the end of the applicable year.

<PAGE>

            The Employment Agreement, as amended by the foregoing change, is
ratified and confirmed in all respects.

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Amendment to be
executed by its duly authorized officer and Executive has executed this
Amendment, in each case as of the date first written above.

                                            KIRKLAND'S, INC.

                                             /s/ Robert E. Alderson
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Robert E. Alderson
                                            President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer

                                             /s/ Chris LaFont
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Chris LaFont