The Enterprise-Journal’s Home for the Holidays local shopping campaign is running through Christmas. Each day the newspaper will feature a business participating in Home for the Holidays.
The Village Flower & Gift Shop in Summit has had a great first year under new owner Shawn Johnson.
Johnson said his model for success is looking for unique items to stock his shelves, and if those items are made in Mississippi, it’s a big plus.
“I feel like I push the locally made items a little too much, but who’s going to buy Mississippi-made products if we don’t?” he said.
Johnson bought the Village last year and relocated the store near the busy intersection of Highway 51 and Robb Street. The Village is located at 606 Laurel St., across the street from Piggly Wiggly.
Some of his hottest-selling items come from right here in Pike County, such as pottery by Etta B, Sister Act and Red Leaf. Pottery by Sister Act artist Gayle Cornwell of Summit is by far his top seller.
“We do really well with these,” Johnson said, holding up a Sister Act angel figurine.
He said on the Saturday before Christmas last year, he had to place four orders with Cornwell because her pottery was flying off the shelves.
Aside from Cornwell’s pottery, Johnson really does have items you can’t find anywhere else.
“I want people to come in here and it not look like every other gift shop,” Johnson said. “I want their shopping experience to be different.”
And that’s where Johnson’s creativity comes into play.
He routinely turns old and routine items into art, such as an old wooden ladder that now serves as a Christmas light display or an old wheel barrow that is used as a Christmas tree stand.
The items that he purchases always have a unique twist.
On one shelf is a popular collection of candles made from a company called Rewined. The candles are made out of old wine bottles.
For the art enthusiast, Johnson stocks wall art from Mississippi artist Alex Ladner of Lumberton. Ladner puts interesting textures and colors on some traditional centerpieces, such as crosses and fleurs-de-lis.
Another unique item is the bird seed bird house. It’s a wooden bird house covered in bird seed. Once the birds eat all the seeds, you’re left with the wooden bird house.
The Village Flower & Gift Shop also offers fresh flower arrangements
The Village Flower & Gift Shop is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Johnson will deliver and offers free gift wrap on regularly priced items. Call Johnson to order arrangements at 276-7518, or email him at thevillage606@gmail.com.
