As we near the holiday shopping season, some local businesses have been moving and shaking in anticipation.
Panda Print opens third location on Gerrish Street
Panda Print, based out of New Minas, has opened another location — this time at 93 Gerrish St. in Windsor.
Along with a third location in Greenwood, their main business is to provide printing needs to consumers.
Products include marketing materials such as banners, posters, stickers, decals, frames, canvas prints, custom T-shirts and more.
Chuck Seale, owner of Panda Print, said he opened a location in Windsor so that he could reach the whole Annapolis Valley between the three branches.
“I like Windsor and I wanted to be able to bring a product that everybody needs at an affordable price,” Seale said.
“We just opened in Windsor and we’ve got to get some market in there; it’s been a little slow, but we’re getting the word out. The customers we have are excited we’re there,” he continued.
“It’s also not that far from Halifax, so hopefully we can reach some customers there too.”
Noble Grape heading to Water Street in early 2019
Noble Grape, a Maritime-owned wine and beer kit supply company, is expanding for their 25th anniversary with a 10th location — which will be at 169 Water St. in downtown Windsor in early 2019.
Mark Haynes, co-owner of Noble Grape along with his brother Steven Haynes, said they’re hard at work getting the new location ready for the new year.
“Why Windsor? It seemed like a logical next location. We already have two in the Valley,” Haynes said. “Windsor is a destination and the downtown seems to be going through a bit of a revitalization and we wanted to be a part of that.”
The location will be approximately 3,000 square feet, with products focusing on at-home or on-site beer, wine and cider making.
“We’re hoping to be part of the craft wine, spirits, and beer community that’s already there,” he said. “(Home brewing) has become quite a popular hobby for a lot of people, in fact that’s how most craft brewers start out and many have been customers of ours.”
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Shur-Gain Feeds ‘N Needs expands with new location in business park
Shur-Gain Feeds ‘N Needs have been operating out of their new location at 48 Morrison Dr,. in West Hants, since July and had an official opening on Nov. 1.
Ellan Mallard, marketing co-ordinator for Shur-Gain, said they’ve been hard at work on their new space.
“We not only have a larger space, but we have completely re-designed our look to give our customers a true retail shopping experience,” Mallard said.
“We have been able to optimize with a new layout, a fresh new look with new branding and design, and we have even expanded our pet category with new products to match.”
Mallard said the company learned about the new location and jumped on the opportunity when it became available. They were also happy to be able to stay in the business park with a more accessible location.
Currently, Shur-Gain operates 13 retail locations across the Maritimes.
“Our customer traffic has improved with the help of our new look and more convenient location for our customers,” she said. “We have added two new Feeds’ n Needs team members since we opened to help us in this new chapter.”
EveryBody’s clothing closes storefront, focuses on appointment sales
EveryBody’s Inclusive Fashion, a plus-size recycled clothing store, is closing its doors, but is continuing by appointment and online sales.
Store owner Angelina Claes announced the closure in late October. She hopes to grow an online business through Facebook and eventually a website.
Claes said she’ll be opening a pop-up shop sometime in March.
“The Facebook page is still active and I’m talking to clients that way,” Claes said.
“I still have to work full time and I’m taking a fashion marketing course. I hope to come back with my own line of clothes,” she said.
“Sometimes you have to take two steps back before you can move forward,” she added. “And sometimes you have to work full time to get there.”
For now, Claes will offer home visits through shopping parties; her first one is scheduled for next week.
“Not having the store gives me the chance to go out and find things and cater to my clients’ needs,” she said.
The brand, EveryBody’s Inclusive Clothing, will remain.
“It was so hard to close, you get so attached to your customers, but I am so lucky to have met all of the people that I have and I feel like I still have a good clientele base,” she said. “I have no doubt that I will reopen a shop in Windsor soon. I’m working on refining my brand.”
