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Village Squire, 1978-07, Page 16shop was opened in the old laneway shop. She just kept at it, she says, until she got the whole building back to herself. Each area grew out of her own interests until today the wood -fronted building makes an impressive contribution to the smart -looking St. Marys business section. While the outside of the building has changed. much of the interior still remains. The old bar is now a feature of the ladies wear shop. The giftware section was once the diningroom of the hotel and has the original ceiling in it. The giftware shop is still Valerie's first love. "I love interesting things," she says and so the shop is filled with handcrafts from around the world. Most of the items on sale are imported and she says she often has people in who have just returned from such far-flung places as Russia or Spain who have seen items similar to those in her shop for sale in shops in their native countries. Gift shops today of course, are common but when she started out, Valerie Marshall was in a rather lonely business. Gift shops were rare,'particularly in small towns. She admits she could have gone ahead a lot faster if she'd been more "down to earth" in choosing her stock, but she liked unusual things and quality things even if, in the 1950's and 1960's people were more interested in the mass-produced products of North America. Now of course, things have changed a good deal in the business. People are more concerned with .quality, with unusual things. They're more used to travel and think nothing of driving a hundred miles to shop. Marshall's; like many of the other specialty shops in St. Marys is benefiting from that urge to get out and explore the country. The town is beginning to attract many people from outside the community to shop. Many of the businesses now advertise in Toronto to bring customers. In many ways the original Marshall's gift shop was the forerunner of the recent trend in the town of small specialty shops. The beginnings back in the 1950's was long before such shops became popular. Recent years have seen antique shops and book shops and other small interesting shops open up in the town. Valerie feels there is a tremendous potential for the town that it has so much to offer. A few people have begun to realize this in the past couple of years, she says and the many changes in St. Marys seem to have made everyone more aware of their heritage. St. Marys is the kind of place she herself always tried to hunt out when she travelled, Valerie says. Canadians don't take their heritage seriously enough. Things are much different in the United States, she says. The change in business patterns in St. Marys has helped out at Marshall's. She tried to advertise extensively in the past, she says but there was only herself who was. Today with several such businesses trying to attract people from outside the community, the burden is shared. Many of the new businesses are run by newcomers to the town and, she says, it seems to take new blood to see the potential. The card shop, while the newest of the three shops, is not really a new step at Marshall's. She's always had cards. Valerie says but she felt they needed more room. Today customers can stroll indoors from one shop to another without having to brave the weather. Each shop is run independently of the other except for where the shops join. A staff of five fulltime persons and three students keeps the complex going. One of the added incentives for her to repossess the whole building for Valerie was the fact that the present gift shop, the last she took over, is the only one that has a rear window. The PG. 14. VILLAGE SQUIRE/JULY 1978. LEATHER FASHIONS BAINTON' S THE ORIGINAL OLD MILL & FACTORY OUTLET in Bh th at the Railway Tracks Since 1894 Famous for Leather and Woollen products. TOURIST SPECIAL SALE ITEMS LEATHER GARMENTS We produce large quantities of leather which have been made into a complete range of new style garments for Hien and women at prices you can afford. You're Greatest Choice Is Now! "SEE AND COMPARE" BLANKETS Made of our own super quality Lambs wool. We believe we have the best value and the greatest choice in CANADA. at Fantastic SAVINGS. LAMBSKIN RUGS Good Value priced according to size SHEARLING MOCCASINS For men. women and children at wholesale prices CAMPER SPECIALS Plaid jackets for all the family. Blanket 70% wool 30% nylon -double bed size '/i price only $11.95 ainfon Since 1894 THE ORIGINAL OLD MILL IN BLYTH AT THE RAILWAY TRACKS Telephone 523-9666 SUMMER HRS. Mon. -Sat. 9-9 Sunday 1-9 Open all Holidays