The Citizen, 1987-09-30, Page 15New career direction leads
to new Brussels store opening
There’s a bright new presence
on the main street of Brussels, the
latest venture in the village’s
remarkable renaissance which has
helped turn the region’s economy
around over the past few years,
making the riverside community
the fastest-growing village in
Huron County.
However, while “Just for You
Gifts and Flowers'* is new, the
entrepreneur behind it is a familiar
figure in the community and
throughout much of the county.
Rene Richmond, sole owner and
operator of the new shop, has been
activelyinvolvedwiththelife of
Brussels for a number of years and.
worked as a Registered Nursing
Assistant (RNA) at Huronview up
until a year ago. and at the Listowel
Memorial Hospital for nearly 12
years before that.
The beautiful new shop is
located on Turnberry Street, in the
former Mayer's Jewellery store,
which has been vacant for the past
seven years; prior to that, it was
known as Leach's Jewellery. Just
for You specializes in a wide array
of gifts in all price ranges, and will
carry a large assortment of fresh,
cut flowers and potted plants, as
well as an outstanding collection of
silk ornamental plants and flowers,
some of which Mrs. Richmond
makes herself.
Wickerware and popular prints
form a large part of the shop’s
stock, but Mrs. Richmond says that
she is very mindful of the need for
lower-priced gift items as well, and
will always carry gifts priced to fit
even the pocketbook of a small
child, with prices starting as low as
$2.
J ust for You will also stock some
items hand-crafted by both Mrs.
Richmond and her daughter,
Brenda, both of whom have been
interested in fine arts and crafts for
muchoftheirlives. As well, she
plans to carry a few carefully-
selected items on consignment
from local artists and craftsmen,
but emphasizes the standards she
has set for herself and her shop are
high, and will be reflected in any
item she carries.
“I'm new to all this, and there
are likely items I don't have which
people will want," she says. “But
I’ll do my best to get in anything a
customer asksfor in the general
lines I carry.”
The youthful-looking business
woman says that she has been
thinking of opening a shop for the
past year, but that everything
“just sort of came together” over
the past couple of months, with
good luck and the help of family
and friends making it all possible at
this time. Mrs. Richmond’s life
was dramatically changed 14
months ago when she was the
victim of a car accident which left
her unable to stand for long periods
of time, effectively putting an end
to her life in nursing.
Admitting that this cruel realiza
tion * * sort of got her down ’ ’ for a
while, the pretty brunette spent
several months pondering her
future, until the idea of a gift shop
in Brussels began to take shape in
her mind. “It has not been easy at
times -1 have no previous retail
experience,” she says, adding that
she is nevertheless optimistic
about the future of Just for You
because she is surrounded by
things she loves and knows a great
deal about, and she has a very
enthusiastic nature, which rubs off
on everyone around her.
Just for You Gifts and Flowers
opens on Thursday, October 1,
wirh the Grand Opening continu
ing throughout Friday and Satur
day. There will be free gifts for
every customer throughout the
three days, and everyone coming
into the store will get a free ticket
on a draw for a gift certificate,
which will be held at 5:30 p.m. on
eachday of the Grand Opening.
Coffee and refreshments will be
available all day and every day of
the opening, and there will be
many “Blue Dot Specials” ticket
ed throughout the store, giving
crafty customers an excellent head
start on Christmas shopping.
Just for You will be open five
days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday to Saturday. The shop
may be reached at 887-9731.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1987. PAGE 15.
Rene Richmond and friend are ready for the Grand Opening of Just For
You this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The new gift and flower shop
specializes in real and silk flowers, brass, wicker and prints, and
carries a good selection of cuddly stuffed animals.
BLAKE
Septic Tank
Service
887-9186 or 887-6800
C5 TurnberryN.
YOUNG’S
Clothing &
Footwear
infants., children & ladies
« Stewwit't
Brussels - 887-9514
J.L.
McCutcheon
Motors
Brussels
887-6856
The following businesses
extend their best wishes to
Rene Richmond on the opening
o f her store
Gifts & Flowers
McDonald
Home Hardware and
Building Supplies
Brussels -- 887-6277
Brussels
Stockyards
Seat cattea
Rene
It’s our pleasure having
you as our neighbour.
June & Gerry
Brzetssers Hotel
TuRnbeRR^ St.
BRUSSELS
8BZ-9O35
from
Bill, Annette, Carol,
Claudia, Judy
& Sharon
Ken’s
Men’s
and Boy’s^r '
Wear X
Turn berry __JA
St.
Brussels 'j-
887-9284
AITLAND
ALLEY
INSURANCE
BROKERS LTD.
Murray Siddall, C.L.U.
' !NSURAN( f .
BROKfRS j
ASSOCIATION 1
t MONKTON 347 2241
BRUSSELS 887 6663
STRATFORD 271 1522
Auto* Home* Farm •Commercial
•Life Annuities
887-9740
“Serving you
better, saving
you more”
life82879
Huron Feeding
Systems
ASSOCIATE
Radford Auto,
Farm &
Industrial Parts
523-9681 887-9661
Look Your Best!
APPOINTMENT
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BRUSSELS 887-6343