Village Squire, 1978-02, Page 17The shop shows a good deal of grace and greenery.
well-designed goods but the couple has found a ready market.
Response has been very good to the store, Leigh says. They had
a terrific Christmas business. A lot of people seem to be pleased
the store is there.
While her own sense of style is the basis for the stocking of the
store, Leigh says. "1 don't like to inflict my taste on anyone. I
think v.e haye something here for everyone." for people of all
ages. She says they just try to make sure there is quality in
everything they carry.
While many small shops seem to aim at the heavy summer
tourist traffic. Leigh says that her store is much more interested
in the year round business than the summer business. They are
interested in supplying the needs of the community, she says,
not the tourist. The shop means that people don't have to drive to
Kitchener. London or Toronto to do their Christmas shopping.
This concept of being a service to the people is expanding at
Stephenson's. Leigh says that she and Colleen are interested in
finding out what the needs of the people are. and supplying
those needs. "Having lived here for a few years 1 know how
frustrating it is" Leigh says. trying to find some things for
specialized tastes. She for instance is a coffee lover and likes to
grind it from fresh coffee beans but these have been hard to
come by in Stratford. So one of the latest innovations of the store
is to bring in fresh coffee beans and fresh teas for their
customers.
The shop has been successful enough that already the couple
is thinking towards expansion which would mean moving to a
new location since there is no space in the present one for bigger
plans.
If such expansion takes place. the move would be toward
inclusion of more contemporary designs in lamps and in modern
and refinished pine furniture. They would also be looking to have
a more complete kitchen section.
Personal service is an important part of the shop. Leigh
maintains. That is part of the reason the name Stephenson's was
chosen instead of some more exotic name. The couple wanted
people to feel at home with the people who ran the shop, to feel
they knew the owners.
They are interested, not just in selling. but in helping people
find things. she says. They will often order some little thing for a
customer. not to make money but to make the customer happy.
There have been times, she remembers, when they have driven
VILLAGE SQUIRE/FEBRUARY 1978, 15.