housewarmings
Posted: Thursday, April 21st 2011
A downtown shopping staple since 2002, housewarmings has re-opened the doors of its Ross Street store on April 8. It is once again stocked with some of the most unique and interesting handicrafts you will find in Red Deer. The store contains a wide variety of products, focussing most heavily upon art and crafts from Thailand, as well as some artwork from local artists. Robb filled an entire container with carefully selected products from Thailand. All the imported products are produced by small businesses, individuals and families who specialize in one product. These products are not massed produced, and it is likely that most will only be found in one place in the entire province, housewarmings. One example of these unique pieces is the clay animal pots she is selling. They are a sight to behold, with wide smiles and gaping mouths, these pots are truly an exotic and fun addition to the store.
Just because housewarmings stocks high quality imported items does not mean that the prices are high. “I want to sell quality, unique items for a (low) great price” owner Catherine Robb explains. “The feed back that I was getting from my customers was that they loved the uniqueness of shopping downtown but it can have a reputation of being expensive. It was this information that got me started my on my 3 month 24/7 quest to: source out, find and bring to Red Deer the best deals that I could and in return pass the savings on to my customers.
The merchandise Catherine sells isn’t the only reason to shop at housewarmings. The businesses is owner operated, meaning every product meets her strict specifications, and customers will get the best service you will find.
When asked about her customers, Catherine can’t help but smile. “They have good taste” she states, half joking, “They want something unique that nobody else has. They don’t want the same old same old, mass produced stuff. They want something different. But most importantly, it’s amazing how many of my customers have become my close friends.”
“I have the best location in Red Deer” Catherine claims. “I am right in front of the beautiful new Veteran’s Park, and the windows in my store make it very bright.” It is very open, with a positive energy. That positive energy will be reinforced by a blessing by the Buddhist Monks who are coming to bless the Sunworks prayer wheel on May 3rd.
In addition to the imported decorative goods from Thailand, Catherine has brought back some her locally produced artwork. Maureen Lewis's pottery is stocked up and ready for Wedding Season and Dennis Moffat's Art work is going back up on the walls this weekend. The stain glass is back and hanging in the window and there are still more Artist to come back.
housewarmings will be having a grand re-opening in a few weeks, more information will follow.
housewarmings is open Monday through Saturday 10-5:30, and Catherine will be bringing her products to the Red Deer's Public Market every Saturday morning this summer. If you haven't been to housewarmings, you are missing out. Catherine would like to invite everyone to come and visit her and see for yourself.
