Nov 30, 2009

Gift shop owners rely on personal service, unique itemsBy Steve PhillipsWLOX.com

Gulfport, MS – Big name retailers enjoyed a “respectable weekend” of holiday shopping. National sales numbers show large retailers like Walmart and Target stayed busy with plenty of bargain hunters.

But what about the much smaller, “mom and pop” stores? WLOX News visited a trio of local gift shops.

“We’re all about unique, odd, different,” said Pat Lesher, at Gift Gallery on Pass Road in Gulfport.

That special mix of merchandise is what helps set Gift Gallery apart from other stores. Customers can’t help easing into the Christmas mood there.

“We have our lights, our decorations, our Christmas music. So, we put everybody into the spirit,” Lesher said.

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