Aug 20, 2007

High costs put gift shop out of businessBy Andrew McGillPhillyBurbs.com

After 10 years working as an office manager, Stephanie Roe fulfilled her dream of opening her own gift shop. Now, three years later, she’s closing its doors.

Mima and Co., of 19 E. Oakland Ave. in Doylestown, will sell its last birdhouse, kaleidoscope and limited-edition print Aug. 30. High rent and the cost of benefits made her storefront business unprofitable, Roe said, despite negotiation attempts with her landlord.

But that doesn’t mean that Mima’s distinctive gifts are going anywhere. Roe is moving her business to her Web site, www.mimaandcompany.com, a decision that’s already popular with her customers — she’s willing to ship anything listed on her site to buyers’ homes.

“People were coming into my store and saying, “Oh, I’ll buy that online,'” she said. “It’s more economical.”

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