Shop adds a personal touch to gift-giving
Huntington — For those who have a difficulty finding unique gifts, look no further than one of Huntington’s newest addition to their shopping attractions.
Mug & Pia, an acronym for “Most Unique Gifts and Paper Items Around,” was created by Kim Sarka Lake and opened April 1.
“I was looking for something new, and though opening a business is not a hobby, I believe it should be fun and fulfilling,” Lake said.
Mug and Pia is filled with a myriad of specialty stationery. The store has a selection of simple greeting cards as well invitation and stationery that can be personalized to fit any occasion. Embossing can be done in the store or specially ordered.
“Paper is not dead,” Lake said. She said she believes in the unique qualities of a beautiful card that can be touched and smelled.
Along with stationery and invitations, Mug and Pia sports a varied selection of odds and ends such as garden fixtures, wedding books, picture frames, baby toys, jewelry and scented lip glosses.
Lake said she wants people to “think outside of the box when it comes entertaining or holding a function. It doesn’t have to be traditional.”
With her collection of feathery lamps, unusual cocktail napkins or framed pictures, Lake tries to appeal to everyone. She wants to draw a diverse crowd without spreading herself too far. Lake often attends trade shows to find new merchandise to add to her shop.
Amy E. Moss, a Huntington resident, is working with Lake to create specialized magnets that announce the date of her January wedding. Lake has worked one-on-one with Moss to make a simple, yet elegant, design for the small magnets.
“(Lake) has been wonderful and worked with me even though I was picky. She went above and beyond to please me,” Moss said.
Moss lamented that she was ready to travel to a neighboring state to find a proper stationary shop when she discovered Mug and Pia. She said Mug and Pia was exactly what Huntington needed.
After years of working as a law firm administrator and at her father’s shop, Sarka-Kauffmann Jewelers in her early teens, Lake was ready for a change. She hoped that by opening her own business she could help with the revitalization of Huntington, as well as start a new chapter in her life. Like many business owners in downtown Huntington, Lake faces the typical challenges of ownership. The cost of inventory, shipping, rent utilities, and taxes make owning a shop a costly burden.
Keeping costs down to make it more accessible to the public is an important goal for Lake, but she hopes more foot traffic coming through downtown Huntington will allow her to stay affordable to all.
Lake said she still enjoys the challenges and rewards of running Mug and Pia. She looks forward to working with customers to create the most unique gifts and paper items around. You can visit Mug and Pia on 3rd Avenue across from Pullman Square or call the store 304-525-7880.
from Herald-Dispatch.com © 2008
