May 7, 2008

Gifts for all occasionsBy MiningGazette.com

Houghton — For Amy Negro, there is truth to the saying that time flies when you’re having fun. Since she opened the doors to her downtown Houghton gift shop, The Wicker & Willow Co., in December 2005, the months have been sailing by, thanks to the community.

“We have had a wonderful beginning thanks to our local customers and community support,” she said. “I have made many new friends at The Wicker & Willow Co., and because of them, I love my job! Houghton seems to be turning a corner, and it is exciting to be a part of a growing community.”

Located at 300 Shelden Ave, The Wicker & Willow Co., carries a wide variety of gift items, ranging from baby gifts to housewares, ladies accessories and gourmet food and candy. While many of the gift items change from season to season, Negro said certain brands remain a mainstay and have been with us since they opened. Some of the brands include: Iittala, Marimekko, Fossil, Elegant Baby, Gund and Stonewall Kitchen.

The Marimekko line — popular for its vivid colors and large patterns — is from Finland and includes a collection of products from home accents and handbags to table setting textiles. Because the line is such a hit, they’ve expanded by adding some clothing samples for women and toddlers.

“Marimekko is one of Finland’s premier design companies and we are proud to offer it here in the Copper Country, which is rich in Scandinavian heritage,” she said. “It’s well received by customers because it is so unique.”

Like any new business, Negro said they’ve continued to make changes and plan to continue to adapt to customer’s needs and requests as the business grows. Some of the changes aren’t always intentional. For example, she said they’ve wandered away from their initial focus which was creating gift baskets.

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