The Gift Shop of New Milford is a ‘destination’ for shopping

By Deborah Rose

The people and businesses that make up New Milford are part of the community’s charm.

Meet Patty Bowers, owner of the Gift Shop of New Milford, which recently marked its fifth anniversary.

Her bright smile, warm personality, and natural knack to help every customer who walks through her door shine.

“She’s very nice and very patient…. the customer care she provides,” said longtime customer Wendy Sorby of Scarsdale, N.Y., who has shopped in store, but given the distance to New Milford, utilizes the store’s online shop.

And Bowers’ products? Off the hook, according to customers.

“The shop has everything…. it seems to cover everything,” Sorby said. “I don’t know how she thinks of it all.”

Sorby emphasized that she was leaning toward getting gift cards for family this year but changed her mind. “I see her stuff and I can’t resist,” she said.

The shop, which is nestled in a little shopping plaza at 60 Park Lane Road (Route 202), carries an assortment of personal, home, and gift items – all by local makers or made in America – for every occasion.

“It’s more than a boutique,” said Bowers. “It’s just one of those shops where you’ll find something unique. I believe in making and giving purposeful gifts, not things that are going to be dust collectors.”

The owner described her products as “usable and functional, whether it’s tea, soap, something to pamper yourself, or an apron or ornaments for your tree.”

Resident Kim Crossen described the store as having “stuff you don’t find everywhere else.”

“It’s really bad, you know, because when the credit card bill comes….,” she quipped, emphasizing she finds something new nearly every time she stops in.

Among the items customers have purchased are windchimes, wallet wristlets, golf socks, trays, books, bracelets and rings, and wooden ornaments by local resident Joy Gaiser.

“We have a lot of talent in town, and I really focused on seeking it out,” Bowers said of what she did when she first opened. “I did my homework on quality products.”

Local artist Christina Maschke is not only a customer but one of the artists whose work is sold at the gift shop. 

“Patty's shop is filled with a wide array of handmade products that are genuinely local, original, and of exceptional quality,” she said. 

“She meticulously curates all merchandise and has a personal connection with each creator, ensuring that customers will not encounter inferior or poorly crafted items,” the artist said.

“Her store has become my preferred destination for gift shopping throughout the year, especially during the Christmas season,” Maschke said.

Crossen acknowledged Bowers for going above and beyond to help customers. She relayed how she found at the store that she wanted to purchase for a group of six friends, but the store only had three. 

The next time she stopped in the store, Bowers surprised her with three more copies of the book.

“Her service is really outstanding,” Sorby said of her online shopping experience working with Bowers, too.

FIVE YEARS AND NOW WHAT?

At five years in business, Bowers is reflecting on being one of the small business owners in town who opened just before a pandemic struck and impacted every business worldwide. 

“It’s gone by so fast,” said Bowers of the time since she first opened her doors.

Unfortunately, like several other businesses in New Milford that opened just prior to Covid in March 2020, new businesses faced the immediate challenge of forced closure for several months due to the pandemic.

During that time, she and other business owners had to find creative ways to sustain their business, which meant moving business online.

“To stay alive, we had to open an online store,” she said, noting it gave customers the ability to shop and then have their products delivered. 

As a bonus, she offered gift wrapping, a perk she still offers at the store for no extra charge.

The online shop offers free gift wrapping and shipping with a $50 purchase.

For online purchases up to $50, it’s only $10 to ship anywhere in US.

Bowers said the store’s fifth anniversary comes with “tough and heart-wrenching decisions about [her shop’s] future.”

“With our lease at an end, is this the right location? With changes in shopping habits, are gift shops still viable? Is online shopping the only option forward?,” she asked.

Bowers noted “it is no secret that, like many small businesses, every day is a struggle to remain open and operating.”

She emphasized the importance of shoppers to shop local.

“This holiday season, please give us the answers with your support of local shopping,” Bowers said. “Our small businesses owners answer the call when funds are needed to support local theaters, churches, ball teams, historical societies and VFWs.”

Sorby related that she likes to “support the small, local stores…because it’s hard to compete” with larger retail stores.

For more information about The Gift Shop of New Milford, located at 60 Park Lane Road (Route 202), New Milford, call 860-350-6146. The store is open seven days a week through Dec. 24, 2024. To visit the online shop, go to https://thegiftshopnm.com.

Photographs courtesy of The Gift Shop of New Milford's Facebook page