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Downtown Duncan store enjoys rapid growth in just six months

After just six months in operation, Duncan’s “Something Celtic” store is already growing.
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Maura Whalen

Robert Barron Citizen

After just six months in operation, Duncan’s “Something Celtic” store is already growing.

Owner Maura Whalen has expanded her space inside Magnolia fashion store, located at 111 Jubilee St., to keep up with the demand for aran wool sweaters, which come from Ireland, and the imported Celtic jewelry and giftware that are on display in her shop. She said there’s a “huge market” for the aran sweaters, which are also called fishing sweaters, because they are warm and “last forever.”

“The jewelry, which comes from Ireland, Wales and Scotland, is also selling well and I appreciate Sue McKay (owner of Magnolia) allowing me more space in her store.”

Whalen, originally from Ireland, had another Celtic store on Station Street, but closed it in 2013 for personal reasons.

“But the business called to me, so I decided to open Something Celtic,” she said.

“It was a good decision.”

Furniture store celebrates first birthday

The Sofa and Chair furniture store in Duncan is celebrating its first anniversary.

Coco Bezjack, who owns the store along with her husband Brian Efford, said the secret of success at the store is that it offers a “personal touch” for customers.

That means her staff work closely with the customers to find furniture and accent pieces that bring out their personal style.

Bezjack said the store only carries Canadian furniture lines in fabric or leather.

“My father had a furniture store in Calgary, so I grew up in the business,” she said.

“We moved here to be closer to Brian’s parents and we saw a great opportunity for this store. It’s been great so far.”

Nursery centre open for the spring season

Great Greens Farm Market has opened a garden nursery centre in time for the upcoming busy spring season.

Owner Ryan Smith said the nursery will carry flowering and vegetable plants, seeds, pots and all the accessories needed for people to tend to their gardens.

Great Greens Farm Market, located at the corner of Koksilah Road and the Trans-Canada Highway, is a full-service one-stop grocery store which specializes in local produce. It also has a liquor store component. It just opened in June and Smith said business has been good.

“We already have 38 employees and we’re looking to double that within the next two years,” he said. “Business has been fantastic so far.”

Odds and ends:

 

• Steve Aydon is Salesman of the Year, again, at Island Chevrolet Buick GMC. He has held that title every year for the past 14 years.

• Lorne Johnson was named the 2015 Top Salesman at Arbutus RV Mill Bay.

Robert.Barron

@cowichanvalleycitizen.com