Georgetown Gifts

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is flexible, the calendar is not: the gift shop year is upside down from the calendar year. "Normally right now I would be finishing my holiday shopping," said Wicks in late May. "It seems strange not to be buying pumpkins, turkeys, and snowmen." (While we're all celebrating the winter holidays, she's buying what's selling now: "graduation, Dad's day, summer garden and general summer entertaining.")

In addition to gifts and greeting cards, the store comes with a contract with the U.S. Postal Service. "They supply everything except the staff: the computer equipment, the furniture, the signage," says Wicks. "If there's a rate change, or procedure change, we get automatic updates. It brings in revenue, it brings in people."

Wicks says she's an "active empty nester" and wants to retire. If the shop doesn't sell, she will close it on September 1.

Georgetown Gifts, 3215 Washtenaw, 971-1068. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (post office closes at 4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and noon on Sat.). Closed Sun. georgetowngifts.com   

[Originally published in July, 2012.]