Quality and Garden Gifts

Where the Merchandise (From page 81)

Owner and Buyer Nancy Thompson . “Even if they already have a wind chime, they could probably use another because people who like them tend to be okay with having multiples. A lot of people collect them because they have different scales.”

Madison Garden Center also does a brisk business in hanging art glass items. Meant to be hung outside, the large blown glass ornaments are sturdy enough to withstand the elements. “They come in a variety of shapes and colors plus they catch the light. They’re really pretty pieces.” Next in terms of top-selling gifts are birdhouses and birdfeeders, according to Jenkins who said her 5,000-square-foot store doesn’t do a lot of advertising. “We mostly rely on word of mouth and our displays. For instance, we have wind chimes in the doorway so on a breezy day, they just naturally chime.” Meanwhile, art glass pieces are shown to their best advantage on a metal tree and select birdhouses reside on stands.

Among the extensive home and garden décor offerings at Cottage Garden Farm in Waupaca, Wis., its spinners have gained something of a following and are a continual top seller. Designed by the establishment’s owner who is a former airline pilot and builder of experimental aircraft, the mesmerizing copper gar-

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