Apropos was founded by Sally Shantz in 1988. From its start as a small gift shop, Apropos has grown into a small department store providing its customers with an ever-changing inventory that is guaranteed to delight and inspire. We visited with Sally recently, and listened as she described her shops goods and services;
Apropos is an "old-fashioned" gift store that strives to provide a reasonably priced, tasteful gift for every occasion. Our shop is divided into eight rooms, each with a theme (albeit ever changing). We are a bath store, featuring Crabtree and Evelyn, and the Thymes line of fragrances, Trapp candles, and many seasonal fragrances. We offer a wide range of specialty jewelry featuring three local and regional artists who make one-of-a-kind pieces.
Our children's department is comprised of hand-picked books, old-fashioned games, activity kits, and etc. Our baby department has grown a lot in the last three years (we're convinced that there's a population explosion in Wadsworth). This may be the area in which we've received the most compliments. Again the word old-fashioned or classic may come to mind when describing our baby gifts.
In the area of home décor, we feature Tiffany lamps, Waterford lamps, Paintings by Edna Hibel, Accent furniture, and some wonderful tabletop items. We've recently established a corner where you're welcome to sit and browse through catalogs. If we have fifteen lamps on the floor, and you'll find 1,015 in the catalog.
One of our rooms changes from garden items in the spring and summer to Halloween in the fall, and then Christmas. During the holiday season we feature more than fifteen full-sized trees, which is probably why some people know us as the ornament store. It's during this season that our room of musical gifts really shines. Some of our specialty Music boxes play over 100 tunes. We carry an extraordinary line of hand-carved, hand-painted Santas that are made in Russia. Our nutcrackers from Austria are also hand-carved.
I'm aware of and actively strive to keep the greater balance of our merchandise made here in the United States. This includes a line of throws and handbags made in the Carolinas, hand-made wooden signs by Danielson Designs, clocks by Timeworks (spread across three rooms on four walls), hand-made double-dipped truffles, and so very much more.
We make a full complement of gift baskets in all sizes and price ranges. Our gift baskets can be customized by theme, or can be filled with items individually chosen by our customers. They are the perfect gift giving solution for both corporate and individual needs, and we host a corporate open house every October.
Our largest room is devoted to a wide range and variety of greeting cards and specialty paper, note cards, bags, photo albums, journals, etc. Greeting cards are what got us started. Immerse yourself in the diversity of our selections, many of which are hand-made.
What pleases me most about Apropos after all these years are the customers new and old! Some of our customers have been coming here since we opened. We see their children shopping with us now. Besides myself here for eighteen years, two staff members, Mary and Ramona, have been here for fourteen years, and Sue has been here for four years. We are not a typical gift store, and not a typical staff. I love these people and this environment. When we express a desire to serve you, we really mean it's a pleasure. Come in and see for yourself!
Apropos has the ideal gift for all your gift giving needs. Stop by Apropos today, and don't forget to tell them The Advocate sent you!
