The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
World of Rocks not your typical gift shop
Specialty shop offers wide variety of rocks, minerals and beads
By Austen Smith, Editor
PUBLISHED: April 3, 2008
After 22 years in business, Gail Kornbluth says she has developed a loyal following.
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The owner and operator of downtown Ypsilanti's World of Rocks, 43 N. Huron St., says after moving her business from Ann Arbor, to Canton, to Belleville and finally settling in their current location eight years ago - she is amazed to see the same people visiting her store as when they first set up shop.
"We stayed in touch with people," Kornbluth says. "Our loyal customers followed us around to every location."
Starting out as an arts and crafts vendor - selling decorative rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils - Kornbluth was unable to afford a regular shop in the beginning. She says that she has been able to stay in business because they offer a decent value for the customers' buck.
"I don't mark up the products just for the sake of marking them up," Kornbluth says.
The majority of World of Rocks customers are hobbyists who come for collecting and artists who come for the decorative stones and beads. She says that they do get some customers off the street, but the store remains for the most part a "destination" place for local hobbyists, collectors and artists.
Lately, however, they have been attracting more young people to the store by offering youth classes in bead making, specialty jewelry and wire wrapping, Kornbluth says.
She says getting the kids between eight to nine years old who are interested in discovering rocks and minerals is one of the most fun things about the business.
"A lot of the rocks and stuff are exciting for the kids. We do games and gifts for the kids - it's fun for them," Kornbltuh says.
A longtime Ypsilanti resident, Kornbluth and husband Martin have lived in the area for 40 years. She says that they enjoy being a part of the local community and participating in different events. With downtown and Depot Town businesses struggling because of a depressed economy, Kornbluth says the merchants are rallying together and coming up with new ideas, such as staying open later on the second Friday of each month and offering special incentives.
"It will be a happening," Kornbluth says. "People can come down and there are fun things to do. There must be a need and a desire for people to come in," she said.
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