We opened up McDonald Niklaus Custom Framing and Gifts 25 years ago. In that time it’s almost grown into two amazing businesses that I love dearly. On the one hand, we handle custom framing jobs of all shapes and sizes. I’ve gotten to participate as people bring in their most cherished memories and we help enhance and preserve them. I really love that part of my job. We also have a thriving gift shop. We’ve carried a variety of local items as well gift ideas for all kinds of people. Not to mention the amazing Ben Heggy’s Chocolates! And I’ve loved working with local artisans and helping people find the perfect, unique gift for a special occasion. But keeping up with both sides of the business as we grow and expand has been a challenge. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and praying about how best to handle these new challenges. Enter Gayle Ross.
Gayle showed up at the shop one day with an interesting proposition. She wanted to buy the gift shop. Over the next several months Gayle and I got together and talked over where we’ve been and where we’re going and what our individual strengths and weaknesses are. And here’s where we ended up. McDonald Niklaus Framing will still stay right where we’re at, doing what we’ve always been doing. But McDonald Niklaus Gifts will become Gayle’s Gift Market. She’ll also stay right here in the building and keep selling great gifts, cards and, of course, chocolate.
So, what’s going to change? The answer is both “not very much,” and “a whole lot”! On the one hand, if you’re looking to get your grandmother’s confirmation dress framed for her 87th birthday, you’ll still come to the same shop in Dover and we’ll make sure it looks great and lasts another 80 years. And if you’re heading to your cousin’s wedding and you want a gift with some personality, you’ll still stop in the shop and Gayle will help you sort through an amazing selection of items to find just what you didn’t even know you were looking for.
But at the same time, I’ve got some ideas on the framing side that I just hadn’t been able to implement yet and I’m super excited to get started! We’re going to start doing more in-home and in-business consultations, where we’ll come right into the location and help find the right frames and even the right artwork to compliment the space. We’re also going to ramp up some pre-designed pieces that will be ready to go when you stop by. You might remember some holiday and Valentine’s day designs we already produces. They’re creative, unique, high-quality pieces that are available right away.
Similarly, Gayle has some great ideas. Gayle has a background in art and design and has been dreaming of owning her own shop for years. She told me, “As I got to know the store, I realized that it was a place I could make my own,” and we’re pretty excited to see how she does that. She’s already started to bring in some more personal-pampering type items like quality lotions and bath balms. She’s also adding some home decor items and some new jewelry!
We’re both pretty excited about our partnership and we’re looking forward to the new directions and new perspectives we can bring to Tuscarawas County. So stop by and meet Gayle and let us know what you think of the changes! Thanks for all your support over the last 20 years and we’re looking forward to another great 20 years.
"We love these silhouettes, Jody. The process was so easy and they ended up looking exactly like our boys. We now have them hanging in our bedroom. This was our first experience with a custom framing shop and the quality is just unbelievable. And being able to look at and tweak every detail was awesome. Thanks again, Jody." -Missy L