Mantua – As the state loosens restrictions and businesses begin to open their doors, Bibury & Company, a new gift shop has joined the merchants in Mantua Village. Although Ann Ellis lives in Aurora, Mantua’s historic downtown drew her to the village. She noted that many towns try to recreate the historic look that has been preserved in the village. “I was looking for a space that looks like this,” she shared.
With 20 years of experience in specialty brick and mortar retail and a successful online shop to boot, Ann Ellis may be new to Mantua, but she’s no stranger to the gift shop category. Ellis has sold pun-filled handmade greeting cards through her company Bibury Paper on Etsy since 2015. The unusual name was chosen after a visit to the UK, on a family trip to visit their older son who was studying there. So taken with one of the small towns they visited, that place inspired her company name. “I’d like to go back someday,” she noted. “If I can make enough money selling cards, maybe I can,” she joked.
Inside the original pine floors have been refinished. “A tin tile ceiling and office area were added, but otherwise, the building was in great shape,” she explained. The shop has been a family affair, with Ellis’ husband refinishing the floor, her father building some of the displays, and her younger son creating the cut files she uses to consistently produce hand made cards of outstanding quality. Her older son, currently working on his Masters in England, helps provide puns for some of the handmade cards.
Drawing from experience in independent retail shops has helped her develop merchandising skills and a sense of what unique items to offer. As such, Bibury & Company features handcrafted items from 15 makers throughout Ohio, as well as a sampling of items from around the world, like the Clairefontaine journal line from France. “I just get what I like,” she noted.
Handmade Bibury Paper cards are showcased along one wall of the shop, while a mix of items — many of which were created in and around Portage County – are also available at her shop. She features items like Bee Loved Lavender grown in Aurora, Emily’s Soaps from Shalersville, and jewelry by J. Baskin Studio in Aurora.
Other Ohio items include 1820 House candles from East Palestine, vibrantly-colored but useful handmade brooms from Chuck Fath in Burton, Sub Rosa Tea from Sandusky, and decorative pillows printed with vintage maps featuring local towns specially crafted for the shop by a maker in Columbus. She’s also curated a small collection of handmade bibs, stuffed animals and toys perfectly suited for gifting to the baby or child in your life, as well as a collection of environmentally-friendly products from Full Circle Home for you or someone special.
While Covid delayed the original plan to open in April, as other small businesses began to reopen this month, Bibury followed suit with a soft-opening on May 13th. “When the Governor allowed retail to reopen, we thought it was time,” Ellis shared. Though the shop had originally planned to host a larger opening event, current restrictions have postponed such gatherings. Ellis hopes to hold a grand opening event when it’s safe to do so, perhaps in time for the Christmas holiday season.
For now, a limited number of patrons are allowed inside the shop at a time, which gives each visitor ample time to see the variety of items for sale. Ellis noted that during this soft launch phase, the shop hasn’t stocked a ton of merchandise, but plans to gauge what the community wants and tailor the product mix to suit them. The shop is open Wednesday through Sunday each week at 4672 East Prospect. Call (234) 755-0159 for more information, or visit Bibury Paper on Instagram to see some of the items they offer.
