HOULTON, Maine — Fashionable name-brand merchandise normally found in large city department stores is artfully arranged alongside locally made products inside Heart to Heart Gifts and Specialty Clothing — an upscale store on North St.
Owner Marie Hutchinson says after 25 years “it’s the best kept secret in town.” What started out in 1985 as a convenience store evolved into a boutique-type shop by 1998 with a wide range of chic gifts and clothing from lingerie, collectibles and children’s wear to shower gifts, toiletries and imported handmade apparel.
The business’ name was inspired on the spur of the moment by the TV series “Hart To Hart” (1979-1984). The show starred Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as a jet-setting power couple who were amateur detectives who would probably be right at home in the Houlton store. Hutchinson said she had to come up with a name on the spot when making an order for Byers Choice Christmas Carolers since the company wouldn’t ship to a convenience store. She still carries that line of collectibles.
There’s a glamorous edge on many things Hutchinson sells at Heart to Heart. “I try to do some fun, upscale things that make people feel a little better about themselves. And, [I sell] things that are not available around here. I also have a lot of people from away who make a point of coming back here to shop.”
Even her gift wrapping has a kick to it. Gold stars on white tissue paper with the matching shopping bags or the black and white polka dot themed choice further glam up any purchase. Hutchinson takes a certain amount of pride in her specialty gift wrapping adding that the elaborate bows are all handmade.
But, it’s what’s inside the packages that really animates the businesswoman who wears many of the items she sells. “I’m partial to cashmere. And, it never goes out of style. It’s something people come back for. They’ll treat themselves or put it on a Christmas list.” Her customers had purchased all of the cashmere capes, but Hutchinson still had cashmere gloves, scarves and sweaters for sale during her interview with the Pioneer Times.
Racks of satin and silk lingerie offered a range of choices for gift giving or personal use. “I have great bridal ware. This is a real good thing for me. My lingerie is very good and reasonably priced starting maybe at $32-$34 on up.” She said camisoles starting at $19.95 and going up to $69.95 were popular items. Some are appropriate for teens while lacey camisoles, she says, are perfect to wear as layering pieces under suits or sweaters. Other camisoles are made specifically for nursing mothers “with great support.”
The small gift section she started in her convenience store blossomed after she “went strictly giftware and clothing.” Names like Kinross cashmere, Robeez soft leather children’s shoes, Spanx shape wear, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, Zutano children’s wear and Hatley raincoats, boots and outfits, she says, keeps her customers coming back. Mikasa crystal, Ahava spa products and Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries may seem unlikely in a rural environment, but they are welcome news to her customers.
For the child who may not have been born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth, Heart to Heart has children’s gifts from 12.95 like an Oneida long handled silver plated feeding spoon as well as frames, cups and other children’s gifts in silver.
“Right now I’m having a sale through Valentine’s Day where any of my Christmas merchandise is half-price. My ladies’ things and children’s things in the back room are also half price. And, I will probably do 30 percent off my lingerie to entice people.”
Not to be outdone by the big names, her Maine-themed and Maine-made products include some particularly creative items for giftware or personal use. In addition to candles and a map of Maine with unique points of interest, there are Aroostook County scenes hand-painted on ornaments by Bethany Anderson of Caribou. Silk scarves are made in Presque Isle.
And, in the real spirit of one of Maine’s signature industries, stainless steel serving pieces and ornaments made in Old Town use crushed lobster, clam or mussel shells or a combination encased in acrylic handles. The crushed shells are also inside clear glass Christmas ornaments. They are probably a little larger than a baseball and nestle comfortably in the palm of one’s hand.
For Hutchinson the advantage of being away from the Market Square and the Walmart shopping area is that she gets “quite a few travelers coming from up north on their way to the interstate and the tourists” who stay at the nearby Stardust Motel or a campground.
Hutchinson related the story of a woman originally from Presque Isle who now lives in California. “At Christmas she called with a special order for Grand Lake T-shirts. If someone wants something a little different and I don’t have it, I try my best to get it for them.”
The store’s area-specific items also include photo albums, clocks, and journals with embellishments of scenes from popular locales like Nickerson Lake, Grand Lake and Drew’s Lake. The books have those places carved into wooden covers.
“If someone wants something a little different and I don’t have it I try my best to try and get it for them,” says Hutchinson who added “if someone needs special attention or a special appointment, I will try to accommodate them.”
Until springtime, store hours are Wednesday–Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p,m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at 678 North St. Contact Heart to Heart at 532-3562 or 694-3392.
