Local novelty shop gets new digs
It’s a store that has something to offer anyone — and most of its products can’t be found anywhere else in Saskatchewan.
“I try to carry really fun, zany, kind of out-of-the-ordinary things,” said Glitch Gifts and Novelties owner Mike Erman. “And I also try to keep it quite family friendly ... but it’s a hard to explain the shop because you kind of have to see it — there’s just so much crazy stuff in here.”
Glitch Gifts and Novelties had been serving Saskatoon’s need for the weird and wacky for nearly three years before Erman decided it was time to make the jump to a bigger, better space. So he made the move over to 33rd Street after seeing a bunch of exciting shops open in the area and he wanted to be a part of this revitalization of what he considers a “vibrant little spot.”
All the extra room has also allowed Erman to expand the range of products he stocks — so that means more novelty socks, a bigger candy selection and many more weird and wonderful items ready to be discovered.
“I’ve always enjoyed the weird and unusual things in life and I travel a lot, so whenever I’m travelling in a bigger city I’m always looking for the unique shops filled with fun things,” he said. “Saskatoon didn’t really have anything like that so I decided to make it happen myself.”
One aspect of the new shop that Erman is really getting excited about is the backroom area, where he lets local artists showcase their work while customers take a break and sip on some freshly brewed Deadly Grounds — a horror themed coffee that you can pick up in the store to brew at home.
In the future, he is hoping to rent out the space for local pop-up shops, art shows and other events.
“We’re hoping to do rotating exhibits and have a lot of fun with it,” he said. “And maybe build a bit of a community out of it.”
GLITCH GIFTS AND NOVELTIES
Owner: Mike Erman
Address: 510 33rd Street West Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Website: www.glitchgifts.ca Phone: 306-978-9696
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For Saskatoon’s growing senior population the idea of letting go of one’s independence can be tough — but Home Instead Senior Care is here to make the transition to inhome health care seamless while helping their clients remain as independent as possible.
At the heart of Home Instead’s care model is companionship, said owner Greg Charyna, who recently moved the franchise to a larger space on Idylwyld Drive.
“It’s building a relationship and combating loneliness and isolation,” he explains. “But we are also there for the more practical reasons like making meals, getting groceries, driving to appointments, assisting with personal care and right up to specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care.”
The aim is that the caregivers almost become a member of the family, while keeping the senior in their home for as long as possible. They are able to accomplish this by working with the family to create a personalized plan of care to help with their client’s needs proactively instead of waiting until their issues become unmanageable.
Not only do the caregivers help with the tasks that have become too difficult for the seniors to manage on their own, they are specifically selected to mesh with the client and become a friendly face whose visits are awaited with anticipation rather than apprehension.
Charyna says one of the most valuable services they provide is helping the children of these seniors broach the issue of home care with their parents — even when that senior may not feel like any help is needed.
“They feel bad for asking for help,” he said. “So we can come in and be there for them and they have the sense that they are still being as independent as they can be without having to ask for help from friends and family ... and it’s peace of mind for (their children) as well.”
HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE
Owners: Greg and Karen Charyna Address: #1 — 305 Idylwyld Drive North.
Website: www.caregiverstress.com Phone: 306-931-4663
Check Facebook Erin Petrow is a reporter at The StarPhoenix. If you have started, expanded or moved a small business in Saskatoon within the last few months, contact her at epetrow@ postmedia.com. Home-based and temporary businesses, as well as those without physical locations, will not be considered for publication.
Follow Erin on Twitter @petr0w