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Photo by Wendy Graham
By Vicki Browne
Wink’s Woods, “the gift store with more” in Crystal Falls, will celebrate 40 years in business on Saturday, June 8. Visitors will be treated to live music, grilled hotdogs, brats, chips and soda in the parking lot. Commemorative hats, t-shirts and drink koozies will be available as well as scratch off tickets for prizes. Inside the store, visitors can sample food items sold at Wink’s Woods. And one lucky customer will win a U.P. fire pit made by a local craftsman. Look for a 30%-off-one-item coupon in the Reporter or on the Wink’s Woods FaceBook page.
Susie and Walter Winkowski opened Wink’s Woods on May 23, 1984 in a small shop down the street from their current location. Both worked at Forest Park School and enjoyed making wooden home decor items as a hobby. Walt cut the pieces that Susie painted and assembled. When friends began asking to purchase the items, the Winkowskis decided to open a shop on US Hwy 2. About three years later, the store moved to its present location at 1225 W US Hwy 2. If visitors look carefully at the parking lot, the cement pedestal for the pumps of the site’s former gas station are still evident.
For the first 20 years the majority of the business was from orders for items advertised in Country Sampler magazine. For three years, Reiman Publications, known for its country-oriented magazines and home products, had a standing order for 10,000 items each month. The Winkowskis had a full shipping department in the basement of the store.
“We were busy, but it was fun,” said Susie during a phone interview with the Reporter.
Another highlight of those early years were the children’s craft classes on Saturdays. Wink’s Woods offered one class in the morning and one in the afternoon. According to Kelly Bender who fondly remembers being in Walt Winkowski’s science class and now works at Wink’s Woods, “For $5 each child made a craft and got a snack and juicebox.”
Both Winkowski and Bender recalled the month-long Halloween costume craft classes. About 40 children worked on their unique costumes each Saturday. Winkowski and her staff did work behind-the-scenes to make sure every costume would be ready. Bender’s daughter made an elaborate set of butterfly wings.
In 2000 Jen Sarder, who now manages all day-to-day operations at Wink’s Woods, was hired. The magazine order piece of the business wound down and the number of local crafters and artisans grew. Today Wink’s Woods has over 400 consignors, the majority of whom are local.
“Over time we started taking a few items from other people,” said Winkowski. “We constantly have new people who want to make items for the store.”
Sarder indicated that consigned items must be handmade by the person and fit the store. Each consignor has a unique ID so they can get paid monthly when their items sell.
Both Winkowski and Sarder talked about changing with the times. “We’ve diversified and not all the items are hand-crafted,” said Winkowski. “Years ago everything was wood, but now we have metal and solar items,” said Sarder. Winkowski mentioned that everything now is computerized, even the cash register. Sarder showed off the new gift cards that have replaced paper gift certificates.
“We reorganized the displays last year,” said Winkowski. “We’re always looking for improvements that give the customer more of an experience than just shopping.”
Sarder pointed out the most popular items: chainsaw bears and eagles, solar items, food products and signs. “Lake and cabin decor, frogs, gnomes, mushrooms, windchimes, rain chains, yard stakes, solar items and laser art are big now,” said Sarder.
Winkowski also loves the chainsaw bears and laser art. She mentioned the jams, jellies, honey, coffee, freeze-dried candy and soon-to-be-available, locally-made fudge.
An enduring business, like Wink’s Woods, values all its faithful customers. “If I had to reflect back on my 40 years, the biggest thing that I’ve gained are all the great relationships and friendships that have been built,” said Winkowski. “We look forward to seeing all of our customers come back in the spring and summer. We wait for them all winter and then they come back to us.”
Wink’s Woods is open every day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Plan to stop by Saturday, June 8 to celebrate 40 years with Susie, Walt, Jen and the rest of the staff. Come by any day to roam the displays to find the perfect decor item or gift and then sit in a chair on the porch with the chainsaw bears.