Friends, sisters team up to open new gift shop

The Blue Door, a brand-new gift shop located at 512 Washington Street, will hold its grand opening next Sunday, May 15, from noon to 3 p.m. Owners Barbara Casserly of Randolph, Laurie Cohen of Canton, and Carolann Robbins of Cape Cod describe their new business as a place that has something for everyone.

Laurie Cohen, co-owner of The Blue Door.

Robbins is a retired teacher who worked with preschool children and emotionally disturbed middle school children. Following her teaching career, she wanted to do something that would allow her to use her experience in education.

She and her friend Casserly, a retired Boston teacher, talked over different options before deciding to open the shop. Cohen, who is Casserly’s sister and a Braintree educator, has had her own business selling invitations and personalized note cards for a number of years. Together they provide a wide range of gifts to please any customer.

The Blue Door is well stocked with puzzles, books, games and activity kits for children. They carry rattles for infants and old-fashioned wind-up toy figures.

“We want to help children use their minds and think creatively,” Robbins said. “We’re able to suggest things to parents that their children may like.”

They also carry a wide variety of tabletop items and hostess gifts, such as shelf ornaments for wine bottle corks and all-natural candles. They have bud vases for $10.99.

Cohen started her stationery business 25 years ago. Customers can order from an assortment of stationery or purchase items such as napkins from the in-store inventory. “I can personalize on the spot,” Cohen said.

“As much as we can, we get things made in the United States,” added Casserly.

They include women’s clothing, totes, and handbags. For dog lovers, they sell magnetic memo boards. Each board has the image of a postcard on it, and on top of that, the picture of a dog associated with that area. Tiny magnetic dog bones hold memos in place.

“We’re trying to pick things we like,” Casserly said. Robbins loves the collection of children’s books, Casserly’s favorite items are bound journals, and Cohen loves the stationery.

The Blue Door boasts a selection of jewelry, and a lot of it is made by Casserly and Cohen’s mother, Libby Kaufman, who has been making bracelets and necklaces for 35 years.

“Jewelry died down, then it all came back the last few years,” said Kaufman.“I got out all my gems and started stringing again.”

Kaufman’s influence is seen in another way, too. As Cohen pointed out, her mother’s favorite color is blue.

When she and her sister painted the door to the shop, Casserly jokingly suggested that they name their business The Blue Door. Cohen immediately agreed. “I wanted to incorporate my mother in the store,” she said. “She’s so crafty and talented.”

The Blue Door plans to contribute a portion of sales to a different charity each month, such as the Leukemia Society or veterans groups. The current store hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.

For more information about The Blue Door, call 781-575-1895.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on May 5 2011. Filed under Business. Both comments and pings are currently closed.