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Business Behind the Glass

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

Trish Martin is a great multi-tasker. On a recent afternoon, she sold two pictures from her gift shop, inspected a window frame for screen replacement, answered the telephone several times and took directions to a local church where glass repair was needed.

"It gets like this sometimes," stated Martin, who co-owns The Cre8ive Group in Wytheville with her husband, Randy. "I do have help but they're not here today."

The Martins opened Creative Glass & Mirror Inc. at 600 N. 22 nd St. in 1988. They specialize in residential and commercial glass, repairs to storm windows and doors, glass table tops, custom mirror design and spa products.

"We've downsized a lot," Martin noted. "We only have two guys working for us now. We're not taking big jobs anymore."

The company's work area extends from Abingdon to Roanoke. The Blacksburg community also is a frequent user of the Martins' services.

"My husband's dad was a glass specialist in California," she said. "Randy learned it from him."

Their business was originally located on Marshall Street in Wytheville. It moved to the current site when the Martins bought the large metal building just off West Lee Highway in the town limits.

Tucked inside the warehouse is another facet of Creative Glass & Mirror — a gift shop. It features unique items from around the world including hand-blown glass, vases, lamps and ornaments.

Scentier and Lampbarger fragrance lamps, Beanpod soy candles, Willow Tree collectibles, jewelry, wall art, occasional tables and accessories are available, too.

Opening in 2001, the shop has expanded with an additional showroom.

"We started very small," stated Martin, who spent 14 years in banking. "We added things we saw at the trade shows. We carry unique items that you don't find at Wal-Mart."

The Martins also lease spaces to sell their wares at Lake Norman and Concord Mills, both in North Carolina.

Prices range from $5 to $600 or $700. Furniture and wall art are among the most expensive items.

At the Wytheville business, Janet Lester works in the office and helps in the gift shop. Lauren Fogg manages the company's Web site www.cre8ivegroup.com.

According to Martin, she and her husband are looking for another location for the gift shop. They want a more visible spot.

"We have people tell us they didn't know we were here," she commented. "We'd like to be on Main Street or in one of the shopping centers. Most of our customers are local. We've had people come in who saw our sign up on the highway."

The Creative Glass & Mirror Gift Shop is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If Martin weren't busy enough, she is preparing for her daughter's wedding in August. Her daughter, Kimberly Martin, is a graduate of George Wythe High School and employed with a computer system company in the Washington, D.C., area.

The Martins also have a son, Eric, who is an officer with the Radford City Police Department.

They're looking forward to shutting down the business for a week this summer. The couple, who live in Draper, will head to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"I like talking to people and working with people," she said. o

Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 228-6611 or wquesenb@wythenews.com.

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