A lifetime of retail experience came in handy for Jan Grapsas when a Werribee shop became available in 2009, allowing her to open the Gift Givers Gallery. The 53-year-old tells Charlene Macaulay about the business and her love of mosaics.
What’s your connection to the Wyndham area?
I’ve lived here since I was seven. My father had to move for work in Sunshine, and Werribee was the best area for a family as far as my parents were concerned.
I’ve only been out of Werribee for a total of three years since. When I was in my youth, I lived in South Melbourne and Malvern for a while, but it took too long to get to work. That’s why I came back to Werribee. Plus, all my friends lived here.
Tell me about the lightbulb moment behind the Gift Givers Gallery and the Kitchen Gallery.
We opened in November 2009. It had been on the books for 10 years, but we couldn’t find the right place. Then I got a phone call one day saying a shop was available if I wanted it. I rang my husband John and we went to look at it and within a matter of three months we were open.
I had no suppliers or anything to begin with and I had to sit down in a corner at home and work on stock and fittings and signwriting and lighting, the whole thing. My husband is the not-so-silent partner, who likes to put his two cents worth in.
My daughter, Maggie, works here too and my mum has worked here on occasions.
The business has won the small retail award at the Wyndham Business Awards for the past two years. This year you’re chasing the trifecta. What has it meant to you to win these awards?
It’s fabulous, recognition for our hard work and good for the customers. They like the fact that they’re coming to an award-winning store. I wasn’t going to enter this year, but everybody talked me into it.
You’re also involved in a lot of organisations.
I’m involved in a group called Getting Married Here, I’m secretary of the new Wyndham Business and Tourism Association and I’m involved in Wyndham BizNet. It’s all fun; it keeps me busy.
What are your hobbies?
When I have time, I love gardening, I love baking and I have a passion for mosaicing. I haven’t done any for a little while, but it’s all in the retirement plan – somewhere that’s got a big room where I can smash tiles and lay it all out. It’s lots of fun, I love it.
I’m a collector as well. There are all these paperweights at my house and a collection of jugs and a collection of cards. I’ve still got swap cards from when I was in primary school.
