CJ’s Sales features collectibles and gift ideas
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

NORWAY – Sisters Jane Burbank and Vicky Verrill decided to follow their dad’s advice.

“Probably for the first time ever,” laughed Verrill.

The pair opened CJs Sales on Thursday, a store featuring collectibles, dry flowers and wreaths, Time-Out Dolls and gift items.

Their dad, Ray Groves, owned Ray’s Shoe Store on Skeetfield Road in Oxford for 28 years.

“He used to always give deals,” Verrill said. “He said not to charge too much; just make a buck or two.”

Verrill said she her sister were a natural combination for business. Burbank specialized in crafts and Verrill knows many wholesalers.

“I called Jane and asked her if she wanted to open a store,” Verrill said. “The next morning we started getting our heads together. It came together fast.”

Burbank creates dry flower arrangements, wreaths and Time-Out Dolls, which stand facing the corner. She can custom make them using clothes that belong to the children of those placing an order.

She said she also makes grandma and grandpa dolls and bride and groom dolls.

Verrill, who also works at Ed-O’s convenience store in Oxford and is a foster mother, will keep the store supplied with collectible items and discontinued Petra Fashion items.

The store does not have the sisters’ full inventory yet.

“I have a lot of memorabilia from Wizard of Oz, Lassie, Lucy (Lucille Ball), like posters, pillows and will have a line of homemade miniatures for dolls.”

Burbank said the store will also set aside an evening for people to come in and decorate memory books and do stamp and ink crafts.

Verrill said she has been doing home shows of Petra fashions for three years and will offer the store on some evenings for women who want to sponsor a show, but not do it at their homes.

The first day many well-wishers came by, Burbank said. She and her sister have lived in the Oxford Hills area for more than 30 years.

“We figure we’ll be flying pretty good in another week,” Verrill said. “We hoped to get a good jump start on the Christmas week.”

The store at 434 Main St. will be open Monday through Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday it will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.