Each year since 1988, Adel Jomha has been coming to the Estevan Shoppers Mall prior to Christmas with his business Star Gift, which sells leather goods and other accessories.
He鈥檒l be in Estevan for a few months before Christmas and set up shop to market his products, many of which can鈥檛 be found elsewhere in the Energy City. It鈥檚 clearly been a good arrangement for him, and it鈥檚 also been good for the community.
鈥淭his is a special community here,鈥� said Jomha. I got used to it and people got used to me. I have some merchandise that people like. They keep coming back and I keep coming back,鈥� he said in an interview with Lifestyles.
Some years are good and other years aren鈥檛 so good, just like any other small business. So far this year it has been quiet, but he鈥檚 confident business will pick up as Christmas approaches.
鈥淯sually from the 15th of November on, it gets really strong. Hopefully this year it will be the same.鈥�
Jomha decided to bring his business to Estevan more than 30 years ago after 小蓝视频 in the city during the fair. He and his family found Estevan to be a good community, and they were impressed with the mall.
鈥淲e went to the office, and we decided let鈥檚 do a store here,鈥� said Jomha. 鈥淭he rent was very, very reasonable.鈥�
It worked out, and Jomha loves the friendly atmosphere in the city.
鈥淭his is what keeps me coming back,鈥� he said.
Star Gift opened this year on Sept. 15, and Jomha expects they will remain open until Dec. 29.聽聽聽
Jomba has a variety of merchandise in stock, including winter fashion boots, a couple different types of mukluks, such as Manitobah Mukluks and Laurentian Chief Mukluks, to go with moccasins and blankets.
They also have a good selection of t-shirts and hoodies, and belts, gloves, and purses and handbags.
鈥淢y blankets are very popular, and of course now, these days, the mukluks and the moccasins are very popular,鈥� he said.
There aren鈥檛 a lot of places in Estevan that sell products like mukluks, either.
鈥淚 have the merchandise here,鈥� said Jomha. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 have to go online. They come and try them and see them and feel them, and they know their sizes and they buy them, which is nice.鈥�
His prices are usually lower than what can be found online, to keep people here and buying local.
Jomha finds that people are usually excited for him to open his store and to be back in town.
鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to have that feeling and the feedback from the public,鈥� he said.
Star Gift has a store in Edmonton that is open throughout the year, and Estevan is the only other community to have a location. At one time he had a year-round store in Estevan, but spring and summer were quiet, and they have the operation in Edmonton, so they decided to come to Estevan for a few weeks before Christmas.
Now they鈥檝e extended their time here to September.
It鈥檚 not easy embarking on the long drive from Edmonton to Estevan, and leaving his family, kids and house, but he loves it in Estevan, and he hopes to see lots of familiar faces and new customers.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 see myself not coming back to Estevan every year. It doesn鈥檛 matter if we make money or lose money, it鈥檚 in my blood,鈥� he said.
