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NORMAN WELLS - Visitors to Norman Wells are often surprised to find Creations, a high-end gift store located in the town square. Thanks to store manager Shirley Nichols, she keeps the store looking like one you might find in a big city, not a small Northern town.

Shirley Nichols manages Creations, a gift store in Norman Wells that sells "a little bit of everything." Nichols does just about everything in the store from cleaning to managing. - Brodie Thomas/NNSL photo

Nichols has been living in Norman Wells for five years, and she has spent four of those years working at Creations.

She said she does a bit of everything, from cleaning and dusting to dealing with customers and ordering and receiving stock.

Part of her job is to travel to gift shows in Edmonton every February and August.

She said the trip is fun but it can also be mind boggling because she has to remember what she has already ordered and how much space it will take up in the store.

"You have to remember that you're not shopping for yourself, it's for the customer," she said.

Part of the store's success can be attributed to its wide variety of items. They sell the usual souvenirs, but also furniture, musical instruments and even some food items.

She said one of her biggest sellers is Canadian diamonds. The diamond jewelry is made with NWT diamonds, and created in Alberta.

"I don't think a lot of people realize we sell diamonds until I mention them," she said.

She said another hot item is Zippo lighters. She keeps dozens in stock with different sports team logos and designs on the side.

"I think a lot of people who buy them don't really smoke. They just like Zippos," she said.

Because Norman Wells is the hub of the Sahtu, many people travelling through will stop in for a look. Gift shops are often seen as stores for tourists, but Nichols said she has a lot of regular customers from Norman Wells who come in for candles or specialty coffee.

Another draw is the tanning bed tucked away at the back of the store. Nichols says it brings in a steady stream of clients year round, not just in the dark winter months.

"A lot of people are going on vacation in the summertime so they want a tan," she said.

Nichols said the other way to keep regular customers coming in is to always have seasonal merchandise on the shelf. With less than a month to go until Halloween, the store was already cleaned out of most Halloween decorations.

She is already giving some thought to what she will bring on for the biggest retail season of all: Christmas.

"I already have some gourmet chocolates on order," said Nichols.