Employee takes over gift shop business from owner

Described on their website as "a small, woman-owned gift shop and handmade bath and body store," ownership of River's Mouth Trading Co. recently changed hands. One of its employees, Elizabeth Johnson, who has been with the store for about six months, has taken over the business.

Since opening in the fall of 2022 in the Churchill Building on Front Street, the shop has become a popular destination for residents. "We have lots of locals that come in regularly for the products that we make," said previous owner Kelly Ellis.

Johnson grew up in Wrangell and left for a time after high school graduation to attend college in Juneau. "And then COVID hit and so I came back," she said.

Johnson was ready to learn new skills, including running a business, learning how to make the various products as well as how to market them. She thought she would be better served with on-the-job training rather than learning in a school setting.

The shop carries hundreds of items, many of them handcrafted. The merchandise is always changing; some of the products include soaps, lotions, jams, syrups, loose leaf teas, artwork, pottery, crystals and jewelry. Ellis said she will continue to create items for the shop. "And I'm teaching Elizabeth to do it as well."

One type of homemade bath item that Johnson likes to create are sugar scrubs, made from natural sugar and nourishing oils, which can be used to exfoliate the skin. "We got some that are for lips and some that are for body," Ellis said. "The lip ones are completely edible, so sometimes kids just buy them and eat them because they taste really good."

"It is a gift shop, but it's very local," she added. "Not everything is made here, but the majority is made here, and you can find something, one-of-a-kind and unique, and support local artists."

Johnson wants to serve residents so that they don't feel like the shop is just for tourists. She hopes to continue to expand the scope of the business, offering more merchandise like yoga accessories, as well as provide more access for homegrown artists to offer their work on consignment.

"We bring in new artists all the time, anytime we can," Ellis said, adding that those kinds of constant additions change the flavor of the store.

The new store owner is also interested in expanding the store's book selection, which currently features some local authors and vintage books, including books by Ellis' mother Christi Slaven, who also provides pottery for the shop. "Everyone should read," Johnson said. "You can buy books on Kindle and online and other things, but it's so nice to have a paper copy and where do you go to buy books here?"

Ellis still owns and runs River's Mouth Resale, the thrift store in the back of the same building, and remains available to provide guidance and assistance whenever possible. "It's a really long transition," she said with a laugh. "There's no hurry, I'm not going anywhere. ... I'm right here to help."

River's Mouth Trading Co. is at 321 Front St. and open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. People can call the store at 888-508-3824 or visit the website at riversmouth.com, or email Johnson at lizanne@riversmouth.com.