Twine may be called a gift shop, but it is actually much more than that.
Owner Melissa Cookman stocks everything from 3-cent candies to a $200 gold chrome piggy bank capable of stashing up to $10,000.
Cookman decided on the name Twine (stylized “twine”) because she wanted it to be something gender neutral.
“I didn’t want people to be able to judge what it is,” she said. “Men actually like this store a lot.”
One of the most popular parts of Cookman’s store for men is the sports section.
In this section, you can find items like bottle openers, wallets, cufflinks, money clips and pens all made out of game-used materials such as jerseys, balls, pucks and stadium flooring and seating. All items are authenticated by the major leagues and can be tracked. For instance, if you were to buy a bottle opener made from a Philadelphia Phillies baseball bat, you could find out the player who used the bat, the game they used it in and where the ball they hit went.
In addition to sports memorabilia, Twine carries a whole mix of goods you wouldn’t normally find in your everyday store.
“There is no limit,” Cookman said. “I have a mix of old and a mix of new. Everything somehow has the same aesthetic. I try to find things that aren’t mass produced.”
At Twine, you can find things like iWood chalkboard laptops, recycled flip-flop bracelets and rings, scrapbook paper and materials, vintage paint-by-number paintings, candles, travel lids for mason jars, chalkboards, burlap, books and more.
“Our best-selling book right now is called Tree Finder,” Cookman said. “I have no idea what brought me to buying this book. I guess, I just thought it was cute. I had no idea it would sell so well.”
Tree Finder is a small book for $4.95 which helps readers to distinguish the differences between trees.
Besides books, the most popular items at Twine are their cards.
“The town was really excited when I opened, because before, there was no place to buy greeting cards,” Cookman said.
Twine’s greeting card selection varies, but for the most part, Cookman described them as irreverent. Whether you are shopping for a birthday, anniversary, wedding or any other occasion, you are sure to get a laugh combing through Twine’s collection.
Where there are cards, there are of course gifts.
“I have great hostess gifts and last minute gifts,” Cookman said. “We also do gift wrapping, even if you didn’t buy anything in the store.”
Twine also hosts birthday parties and girls’ nights out. At Twine, customers can plan a night of card making, paper bag scrapbooking, chalkboard making, memory page creating and more.
Cookman also holds “open studios” at the shop for certain holidays or events.
So far, Twine has had open studios for Mother’s Day, honor your teacher day and National watermelon day. Her next open studio will be this month for Halloween origami.
Cookman said Twine is a very family-friendly store, and kids and pets are always welcome.
“I have a you-break-it-you-don’t-buy-it policy,” she said. “I just love being a part of the community in this way.”
Twine will host its second annual grand opening celebration on Oct. 2. They are located at 10 East Broad Street in Hopewell. For more information, call (609) 466-2425.
Melissa Cookman shows off some of the esoteric wares at Twine
