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Sanders Window Fashions shows no signs of slowing down

LAURA JAMESON / THE EXPRESS Art Sanders and his daughter Fabre look at window coverings.

LOCK HAVEN — After almost 50 years of providing drapery and blind installation sales, one downtown Lock Haven business owner shows no signs of slowing down.

As a matter of fact Art Sanders is running two businesses now, one right next door to the first.

Art openned a variety gift shop called “It Is What It Is” in the former Dashem Books space next to his window fashion business. His daughter Fabre and her husband Larry assist in managing the two-year-old store.

Sanders and his late wife Bonnie first joined his father Lester’s window fashion business in 1970.

Lester started the business out of his home in 1942. Once Art and his wife went into business they opened retail location on Hogan Boulevard. Unfortunately the business was destroyed in 1972 by the Agnes flood. Rebuilding was the only option, and the store was reopened at 28 E. Main St. to be specific.

LAURA JAMESON / THE EXPRESS A variety of unique items fill the walls of It Is What It Is, making the store a perfect stop for gift shopping.

In 1996 Art purchased 107 E. Main St. where the business remains.

And two years ago, Art opened his specialty shop.

Sanders boasts a wide variety of Hunter Douglas window treatments, one of the largest in central Pennsylvania.

From custom draperies in a wide variety of fabrics to curtain rods and bed spreads, Sanders offers a wide variety to choose from, all of which is installed by Art or his son-in-law Larry Miller.

“We install everything we sell and we don’t charge a fee,” he said.

A new item this year is automated blinds which can be controlled through a remote or even voice activated by an Amazon Alexa.

“The nice thing with automatic blinds is the neat things you can do,” said Fabre.

The blinds can be used for larger windows that may be out of reach and can even be set up to rise and lower at certain times during the day, she said.

“No one else in the area has these,” she continued.

Sanders has seen a lot of business since the new year begin, giving them a chance to show off the new showroom. It saw renovations last year after a frozen pipe burst in the store. Of course, that didn’t mark an end to the business. Renovations were completed and now customers can scan the various blinds available as well as take a look at the wide variety of drapery fabric available for installation.

For those who may need to look at how the fabrics or styles match up to their space, Hunter Douglas offers that.

The retailer’s website, www.hunterdouglas.com, gives customers the option to take a photo of their window and place the drapes over it digitally. However, you must come to Sanders or a Hunter Douglas retailer to purchase the drapes.

“They don’t offer online sales,” Art said.

Right next door, It Is What It Is is going into it’s second year of business. And it’s only growing.

While Sanders saw a renovation, the unique gift store saw one of its own. “We expanded in September last year and doubled the space,” Fabre said.

The store offers a wide variety of items that can’t be found anywhere else downtown such as baby products, accessories like jewelry, stickers and magnets, bath and body products, pet items and specialty gourmet foods.

It Is What It Is offers custom gift basket services and delivery too.The shop also has two monthly subscriptions for chocolate and hot sauce. The Chocolate of the Month Club costs $12 a month for hand selected fine chocolates from all around the world.

For those who have a spicier taste the Host Sauce Club costs $10 a month. Members will have access to exclusive limited edition sauces to spice up their life. It includes one specially selected bottle of hot sauce per month and exclusive discounts and surprises throughout the year.

Anyone who may be interested in learning more about the gift basket program or either club can call the shop at 570-748-3686 or visit www.shopitiswhatitis.com.

To learn more about Sanders,visit www.sanderswindowfashions.com.

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