Every once in a while I hear about a new business which is
so unusual that I think I should tell people about it.
Not so long ago I heard about a little gift shop in Alex-
andria, Va., which is in this class.
Would you like, for instance, a chatelaine from London?
Or would you prefer a ceramic from Paris?
Would you want to pay $50 or $5,000 ?
Well, Joydon's in Alexandria will get it for you, at the
price you want to pay.
Here's the story.
When Don Davis was in Europe during the war, he
realized that millions of Americans never would have an
opportunity to "do the shops" in famous, old-world cities.
He realized, too, that by American standards many fine, old
pieces silverware, china, glass and brass were selling for
very reasonable prices.
Since Don had married an English girl and since both he
and his wife were interested in antiques and in fine crafts-
manship, they decided to start up their own small business
when they returned to the United States after the war.
That, of course, is what they did. And now they are filling
special orders from customers all over the country. They
maintain a small stock of items most frequently requested
but they're proudest of their "finding" service.
With connections now well established in almost every
country in Europe, and with frequent trips to major cities
in England, France, and Italy, they are able to obtain "just
the item" their customer wants. Complete descriptions,
sometimes including photographs, are obtained before the
item is sent from Europe to this country to help insure
that customers obtain the exact piece they want.
The story of Joydon's a name Davis made up by using
his wife's and his own first name is proof, incidentally, that
the oldest success secret of them all is still a good one.
You know it, of course. It's just that hard work, plus a
good idea, will bring success.
