Long
Beach art store offers unique gifts, experience
By Kristen Force
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Located
on the corner of Second Street and Argonne
Avenue in Belmont Shore, Luna is a one of
a kind art store offering unique American
crafts and creations. The store was opened
in 1993 by two men with a passion for art
and a long history of experience in art
sales.
Co-owners
Harold Sturgeon and Don Dame teamed together
to create a new concept for a business,
one that appealed to their artistic tastes
and the customer’s interests. Sturgeon calls
the store a gift shop composed of “functional
art.”
“No
one really needs the things we sell,” said
Sturgeon, “But we try to provide products
that people can use and will want to keep.
Our merchandise is always popular as gifts.”
While
all the art is handmade and most is created
by Americans, that is where the similarities
end. Luna sells pieces ranging from bookmarks
and leather purses to jewelry and glass-blown
bowls.
“In
this culture, shopping is a form of entertainment,”
Sturgeon says. “We try to make it fun because
today people view [shopping] as something
to do, just like going to a movie.”
Sturgeon
says that Luna stands apart from other gift
stores because of its products and customer
service. Any purchase can be gift wrapped
free of charge regardless of the season.
“I
like buying things that I know are handmade,”
long-time customer Michael Umphenour says.
“The glass work is my favorite but I like
all the things that are different and unique.”
Because the business only sells original,
handmade creations, Luna does not offer
sales or discounts.
“If
a Christmas ornament doesn’t sell, we just
box it up and save it for next year,” Sturgeon
says. “When a person who is looking for
a gift finds just the right thing, they
will buy it regardless of the price. Sales
don’t help us much.”
Sturgeon
says that while the downturn in the economy
has not hurt business significantly, world
events do have an impact on people’s spending.
He says that profits are getting back to
normal since a slowdown when the war began.
The
name “Luna” was decided while the two owners
sat on a bare concrete floor staring at
four unfinished walls. They were looking
for something short and easy to remember.
Realizing that they both shared the astrological
sign of Cancer and planning to open on the
day of a full moon, Luna seemed appropriate.
“We
never opened this store with the idea of
selling,” Sturgeon says. “I’m proud of what
we have accomplished and I feel a real sense
of responsibility to the customers. The
store has taken on a life of its own. I
don’t feel like I own it. I’m just taking
care of it for now.”
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