Carrollton’s downtown “Sample Sanctuary” is home of the budget booster

by Minnie Payne

CARROLLTON — Sample Sanctuary, a downtown Carrollton gift store, whose parent company, Heart of the Home Gallery, also a downtown Carrollton gift store, opened one month ago at 1020 W. Main Street, right next to Babe’s Chicken.

The store is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and was positioned next to Babe’s Chicken so that people waiting to get into the restaurant can visit next door and shop and explore while they’re waiting to be seated, Angela Nash said.

Angela and Jay Nash, owners of both stores, felt there was a need for a gift store that sold gifts for the young couple just starting out, the senior citizen on a fixed income or someone just looking for a good bargain.

Nash said that they realized that by upgrading Heart of the Home Gallery with U.S. and North American-made merchandise, they lost a significant amount of customers, so they’re trying to fill a void.

Since they have a number of business contacts, she said they were able to buy overrun merchandise and product samples at one-half the wholesale cost and sell to the public at wholesale prices.

“Because basically, Sample Sanctuary is a mini Tuesday Morning, you never know what you’re going to find, but it’s always a treasure,” said Nash. “You have to check back often because the gifts change constantly.

“New merchandise is added and discounted weekly.”

People are pinched because of the high cost of gas and groceries and are looking for better prices, plus getting the best value for their dollar, she said.

“Jay and I can’t be more proud than to own two shops where everyone can find something within their budget,” Nash said. “We really want to thank the community for embracing us and, in turn, we will continue to offer the best product for the best price.”