An Internet presence is essential in the commerce world today. A South Roanoke retailer is running with that idea.

Beth Thomasson, owner of Martinique, is shifting her 14-year South Roanoke storefront entirely to the Internet.

In June, she will close Martinique, her shop on Crystal Spring Avenue selling gifts, stationary, and personalized items.

She'll offer almost all of the same merchandise at www.shopmartinique.com, the retailer's new Web site that is under development. Thomasson plans to discontinue the shop's framing services and sales of related items, such as pictures and mirrors.

A mother of two, she decided to change her retail model because she desired a more flexible work schedule. Once Martinique closes, Thomasson will work from her South Roanoke home, also on Crystal Spring Avenue.

Additionally, her out-of-town business is growing, so having a storefront presence is less essential.

"This is the right direction for us right now," Thomasson said.

Still, she's considering ways to make her products easily available to local customers. She will designate certain locations throughout the area where customers can pick up items that they've ordered via Shopmartinique.com, without having to pay for shipping.

A heavy focus at Thomasson's shop is personalization services, for everything from napkins to stationary and baby gifts. From her home office, she plans to offer a day's turnaround, if possible, for certain personalized orders.

With the Internet debut, Thomasson will add some new products and personalization services to her selection, including imprinting ribbons and paperweights.

She's also crafting ways to contribute to local and national nonprofit organizations through the online enterprise. Thomasson is designing online fundraisers that designate a specific time frame during which a percentage of proceeds from sales via Shopmartinique.com will go toward a particular nonprofit.

Meanwhile, all merchandise at Martinique is discounted 20 percent. Seasonal merchandise is 50 percent off.

Look for Shopmartinique.com to be up and running at least a month before the storefront closes.

Church furniture retailer expands

A church furniture retailer in Rocky Mount has a new and larger headquarters to feed a building demand for its pews, pulpits, baptistries and other church furnishings.

The Church Furniture Store, formerly Gabriel Church Services, moved to 1746 South Main St. in January. It outgrew its former offices on Franklin Street in Rocky Mount, where it took up three different spaces. The move was a chance to combine all of its offices into one space.

The company purchased and remodeled its current 6,000-square-foot building, formerly home to Heritage Flooring and Interiors.

The 18-year-old business ships furniture to churches across the country and the world, with orders in the last year going to Australia, Greece, England, Canada and elsewhere, said owner Scott Gabrielson.

Unlike other kinds of retailers, the church furniture business thrives during a poor economy, because "more people go to church," Gabrielson said. Sales for his enterprise rose 32 percent last year.

Church growth spurs increased demand for new furnishings, he said.

The Easter holiday is especially busy for the Church Furniture Store.

"People like to have their church furniture in time for the holiday," Gabrielson said.

For more information about the retailer, visit www.churchfurniturestore.com.

Dollar City Plus to open at Bonsack Kroger

A discount store is coming to Kroger Square at Bonsack. Dollar City Plus will open July 1 beside Anytime Fitness, said Millie Moore, a leasing broker for the retail center off U.S. 460 in Roanoke County. Moore said the store is locally owned. The owner was unavailable for comment about the new store.

Roanoke Trading Co. has opened on Salem Avenue

Name brand home furniture, bedding supplies, toys and a hodgepodge of other merchandise has moved into a retail space on Salem Avenue in Roanoke.

Roanoke Trading Co. opened its doors in late January at 2104 Salem Ave., after selling some holiday merchandise during a temporary sale in December.

Co-owners Troy and Debbie Simms sell a wide variety of name brand surplus and overstock items.

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