PEABODY — The Northeast Arc is going to the mall, as in Liberty Tree Mall, the site of a new store named “Parcels,” which is scheduled to open in early August.
The Arc’s resident director of innovation and strategy, Tim Brown, said he is excited to be able to be able to offer customers a one-stop shopping experience at the expansive 1,000-square-foot store.
“We wanted to create one place where people can go to buy all sorts of gifts that have been either made by people or businesses with disabilities or autism, so this is a very exciting move for us,” Brown said. “Plus, we have a great location next to the movie theater and food court, giving us great foot traffic.”
Thousands of unique products will be offered at Parcels, among them being bed and bath items, speciality jams, cutting boards and spreaders, stationery and greeting cards, art pieces, and, of course, Shine Jewelry, which has operated out of the ArcWorks Community Art Center and Gallery Shop on Foster Street in Peabody since 2011.
Brown said he conducted a nationwide call for products and internet searches to identify inventory and that nearly all of the goods are affordable.
“Most products are brand new to this area and cannot be purchased anywhere else,” he said. “I haven’t seen them in any downtown shops, so we’re confident most of the items will be one-of-a-kind type things that are incredibly affordable.”
Featured items included jalapeno-infusion fruit jams and mustards from Texas Sweet Heat Jam Co.
“The company has a large southwest distribution and their jams and mustards are very reasonable at only $9 and have a great variety,” said Brown. “We are starting with about eight flavors until we can taste-test them in the hopes of adding more.”
Brown said he is working with 20 different suppliers, most of them out of state. An Arizona business woman with autism will be providing wine and shopping totes and tea towels. A young business woman with Down’s syndrome from the Midwest will be providing her own line of pet food and products.
Among the local supplies are Gracie’s Doggie Delights, a Watertown-based company created by a young woman with Down’s syndrome. Her treats use only one ingredient — freeze-dried meat — and are distributed in more than 40 states.
LifeLinks CLASS in Lawrence will be making wooden cutting boards, bird houses and Adirondack chairs.
Shine has been an integral part of the Arc’s employee training program for many years. Its artists create unique, higher-quality handcrafted pieces, serving as a tool for skill building in the areas of following directions and time management.
Shine products are already available at 18 local retailers, the biggest of which are the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem and 8 Friend Street in Amesbury. Shine’s Garden Collection will be sold exclusively at Parcel with pieces running from $38-48 for necklaces and $18-22 for earrings. The Gala necklace will also be offered at $112.
The store will also feature Patsy Kane Nautical Bosun bracelets ($24), made by Lynnfield resident Paul Ouellette as part of Kane’s partnership with Shine.
“That is such a good story of a great collaborative venture,” said Brown.
Shine is currently polishing off a special new collection that will be released for the first time at Parcels.
“Due to COVID, we are behind in production and design work, so right now rolling out this new line is our priority,” said Brown.
The store will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Due to the pandemic, there will not be a grand opening.
“That won’t be possible with COVID as we are limited to all the rules we have to follow,” Brown said. “But we will definitely be rolling out the red carpet with a progressive grand opening.”
