Good Buy, Cool World

DOWNTOWN - Charlotte Utt is still excited about helping run her church's One World Gift Shop.

"It's like Christmas morning when the orders come through," she said.

Utt has been the driving sales force behind the gift shop, 410 Zack St., since it opened in 1989 to help First Presbyterian Church support humanitarian programs in Tampa and around the world.

The quiet Utt, 87, is joined by the more talkative Susan Smith, 65. The women place orders and stock the shelves in the neat, narrow space next to the historical church.

In November 2006, the shop moved from the main church building next door into a 1920s building owned by First Presbyterian for the past seven years.

One World provides a marketplace for artisans from developing nations. Nineteen countries are represented in the gift shop across from the old federal courthouse.

There is beaded jewelry from India, baskets with porcelain handles from Vietnam, and soapstone carvings and cow bone necklaces and bracelets from Kenya, as well as glass jewelry from Chile.

Utt has never been to any of these places. But her imagination carries her away when she and Smith, along with five other church volunteers, unwrap orders.

"We feel like we are encouraging people everywhere in their arts and crafts," she said.

Utt, who makes dollhouses as a hobby, said the stint at the store has been educational for her as well.

"These are very basic cottage industries we're representing," said Smith, a gift shop volunteer since 2000. "So it's fascinating for us to see what they come up with."

Smith said the current decorative vogue is for anything elephants or cats. Her customers include downtown workers who know the rotating jewelry case holds inexpensive treasures such as a bead bracelet, earrings and necklace set made in India and priced for less than $20.

Smith estimates there are 400 to 500 items in the store. She likes the location, with its colorful, outdoor sign and lighted shelves.

Carmen Kingsley, who has operated Carmen's Sandwich Shop at 408 Zack St. for eight years, said she's glad to have the gift shop as a neighbor.

"It brings people to this north end of downtown," Kingsley said.

Smith is inventive in promoting Old World. One Sunday morning at church she deliberately wore a necklace from the shop with its sales tag still attached. Anyone who asked about it got an earful about visiting the gift shop.

One World also takes merchandise to other churches for bazaars.

"We don't care what denomination," Utt said. "I can't think of a better way for a church to raise money."

They receive goods from six brokers and also do some shopping online and from catalogs.

Sale proceeds benefit projects ranging from helping Tampa's homeless to providing health care in many of the countries Old World represents.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Old World Gift Shop, a ministry of First Presbyterian Church

WHERE: 410 Zack St.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and one Sunday a month after church services

INFORMATION: (813) 229-0679