Superstores and online sites have made it more and more difficult for many small, traditional businesses to thrive in the modern market. That hasn’t been a problem for The Country Lane, the locally owned gift shop on Lancaster’s west side.  The secret, according to owner Marla Cortez, is two-fold: excellent product lines and superb customer service.

“Currently, the most popular gift item on the market is candles,” said Cortez.  “We are not a candle store, but we’ve got some really great products customers come here for.”  The number one candle line at the store is McCall’s Candles, from McCall’s Country Canning.  “We’re not an exclusive dealer, but this is where people come to find them.”  The store also carries the very popular Yankee Candles product line.

After the candles, the fastest moving items at the store are clocks and signs.  Another emerging product line is purses and handbags by Vera Bradley.  “They are very popular on the East coast,” pointed out Cortez, “but they are slowly creeping westward. We’re the only store in the Antelope Valley carrying their line.”