Adams & Worth Home Furnishings:
House Beautiful
by Michelle Troutman

Adams & Worth is set-up like a small home, where visitors to the kitchenette will find utensils, placemats, and dishware; in the living room are rugs, plaques with sentiments on them, and framed prints along the walls. The bedroom area features oak bed frames with quilts on them.

Owner Jane McIntosh bought the business in January 2010 from Cathy Taylor. Paula and George Gordon, founders of The Maine Made Shop (aka Maine Made and More), opened the store in 2003. The name comes from the Gordons' mother's maiden names. "I considered changing the name, thinking that maybe this store needed a fresh start and a new identity," says McIntosh. "I realized that Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Worth were still living, and it's quite an honor to have now met them." McIntosh feels that it was with heartfelt sentiment that the Gordons chose to honor two women who were really important to them, and therefore, important to her now that she owns the store, one she is very happy to own.

"I think it's a perfect fit, and here I am," she says, chuckling. "Some might say I'm crazy. I guess you've got to do it to see it become a reality."

McIntosh kept employees Joy Roberge and Sandy Garland, who makes the gift baskets they hold monthly drawings for. "We have a wonderful time. We have fun every day, collectively; we do all of the decorating, we do everything together, on the floor," to whom she credits Roberge and Garland with most of the work. "I try to stay behind the scenes as much as possible, but they do an absolutely wonderful job. They're fabulous with the customers, and both very, very knowledgeable."

McIntosh has no previous experience in the home furnishings field, but is no stranger to business.

Born in Waterville, McIntosh's father worked for UPS, and was transferred every four years, so the family moved a lot around Maine and New Hampshire. McIntosh graduated from Edward Little High School in 1979, and began working at Digital Equipment until her son Ben was born in 1985. Jane then became a Certified Childbirth Educator, opening The Birth Connection in Augusta where she taught childbirth classes for several years.

Following a move to China Lake in the early 1990s, McIntosh decided to open Dockside Delights, selling and delivering ice cream in the summertime along seven miles of the lake on a 24-foot pontoon boat. While running these businesses, she worked at The Rape Crisis Center (now the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center), where she still works per diem.

In the year 2000, tragedy struck when her mother died in a car accident. In mourning, McIntosh spent almost every day at the cemetery.

"I noticed that during Memorial Day it was like New York City in the cemetery. It was just absolutely beautiful. Within a few weeks, the majority of the flowers were dying, and I thought, 'What a shame.' I am very passionate about my flowers and gardens. I thought, 'Geesh, that would be a wonderful business and a nice service to offer people.' So, I opened Perennial Memories. I plant and maintain people's cemetery plots."

As for Adams & Worth, McIntosh plans to keep much of what she is currently selling, continuing to offer a diverse line of decor, ranging from country, to primitive, to contemporary, and to traditional. These items include framed prints and Amish furniture, of solid oak; Lifetime Furniture from Pennsylvania. Among the other big sellers are wall decor, jute rugs, garlands and wreaths, floral arrangements, placemats and runners, and kitchenware, which she added based on market research. Other items McIntosh sells are custom-made lampshades, wine accessories, stemware, and locally made jewelry, many made of genuine stones, such as Swarovski crystals.

Adams & Worth also offers layaway and free gift wrapping. They will do special orders for customers, such as rugs, lampshades, and quilts. "That's why we're here, to help people get what they need and want, and to make their shopping experiences as comfortable and as pleasant as possible."

McIntosh is currently working on a Web site. She would eventually like to travel to trade shows to find more products to offer, among them Amish quilts, and more accessories.

"If you're looking for a special gift, for any occasion, you can find it here," McIntosh concludes. "It's wonderful when people come in and say, 'Wow, it's really changed in here. It's beautiful, and smells good'; 'I love what you have.' That's validating for me. It inspires me to continue to do what I'm doing."

Jane is married to David McIntosh. She has three children: Ben McPherson, Lauren McPherson, and Cameron McIntosh.

Adams & Worth Home Furnishings at 72 Main St. and the Concourse is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Extended holiday hours. 207-872-5424. Email: adamsandworth@yahoo.com.

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