America's smallest retail glass shop

—By Jenni Chase, senior editor, retail and auto glass, Glass Magazine

Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado’s “Tiny Town” boasts the oldest kid-size village and railroad in the United States. How does this relate to retail glass? Well, like a typical small town, Tiny Town features a grocery store, a library, an auto repair center and … a retail glass shop. That’s right. Tiny Town’s Gump Glass, pictured here, offers tabletops, mirrors and auto glass, among other products and services.

With the inclusion of Gump Glass, the creators of Tiny Town make an important point: The retail glass shop is an essential part of any community. The editors at Glass Magazine agree, which is why we’re dedicating an entire section in each issue of the new Glass Magazine to glass retailers. In the July/August 2008 issue, set to hit your mailbox the end of the month, you’ll find information on the latest trends in decorative bath enclosures, advice on how to hire the right people and step-by-step instructions for handling glass cases. If you’re a combo shop, check out the auto glass section as well, where you’ll find installation instructions, technical tips and other information.

And we’re just getting started. Retail glass shops are as diverse as the communities they serve, and we want to hear from you about the types of articles you’d like to see in upcoming issues. Please share your ideas!