Business has 25 years of 'whimsical fun'

Janet Widmer's friends and family always said she had a knack for decorating.

"Whenever they would see our house and the way she had decorated it, [friends] would say she needed to go into design," said her daughter, Kim Kubala.

So in 1986, Widmer founded Creative Touch, an interior decorating business she operated out of her home. She opened a storefront in 1992 in downtown Hutto, and in recent years, Creative Touch has transitioned to carry a greater quantity of gift items.

Although the store does not have a certain theme, Janet said the items tend to be more traditional in style and focused on "whimsical fun."

Widmer's son Matt is the senior manager of the store, and Kubala is also a manager/buyer. All three family members go to a market in Dallas to select merchandise such as jewelry, seasonal decorations, specialty food items, children's clothing, home decor items and cookware that will eventually fill the shelves of Creative Touch.

"We do end up with a variety of items that way," Widmer said, explaining that she and her children have different tastes and styles.

Inside the historic former bank building that houses Creative Touch, shoppers can peruse a variety of items, including Circle E and Williamson County Candles, collegiate items, home accessories, baby items and gifts.

In January 2011, the store opened the upstairs part of the shop to stock more merchandise.

Creative Touch expanded into the 450-square-foot space next door in October. The room allows additional space to display local vendors' merchandise as well as seasonal decor. The store is adding new jewelry lines, women's accessories and clothing. The store also offers graduation and wedding registries.

"With every business, you have to keep changing it and reinventing it to keep it fresh," Kubala said.

Several years ago, Widmer hired Shelly McCoy to handle the interior decorator part of the business, and McCoy helps clients with window treatments, flooring and reupholstering services.

Widmer said business has been growing as Creative Touch has changed inventory.

"There is a need for gift items in the area, so you don't have to go into Austin to buy gifts," she said.

Creative Touch, 103 East St., Hutto, 759-1088, www.creativetouch-designandgifts.com