Lewis family celebrates 20 years in business
THE Gift Centre (TGC) in Hadfield Street, Georgetown, celebrated 20 years of service to the Guyanese public, last Friday, with the start of a new promotion to commemorate the milestone.
The proprietors and its sister company, Shoe Source (SS), hosted a cocktail reception at the Pegasus Hotel for family and well-wishers.
The joint promotion, dubbed ‘Scratch and Win’, runs through December 5, when SS will celebrate its third anniversary.
To participate in the competition, customers are required to make a purchase of at least $5,000 at either TGC or SS to receive a card, scratch it and redeem at either of the two stores (up to 20 per cent off the next purchase).
Patrons can then fill out the form at the back of the card to enter the grand drawing for a chance to win $300,000 at the TGC, $200,000 at SS or $100,000 at John Lewis Styles.
TGC Marketing Manager, Ms. Crystal Lewis, said: “We believe that we have been contributing to society over the years and will continue to do so. This promotion is a ‘thank you’ to all our customers.”
TGC Manager, Mr. Andrew Lewis, expressed his appreciation for the support the family business has received over the last two decades and pledged that their customers can look forward to a service  where quality is never compromised.
He mentioned that his parents, Victor and Doris Lewis, have been business owners since 1980, with the opening of a Shell Service Station, followed by Regent Motor Spares in 1981, subsequent to which TGC was opened in 1991, adjacent to it.
“The businesses served as stepping stones and life lessons… our parents were determined and  they persevered  in business in an ever changing environment and along the way, failure was seen  as a mere change in direction towards success,” the manager said.
As testimony to their determination to succeed, the Lewis family rebuilt in 1996, after TGC was ravaged by fire, forcing relocation to the Hadfield Street address.

REMAINS UNIQUE
Lewis claimed the family business remains unique because it is fully owned and operated and, as such, customer satisfaction is of paramount importance.
Though not widely known, the TGC also assists in community activities by contributing to and supporting education and youth development, medical aid, disaster relief, religious activities and supporting the underprivileged in society when necessary, he disclosed.
According to him, those attributes have filtered down from the founders of the business, his mother and father.
He said TGC got its inspiration from his mother, Mrs. Lewis, who is a director and an active volunteer in a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and lay minister in the Roman Catholic Church, like his father.
The son said his father is more reserved but his extensive knowledge in building construction has always played a major role in every such family need.
Since their marriage in 1968, Victor and Doris Lewis and their seven children have built a series of businesses that have become etched in the fabric of Guyanese culture.
In 2003, John Lewis Styles was opened and, more recently, in 2008, SS was added to the list of family stores. 
Among those gathered at Friday’s anniversary celebration was Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and the new Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr. David Devine.