Paper Products, a staple downtown Winslow shop, announced today that it will be closing its Winslow Way location at the end of July.

The store has been on Winslow Way for more than 40 years.

The shop is not going out of business, explained owner Joanna Arndt.

“We are closing the downtown location, reorganizing, and opening as ‘Create Bainbridge’ to better meet the needs of the community, be competitive, and remain a viable business,” she said.

Create Bainbridge will be open August 1 at Island Village Shopping Center (Unit C-2) between Star Nails and Sole Mates.

Regarding the store’s need to change and relocate, Arndt explained the store needed an update to compete with the ease and accessibility of online shopping.

“That [passing delivery] truck is filled with hundreds of boxes every day to be delivered to Bainbridge homes,” she said. “Most of those boxes are filled with goods purchased online. As a family owned brick and mortar store, we need to find ways to compete in a market demanding variety, ease and accessibility.”

The new store will have those traits, she added.

When asked to describe the new store, Arndt said, “Create Bainbridge will be the kind of store customers will love to explore.

“They’ll find new, interesting and unique items every time they visit,” she added. “The store will have an expanded line of craft and art supplies, journals, open stock pens/pencils and specialty gift wrap and card lines. It will also offer a wide range of fun, unique and quality gifts for all ages.”

In addition to a new location and expanded inventory, Arndt said that new services will also be added to the offerings at Create Bainbridge.

“My goal is to add after hour adult craft classes, as well as an online subscription-based craft supply services to the business,” she said. “Those are expected in the new year.”

Business hours at the downtown location are expected to change in preparation for the move.

Create Bainbridge will conduct a soft opening in August, as the team adjusts to the new location, new staff are trained and new inventory arrives.

An official grand opening is planned for mid-September.

Next month, the Create Bainbridge team will kick off their new community legacy by launching Bainbridge School Supply – a community-based seasonal school supply store located at Island Village Shopping Center (Unit C-5) between Safeway and Great Clips.

The store is a partnership of several important organizations within the community – including the Bainbridge Schools Foundation, Helpline House’s Project Backpack and almost all the parent-teacher organizations within the community.

Bainbridge School Supply will also offer parents the convenience of online ordering and the additional convenience of offering parents the option of having the supplies delivered directly to their child’s school.

Each organization will contribute time to the business and receive a portion of the profits.

Bainbridge School Supply will open on/before August 14 and remain open through September 4.

Visit www.facebook.com/createbainbridge and www.facebook.com/bainbridgeschoolsupply for more information and updates regarding store hours and events.