Shoppers in the West End will be happy to know that a new home goods store has opened in Somerset just in time for the holiday season.Exim Home Goods is the brainchild of Jody Place, who also owns JP Construction which has been building custom homes for the past 20 years. Mr Place’s construction company had been importing home goods for his clients since 2006 and felt it was a natural evolution to look for a location to open a retail store.Exim, which is the combination of export and import, is located in a newly renovated 1,200-foot retail space in Somerset Village that is run by Mr Place and his family.The new store offers home decor items, including wall art and mirrors, lighting fixtures, bedding and bath accessories as well as a small international food section.From curtain rods and candle sconces to towel racks and a selection of dining sets, Exim Home Goods hopes to attract those residents looking to accessorise their homes in the West End.Located on the corner of East Shore and Somerset Road across from Mangrove Bay, Exim also offers a range of small Cuisinart appliances like crock pots, toasters, coffee makers and rice cookers. Mr Place can also place special orders of kitchen cabinets and vanities as well.“I felt that Somerset needed a home goods store like this,” said Mr Place, who lives in Somerset. “We’ve received a lot of feedback from people saying that this area needed something like this instead of having to go all the way into Hamilton.”Mr Place added that his shop is different from others because of the distinctiveness and variety of the items available.“We offer a lot of unique items — we bring in one of each item or if we do bring in more than one, it’s in different size or colour,” he said. “We focus on price, quality and value,” he added.So far though, he says that business could be better.“It’s going OK,” Mr Place said. “We’re trying to survive. Nothing is easy and I am sure it is going to be hard for the next few years because of the economy.” But he added he is willing to stick it out to make his store a success.Exim Home Goods is open from 12pm-8pm, Monday-Saturday, and can be reached at 504-9568 or on Facebook/Exim Home Goods.