package Stuff;
use base 'Class::DBI::mysql';

sub import {
  my $class = shift;
  unless (__PACKAGE__->can('db_Main')) {
    __PACKAGE__->set_db('Main', @_);
  }
}

package Stuff::Item;
use base 'Stuff';
__PACKAGE__->set_up_table('item');

package main;
use Stuff ('dbi:mysql:dbname', 'gryphon', 'password');
my $item = Stuff::Item->retrieve(1);
print $item->name, "\n";