Name and title: LeeAnn Bower, Owner
Business address: 21 N 7th St., Suite 2, Allentown, PA 18101
What is your business name? A Little Bit of Local
Website URL? www.alittlebitoflocal.com
What are your social media handles? IG: @a_little_bit_of_local
What products or services do you sell? We are a boutique gift shop selling a variety of handcrafted items from local artisans, vendors, makers, and crafters. Items range from coffee beans, organic loose-leaf tea, dog treats, honey, jewelry, cards, Allentown merchandise, hair accessories, baby items, bath and body items, and more.
Describe the vibe of your store. Our store has a cozy modern feel. It smells good and when you walk through the door you feel welcomed.
What is the one thing your business is known for, over your competitors? We are known for having a variety of items perfect for gifting set up in an easy-to-browse gift shop style
Explain why you’re known for that. I have worked hard, along with my team, to set the store up with a gift shop-style feel with items from various artisans all mixed together. This allows customers to find a variety of items all in one place with a lot of choices of unique, one-of-a-kind gifts since they are all handcrafted.
How did the business get started? I own a small business called Stitched Simply Sweet where I sold my own crafts and sewn items. After popping up at the Downtown Allentown Market for a holiday event, I explored the idea of a pop-up shop. I’d always wanted to have my own storefront but realized I couldn’t fill an entire store myself. In the summer of 2022, I revisited the pop-up shop idea but this time with the thought of adding items from other artisans and vendors that were local and integrating everything together to make give it more of a gift shop feel.
Why did you choose to open your business in Downtown Allentown? I looked at several areas but Downtown Allentown appealed to me primarily because of the pop-up shop program. I also liked being able to add something that wasn’t already in the area. When I learned of our current space being available along the ArtsWalk I felt it was a perfect fit for the type of store that I was creating and planning.
Tell us about the biggest “win” in your business’s history? Explain what it was, how it came about, and what it meant to your business. The biggest win so far has been all of the exposure and media opportunities that the business has received so far. None of them have been sought out by me. I think one of our biggest wins was the grant we received with the help of Rising Tide to be featured in Fig magazine. The photo shoot took me a bit out of my comfort zone, helping to build confidence, and it has also led to a lot more exposure to the store.
What is the biggest risk your business ever took? Explain what it was, what could have happened if it had gone wrong, and the end result of the risk. Honestly, the biggest risk my business ever took was opening the doors! Everything came together so quickly, from not even existing to just putting together the plans in August 2022 and opening our doors in November 2022. The idea and store could have failed and then the business may not have continued. The end result has been a business that is so far working out and continuing to grow every day.
What are some of your store’s goals for the future? Our goals include:
-Expanding our workshop offerings and adding the option to book your own private workshops and parties
-More collaborations with other Downtown businesses
-Philanthropic workshops
-Adding some local refrigerated items
Tell us an interesting and fun fact about your business? We have over 75 different artisans and vendors featured in the store and we are pet friendly!
What events do you have coming up?
Sat 4/22 – Sound Mindfulness for Kids (make a rain stick and learn mindfulness activities) – 11 am
Sun 4/23 – Shower Steamers – 2 pm
Sun 4/30 – Children’s Miniature Garden
Tell our apartment residents about the offer you have on Cobu? Spend $50 and receive $5 off of your purchase
What’s your favorite lunch food for you and your team? Pizza
What’s your favorite quote, and who originally said it?
“If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it’d be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.” – Dr. Seuss
