Editor's note: Following time of press, A Little Bit of Local announced that they would be relocating to Bath. Find them at 5851 Nor Bath Blvd., Bath.
Shop a little bit of everything at A Little Bit of Local on the Downtown Allentown Arts Walk. Owner LeeAnn Bower's one-stop shop for local businesses has offerings ranging from candles and bath and body products to jewelry, local coffee, teas and honey, Allentown-themed merchandise and more.
Tell us about your journey to opening A Little Bit of Local!
My parents owned an antique shop when I was younger and I spent a lot of time there with them. As I got older, the prospect of having a store of my own one day was always in the back of my mind and I liked the idea of a gift shop. I was invited to be a pop-up vendor at the Downtown Allentown Market's holiday market with my business, Stitched Simply Sweet, and I loved it. I had explored the idea of opening a storefront afterward, but the timing just wasn't right. After about another year, I revisited the idea and A Little Bit of Local was born and opened its doors.
Explain the desire to launch a one-stop shop for local businesses.
I personally enjoy gifting unique finds, as well as supporting the local community and small businesses whenever I can. In looking at what it takes to run a store, I knew that there was no way I could run the store and fill it with just my own items. The idea came that I could bring in other items that are also locally made to offer a variety of items while supporting several small businesses in one place, but still maintaining a connected flow giving more of a boutique gift shop feel.
Tell us about some of the artisans, crafters and vendors whose products are carried at the shop.
We have an eclectic mix of artisans, crafters and vendors whose items are carried in-store. From locally made candles (soy, beeswax, pillar, whimsically decorative and more), jewelry, soap and bath and body products to local honey, coffee, tea leaves and dip mixes, the variety surely offers something for everyone. We even carry “Allentown” themed merchandise such as doormats, coasters, glasses, cutting boards, shirts and hand-painted postcards. We have a social media campaign currently running that spotlights the various vendors in the store so the community can learn even more about them.
What would you say are some of your most popular offerings?
This is a difficult question to answer. When we first opened, I would definitely say our body scrubs and lotions, soaps and dip mixes were the things I was restocking most often. Now, we definitely sell a mix of everything in the store. One thing that is still popular are the pocket watches from one of the jewelry makers. As we approach the holiday season, we plan to post different gift guides on our social media featuring some of our favorite, most popular and unique items in the store.
What do you love about being in Downtown Allentown—and on the Arts Walk specifically?
What I love about being in Downtown Allentown is the collaboration among the various business owners and the support that they give each other. I also enjoy having the opportunity to have regular customers who work and live downtown, but also those who are traveling or in town for various events. I feel that the Arts Walk is the perfect home for A Little Bit of Local, especially the façade of the building, since we are a store of a variety of “art.” While we are tucked away on the Arts Walk, I feel it is an opportunity to help spread the word about the Arts Walk itself as I continue to market the store.
Tell us about your workshops and events! Do you have anything planned for the fall?
We offer a variety of different workshops including painting, personalized doormats, soap making and more. Our work-shops can also be booked for special events like birthday parties, a girls' night out, team building, etc. I worked on filling in our fall calendar and I plan to have at least one workshop per week, if not more. If interested, you can register on our website or in the store. Most workshops do require registration ahead of time so that our small-business vendors can order and prepare materials accordingly.
Is there anything else you'd like to note?
We offer gift wrapping for your gifts—just ask! As the holiday season approaches, we are always evaluating our hours and may be open later if it is busy for later shopping. We also offer online shopping, including a buy online, pick-up-in-store option. I truly appreciate the support of the community and being able to support the community myself. Thank you for continuing to welcome A Little Bit of Local so warmly as we approach our one-year anniversary.
Published as “Get the Goods” in the October 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
