Look Who Just Popped Up!

Did I literally blink and 4 months have passed since I abandoned my sane way of life to start my own business? The truth is, it has been an absolute whirlwind since February, specifically this last month and a half. That is because I have been diligently prepping to open my own little year-long Pop Up Shop back in mid-May!

"What is a Pop Up Shop?", you may ask! A Pop Up Shop is a small, concentrated venue of a company's top or newest products to be displayed and sold for a specific amount of time. Some of the hippest brick & mortar establishments started off as Pop Up Shops, and some of the trendiest corporations (Apple, etc.) host frequent Pop Up Shops to showcase their upcoming must-haves.
I decided to combine the best of all worlds, and host a brick & mortar Pop Up Shop that will last for a full year, which features not only my own home decor & style designs, but over twelve Etsy-makers, many of whom are based locally in Lancaster, Pa!  (If you were planning a drinking game around how many times I referenced "Pop Up Shop", it's about to be downhill for ya!)

Among the local Etsy-glory featured, we have sensational rustic, hand-painted signs by local favorite Honeysuckle Shop, gorgeous hand-stamped farmhouse pillows by mother-to-one-of-my-favorite-humans Laura Firestine, ambrosial hand-poured candles by Reading-based Henny Faire Co. in savory yet floral combinations like Mushroom Tuberose, stunning framed silhouettes hand-cut by grandmother-of-8 Sue Bowers, and vegan lip balm by Friendly Body Products that will leave your lips feeling silky and rejuvenated, just to name a few. If you are browsing for exclusive Designs by Serendipity Mom items, we are offering our most popular totes, pillows, mugs, prints, handmade boho decor and now...all-natural bath bombs! Not in the market for home decor this season? We hear ya...you can also find eco-friendly and affordable handmade jewelry by some of the most popular Etsy-sellers, fun & funky accessory bags and hair swag, and we even have a Joey Corner where you can peruse kid-approved gifts for your little ones.

My first craft market back in March

The concept of the Pop Up Shop came to me one day while I was dejectedly packing up all of my products after yet another unsuccessful Saturday craft market. My heart commiserated with the other talented local crafters as they sloughed their beautiful work to the cars, with little to no return from their day-long investment that began at a dismally dark 6 am. Starting out this spring season in the "Craft Market World" as an unknown newbie, I quickly absorbed the frustration of many seasoned vendors watching the same few people sell and sell their amateur products, while everyone else was sorely bypassed because it wasn't their ideal target market or they were out of town and unknown to the area. I myself left every afternoon feeling defeated and out of my element, despite the positive feedback I got from the market's browsers and fellow vendors. I knew that I needed a more permanent and specific forum to display my lovingly and originally designed wares, and vowed to include other local crafters so that their businesses could be legitimized and recognized in an actual store as well.

I didn't want it to be just another "Lancaster County Handmade" shop--I wanted it to be an experience for our guests. A calm place where they could feel safe to bring their kids while finding inspiration for their homes with one-of-a-kind pieces for a fraction of the price of the online markets, and an eco-friendly haven that supports the local economy. Being a frazzled mom myself who pines over Pinterest and bemoans the inflated Etsy shipping costs, I have constructed this enterprise with the busy mama in mind so that we wouldn't feel limited to the Target dollar bins in the front of their store (shh, Target, your dollar bins are still my happy place). We even offer healthy snack fuel for both parents and their littles to buy a few extra shopping minutes in peace.

This summer, I am excited to launch our Summer Social Series, which will include twice-a-month eco-friendly kid's craft sessions for only $5.00 (parents/caregivers craft for free), Mom's Brunch Social every Second Saturday (mimosas, pastries and kid-free shopping while mingling and networking with fellow local moms) and our big Grand Opening celebration on Saturday June 3rd from 9 to 5! Come enjoy the sweetest cupcakes and even sweeter discounts as we officially kick off my lifelong dream-come-true. And please stay tuned for upcoming posts with more details about the Summer Social Series AND our Tribe22 subscription boxes!

Thank you for your constant encouragement and support as Designs by Serendipity Mom has started it's growth spurt. I hope you all will make it out the the Pop Up Shop at some point, and please note that we are constantly updating our inventory with the upcoming season's sweetest products!