By Christopher Holland • The Current Contributing Writer
As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the US economy, small business owners nationwide are struggling to stay afloat. There’s been a lack of government assistance and many state mandated restrictions, resulting in all too many stores taking down signs and hanging up the keys, either indefinitely or permanently.
Although, some areas and regions have been more fortunate than others, the Downtown Jim Thorpe business district has been one of the lucky ones.
“Thankfully, all of the small businesses in the historic district of Jim Thorpe have survived the COVID crisis,” said Jennifer Christman, a local entrepreneur who owns several businesses in the area.
Owner of Mauch Chunk Events (with partner Aki Susko), Tall Pines Creative Designs and Breezy Hills Farm, Christman was not only able to keep her businesses above water, but even went so far as to open another.
Christman partnered with Marianne Rustad, owner of Conjured Soap Boutique, to open Trend & Source Marketplace, a small retail shop that currently features about 20 different local artisans and makers, with more being added.
Rustad has worked hard for many years building her customer base and product line. However, owning a retail shop in addition to manufacturing her own product became a daunting task. She recently decided to concentrate on her wholesale clientele – creating bath and body products on a much larger scale.
While she still needed her manufacturing space in the rear of the shop, the front would remain unused. That is, until she and Christman came to an epiphany. Christman was in the process of developing a new retail shop and needed a small location.
Within a little over a week, the retail area of Conjured was transformed into Trend & Source Marketplace, which opened its doors October 1.
“About 80 percent of the products are locally sourced – within roughly a 30 minute drive of Jim Thorpe,” Christman said. “The remainder of what I source are Pennsylvania or US based businesses, with a focus on women-owned, hand-made small businesses.”
While the shop is modest in square footage, it is tastefully arranged with pottery, jewelry, candles, paper and fiber arts, stained glass, hand-forged items, wood bowls and a nice selection of other hand-made creations. Much of what’s in store is one-of-a-kind, and therefore the shop is never the same place twice.
Christman said that visitors seem to be her biggest clients, but she’s hoping locals will soon see her shop as a great place to support other local artisans and makers.
She said that she hopes to soon add online e-commerce shopping so that people have the opportunity to purchase products without stepping foot in the shop.
And she’s been getting great feedback from those who’ve visited thus far.
“While I have only been open for about a month, the “regular” visitors of Jim Thorpe have been extremely forthright with their opinions,” Christman said.
“I often hear “This is the shop that Jim Thorpe has needed for many years” and “Wow! Where has this shop been?” she said.
She said that her eventual goal is to expand into a larger space and/or additional location(s).
“I would like to continue to expand my offerings by increasing the amount of artists and makers,” she said.
One of Christman’s favorite things about owning businesses in the historic downtown is being able to provide an atmosphere that is very friendly and unpretentious.
“I love to engage with anyone who steps foot inside, learning where they are from, if they are on a day trip (or staying several days), recommending places to shop, see, eat and drink,” she said.
And Christman is no stranger to Jim Thorpe.
She’s been a member of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, including being treasurer and president, and has been heavily involved with the town since 2015.
“I’ve owned two vacation rentals and managed up to three additional,” she said. “I also have planned numerous festivals and events in town, most recently under the business Mauch Chunk Events in which my business partner is long-time town resident Aki Susko,” she said.
While she currently operates Trend & Source Marketplace on her own, she plans to potentially add up to two additional staff members in the future.
The current business hours are:
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday: 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Jen’s vision is to support the local creative community, and complement the many other small businesses in downtown Jim Thorpe.
“Chatting with the customers who come in – whether they buy anything or not… I like seeing what excites them,” she said.
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