Meet the Makers
One of my favorite parts about opening our gift shop in 2018 was being able to connect with so many amazing small businesses.
it was important to me to bring in not only unique items, but also to bring handmade items. i felt avon lacked a shop that offered a perfect gift for everyone in your life. i personally love to purchase unique gifts for my friends & family, I try to find gifts that you can’t just find in a big box store. i often wound up on etsy shopping for that perfect gift.
When we first opened our doors, we started with 15 makers. I brought in a couple local businesses that i loved, as well as some businesses that I had found while shopping for gifts for friends & family! after i realized that other people felt the same way i did, we quickly expanded. in the past 3 years, we have grown to having over 100 small businesses in our shop!
it was extremely important to me that each business owner was showcased in the shop, as often times people forget that there is a face behind every small business. that is how the “Meet the Maker” frame came to be! If you have been in our gift shop before, you know that we have little frames scattered around the store that tell the store of how or why the business was created.
when we created our new website this past november, i knew i wanted to have a page dedicated to the small businesses in our gift shop! while the list would be a mile long if i introduced you to every maker in our store, i figured i would at least introduce you to some of my most favorite makers! I hope you enjoy getting to know them just as much as i have!
I’m Stephanie, the owner, maker, and creative force behind Another Lonely Day Handcraft + Co, an artisanal candle and home goods company based in Rochester, New York.
Another Lonely Day is a relatively small operation, run by me. Each candle is designed, tested, and hand-poured in small batches in my home studio.
My background is in marketing, graphic design, social media management - basically all things creative. I live with my husband, our three dogs, and two cats in Rochester, New York. Some call it Western New York, some call it Upstate, we lovingly call it home.
My goal is simple: to create natural, high-quality, luxurious candles and other handcrafted products and share them with you. We are living in stressful times and it is essential we take time to recharge so that we may rise to fight another day. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and these days simple luxuries are what it’s all about.
Hi! My name is Elizabeth Woods, owner and creator of Boho Dangles.
I have been artistic and crafty all my life and making beautiful jewelry just came naturally to me. It has become a passion for me to create each piece as uniquely as possible.
When I am creating a piece I find calmness in my crazy life as a mother of three beautifully wild children. I draw inspiration for my pieces from simplicity, nature and the unusual. My style ranges from bohemian to modern elegance.
I hope you enjoy wearing my pieces as much as I enjoyed creating them!
Hi i’m laura, and i am proud to make and market all-natural oven-baked dog treats.
Our philosophy is simple: the best and safest ingredients for our friends.
We use all natural ingredients; never any by-products, artificial preservatives, or flavors.
Our ingredients are delivered by fine restaurant suppliers who typically scratch their heads when we tell them their high-quality ingredients are going into dog treats!
All ingredients are US sourced and our treats are made in our own bakery.
We mix, bake, package and ship from our own facility in rochester, ny!
My name is Damon Robertson, owner and operator at Dragonfly!
I discovered the art of making jam when i was working in the kitchen at lombardi’s dairy as a teenager. These fruity delicacies were for the family’s diner! Being a creative individual and developing an early love of cooking from a family of chefs, I immediately took to the “Jam Pot!” After only 3 years of working at Lombardi’s Dairy I started crafting my own delicious recipes.
My greatest reward has been putting a smile on the faces of the many folks I have met from show to show! The look of joy and excitement on those faces after sampling my jam is what makes me so proud!
Dragonfly Jams & Jellies prides itself on bringing you the finest Heritage fruits from our Niagara County Farmer! All of my jams and jellies are produced in small batches, the majority from hand cut fruit! My pursuit of perfection and labor of love is reflected in every jar!
HI I am jody, owner & roastmaster at evening star coffee!
Roasting coffee is an art-form requiring skill, dedication, and attention to detail. I personally dedicate my time to perfecting roasts weekly for Evening Star Coffee Roasters. This gives me the confidence that the quality of our coffee will be exceptional.
Our name was inspired by a wonderful stray cat named “Star.” One cold winter day in 2001, Star showed up on my porch hungry and cold so I fed him and invited him into my home. It took a few days to earn his trust, but soon after he took ownership of my home. After a few weeks of calling him “buddy”, I decided he needed a name of his own.
Deciding on a name was difficult until the day he laid on his back and stretched out from head to toe while he looked up at the sky in wonder. It was almost as if he was reaching for the stars. Immediately after he did this I named him “Star.”
I’m Logan! Owner of From the Ferns.
I create handmade polymer clay jewelry and other designs locally here in Rochester NY! This journey began for me in 2020 during our shutdown and quarantine. I wanted to continue creating while I couldn’t do photography, thus From the Ferns was born!
My work is heavily inspired by the nature and bohemian elements. I love playing with colors and am always down to customize any piece that catches your eye.
Creating my jewelry truly brings me so much joy and comfort, I hope wearing my pieces does the same for you as well!
Cheers!
I spent most sunday’s at Grandpa Pete’s house. At first, all I knew was that my large Italian family met on Sundays and shared this meal together. I didn’t realize how spoiled I was to be around all of these people and to be feasting on this delicious, home grown sauce. All I knew was how much I loved this time on Sundays.
When I was in my early twenty’s, I decided to ask my Grandpa if he would show me how to make the sauce. I didn’t quite realize how rich of a family tradition I had just tapped into. The sauce was a family recipe that dated back to at least 1930. Grandpa was so happy I had asked. No one had ever asked him before. He always thought the recipe would die with him.
Grandpa Pete took me under his wing and my first lesson was in the tomato fields. The rest is history…
As with many handmade companies, Happy Little Flame was born in our kitchen. We love burning candles in our home, so our goal was to create a cleaner, healthier option after discovering how toxic regular candles can be. That’s why we source out the cleanest ingredients for our products to ensure they are non-toxic and free of things like dyes, additives, stabilizers, and phthalates.
When we first began making candles, we knew that we could easily duplicate what was already on the market – but we didn’t want to. We wanted to offer something different to our customers. Something healthier. Something honest. Something better.
Many of our customers ask why we don’t make our candles with essential oils. While this was originally our plan (and we had a very hard time letting it go), during our extensive research we found that essential oils should never be used in candles. In fact, essential oils should not be heated at all as heat and sunlight can change the chemical composition of the oils. Not only can they become toxic, but they lose their beneficial health properties. So what’s the alternative? Using superior quality, phthalate free fragrance oils infused with essential oils that are designed for candles and SAFE to burn!
We spent eight long months sourcing the cleanest ingredients we could find, experimenting, testing, and refining our recipe. We knew we couldn’t rush the process – we had to get it just right. For our customers, and our own family. All of our products are hand poured in small batches, and then cured for a minimum of two weeks to ensure quality, consistency, and top-notch fragrance.
Hello ! My name is Jackie and I am the owner/creator of JC Designs.
I am a stay at home mom of 3 crazy boys , and I make wood signs.
I started JC Designs in April 2020. NY was just getting shut down/quarantined due to COVID and I just recently had my 3rd and final baby in January. I decided I needed a hobby that I could have just for myself (as if that’s a thing with 3 kids haha).
I have always had a passion for all things home décor and crafting, so I decided to make my own wood signs and door hangers. However, I started to run out of space in my own home for all of them, which is when I decided to start my business with the help of my obnoxiously handy husband and create signs that others could enjoy in their homes as much as I do mine.
Hi there! We’re Haley and Mike, and if you’ve been following Geek Chic you may recognize that little cutie as Peter! We are the owners, creators, and designers of Just Speechie Crafts.
Haley started the business in 2019 when saving for our house, and Mike has been along for the ride ever since! Even Peter likes to pitch in as our sweet (and a little sassy) assistant!
Haley is a speech therapist by day, which is where "Just Speechie" got its name. She graduated from Nazareth with a minor in studio art, and does the drawing and designing for the business, as well as making the items themselves. Mike is a technical writer by day. He helps organize, plan, and create products for our business. Many of our most popular products started as jokes and gifts with Mike and his friends!
The business has grown so much since those first days crafting in a tiny apartment, and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped support us! These days, we aren't saving for a house anymore. Instead, we are working towards our wedding this summer, and we are so grateful for all the support we've received!
My name is Carrie and I can barely draw a stick figure.
Honestly. But during the COVID-19 world pandemic, I discovered that holding a paint brush felt good. Really good. I was able to switch my focus and tune out all the sadness and worry.
I jumped in with my paint, my daughter's Crayola paint brushes, and fired up YouTube. Watching the greats, such as Bob Ross, I studied as many tutorials as I could, upgraded my quality of supplies and I am learning as I go. And loving every moment.
Painting has become therapy for me. It brings calmness, joy, and lights a fire within me. Each piece is created with love, positive energy, and the hope that it means something special to you too.
hi I am Natalie, founder of Natalie Rae New York based in upstate New York!
It all began during my journey through Southeast Asia, I landed in Vietnam and immediately felt a connection. I trekked through the mountains and met many Hmong women along the way. They were all similarly dressed in mesmerizing vibrant clothing. Once I learned that the clothing were all handmade by the women I became fascinated with the trade and inspired by their skill and hard work.
Handmade. Organic. Sustainable. Durable. Vibrant. Fashionable. I was hooked on the undeniably unique outfits, the hard work, and the centuries old techniques used to create them!
As my travels continued, I could not stop thinking about Vietnam. I flew back to Hanoi and traveled back to the villages in the northern mountains. I stayed with a Black Hmong family in their village. The family was very kind and despite the language barrier taught me the textile trade: hemp cultivation, batik making, cross stitch, indigo dying, and fabric trading. Over time the idea of sharing this unique art with the world manifested. I soon started working with a woman named Lan, my now translator, and six other Hmong women. Together we have created Natalie Rae New York.
The materials we use are naturally cultivated and handmade using traditional methods. These materials are sourced from predominantly the Hmong and Dzao ethnic groups of Northern Vietnam. We visit the small hamlets and villages of these rural areas to insure we are buying authentic materials. Buying in this way we can also be sure the full and fair price is going directly to the producer and back in to these impoverished communities.
HI I am nat, owner & founder of nat’s nuts!
I was born and raised in Oswego, NY where i developed a ridiculous obsession for cinnamon roasted nuts. i love to cook, travel, and do anything and everything outside with my wife, Giselle.
Nat's Nuts began as a fundraiser for a mission trip to Guatemala with Fuego Coffee Roasters and the Roberts Wesleyan College Enactus team. We traveled to Huehuetenango, Guatemala to open a coffee shop that would employ Guatemalan orphans and young mothers.
Nat's Nuts was established in 2015 as a gourmet nut roasting business. We have stuck to our roots and continue to slow-roast every batch of nuts by hand to ensure consistency and quality. We believe in using only real ingredients, which means you'll know exactly what goes into every bag of nuts. Everyone can enjoy our nuts as they are gluten free, dairy free, and completely vegan! Grab some today!
Hi! I am riley, owner & creator of rileyacrochet!
I am a mom to 2 amazing children, and engaged to the love of my life. Being a mom is the fuel that ignited my inspiration for RileyACrochet and helped shape it to be what it has become. I enjoy making bright and colorful items for not only children, but adults as well!
I love being able to take my passion of crochet and turn it into something that others can enjoy too!
Hi, I'm Tina Clark, the founder of Sweet & Cute Sweets, a name inspired by my daughter and my love of making sweets.
I had always loved to bake and to see the happiness created by a sweet treat, so I started selling treats as a hobby while at my corporate marketing job. As I explored ideas, I came across Coffee Syrup that combined two of my favorite things - coffee and sugar.
I developed and perfected my own recipe and as I sampled it at events, I knew I had something special. That provided the final motivation for me leave Corporate America and follow my dream of starting my own biz.
Fun Fact about myself: I learned many interesting animal facts while a docent at the Seneca Park Zoo for 7 years.
Hi! We're David and Libby, otherwise known as the father and daughter dynamic duo making up Syracuse Salt Company.
Growing up, Libby could often be found in the kitchen with David cooking or baking, though unfortunately without much success. Libby did not inherit David's talent for creating something out of nothing, but did often enjoy the fruits of his labor.
This skill of David's evolved into a passion for trying out new flavors and unconventional dishes. He quickly realized that the secret to this type of experimentation could be found in different variations of salt - be they finishing salts, Himalayan salts, or varying types of flake and sea salts.
After reading up on the history of salt and conducting fairly extensive research on the subject, he began sampling various exotic flavors and recruited Libby into trying new dishes. However, they both felt that there was a wider audience to be reached with this fairly well-kept secret. Thus, Syracuse Salt Company was born.
Hi, we're Beth & Jill... sisters & co-owners of The Cozy Corner Roc!
We hand-make each of our Cozys, which are soft fabric bags filled with, you guessed it, corn kernels (we promise they don't pop)! When heated up, cozys provide warmth and relief for sore muscles, headaches, cramps, etc.
We grew up in Avon, NY making cozys with our mom & grandma, but we didn't realize what a hidden gem they were until recently, when we started making them & giving them to friends as gifts. Most people had never heard of them, and quickly became obsessed.
So what started as a fun hobby in the middle of a pandemic, quickly grew into a "sisiness" (sister business!), and we've never looked back. We love getting to share a little cozy with all of you!
The General's Hot Sauce was conceived by a group of Veterans at a tailgater during the 2012 Army-Navy football game.
Inspired by a close friend who actually serves as a general in the military and loves to make wings for his friends and family, the company launched with a simple mission:
- Honor The General by producing the highest quality American-made, all-natural, gourmet hot sauce possible, using the very best ingredients, and borrowing tactics from the bourbon and wine industries. - Support the American farmer by growing all our peppers in the U.S. We think you should be able to trace every pepper back to the acre of land where it was grown, and we can do just that.
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As a Veteran-owned company, serve the greater good by creating jobs for Veterans, and by donating a meaningful percentage of our profits back to organizations that support our troops, Veterans, and their families.
- Build an honorable company that we can all be proud of, and have as much fun as humanly possible as we do it. For us, it's not a race to be the biggest, nor will we cut corners to be the cheapest. We'd much rather focus on making great sauces from American-grown peppers.
If you're looking for cheaply priced products that are loaded with chemicals, we are definitely the wrong company for you. But if you care about all-natural products made by an organization that is committed to goals that extend far beyond just maximizing profits, then you're in exactly the right place.
Fun Fact: Dan Ballister of The General’s Hot sauce is actually from Henrietta, NY!
Hey Y'all, I am Amanda, the creator of Y'ALL Designs.
I have always enjoyed "playing" with colors and patterns. As a kid, my Grandma and I would experiment with fabrics, elements from nature, and other textiles. This ignited creativity and desire to take risks with textures.
And then in 2018 , I fell in love with leather earrings. The down to earth look, the durability, and the LIGHTWEIGHT nature of them spurred an addiction. I longed to get back into my textile play, and was seeking an opportunity to be creative. This is what gave birth to Y'ALL Earrings!
I love that I can create unique, gallery type pieces that are reasonably priced and accessible for all! Y'ALL Earrings has something to accessorize any look, from formal, to casual. I want you to feel LOVEly everyday, without breaking the bank!
Y'ALL Earrings are 100% handmade by me: a Once Upon a Time Texan living in NY. You may notice nods to Texas in my styles. product names and descriptions.
Because this all started with me just "playing" with colors and designs, you'll notice that MOST of my pieces are very limited in quantity. When you purchase a Y'ALL piece, you're wearing something special, that isn't mass produced.
Hi there i am ashley, owner & founder of zeep!
So if you're here, I bet you're wondering what is Zeep? (Literally, like, what the heck does that mean and how do you even say it??) Zeep means "soap" in Dutch and is pronounced Z-ay-p (like Say-p but with a Z). The name came about when I met this Dutch guy (now known as the spousal unit) when I was interviewing for Physician Assistant school.
I have always been artsy crafty and loved making things, and somehow stumbled upon soap making while in school. I began to perfect my recipes and once I did so, I began doing craft fairs and markets to help pay my way through medical school. Soon, my love for scents and fragrances evolved into all types of bath and body products and wax melts!
all of my products are handmade in small batches using the best ingredients available. I use only natural butters and oils, custom wax blend and fragrances free of harmful chemicals, vegan and cruelty free ingredients
Since I am obviously into being healthy by profession (blah, blah, blah, go workout) I always strive to use minimal ingredients of the highest quality with maximal benefits.