Baubles & Brews brought women-owned businesses together in Pottsville on Saturday, with 23 vendors at its first fall edition. Candles, pottery, books and skincare filled tables at Arrow Studio & Events.
Organizer Heather Schlein, owner of Lucy & Leigh, gathered entrepreneurs who had supported or inspired her. Nearly all the vendors were women-owned businesses, according to The Republican Herald’s coverage.
Bringing Women-Owned Businesses Together
Schlein launched Lucy & Leigh in 2021 and started the spring Baubles & Blooms market three years ago. The fall event extended that gathering to another season, with vendors connecting with shoppers and one another.
Many participants had helped shape Schlein’s path as an entrepreneur or demonstrated what a small business could become. She described the market as a gathering of people whose work and support mattered to her.
“Honestly, this is just a room full of my favorite people all brought together,” Schlein said.
Vendors greeted one another, caught up with friends and spoke with shoppers throughout the day. Schlein said she hoped visitors would see the power of community, recalling participants hugging one another that morning.
“So many of the women in this room have full-time jobs on top of this,” she said. “They’re doing this in their spare time, creating with their hands, and bringing all this cool stuff together.”
Many businesses at the market operate without traditional storefronts, Schlein said, while owners balance entrepreneurship with their careers. She said many women there have full-time jobs and create their products in their spare time.
The gathering brought women-owned businesses together around those experiences, rather than requiring everyone to follow the same route. Her Forward’s coverage of a Fresno entrepreneurs’ conference offers related reading on business gatherings.
Vendors Describe Different Routes Into Business
Jillia English said ceramics had been part of her life for about 15 years. She started her business about four and a half years ago to make a living doing work she loved.
English wanted that work instead of working for someone else, according to the report. She said running a small business requires hard work and commitment, while describing her enjoyment of making everyday handmade pieces.
Ashley Day, owner of Wallflower Candle Co., turned a hobby during the COVID-19 pandemic into a business. She began making candles about five years ago after struggling to find scents she liked.
Day now focuses on distinctive scents and curated scent profiles, according to the report. She said starting a business takes tenacity and described enjoying support from other female small-business owners.
“I love supporting and being around other female small-business owners,” Day said.
Related Her Forward reporting examines women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh and a gathering spotlighting business owners. Those stories provide other accounts of women building and sharing their businesses.
Soap-Making Connects Chemistry And Product Development
Sarah Barnhart of Green Daisy Soaps began making soap at 14 after borrowing a library book. That interest led toward chemistry and a master’s degree in cosmetic science at the University of Cincinnati.
Barnhart now combines scientific research and product development to create plant-based soaps and skincare products. Her academic work has included terpenes, compounds in essential oils, and their potential relationship with the skin microbiome.
Shoppers at the market could create products at Barnhart’s custom body scrub bar. She described the women-powered event as empowering, particularly against her experience of science as a men-driven world.
“It’s super empowering,” she said. “A lot of the time, especially in science, it’s always kind of a men-driven world. So seeing everything powered by women is awesome.”
Schlein plans to bring women-owned businesses together again at Baubles & Blooms on April 3, 2027. Beyond the markets, she wants women to see possibilities in starting small and supporting one another. “You don’t need a storefront to be successful,” Schlein said. “You just have to start.”
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Baubles & Brews fall market take place?
The market took place at Arrow Studio & Events in Pottsville, with 23 small-business vendors taking part.
Who organized the first fall edition of the market?
Heather Schlein, owner of Lucy & Leigh, organized the market around entrepreneurs who had supported or inspired her.
What products did vendors bring to Baubles & Brews?
The market included candles, pottery, books and skincare, with a custom body scrub bar offered by Green Daisy Soaps.
When is the next Baubles & Blooms event planned?
Schlein has planned the next Baubles & Blooms event for April 3, 2027, continuing the spring market.
