Gifts That Give: A Little Bird Gives Back
By Christopher Miller
For over a year a small business in downtown Lock Haven has not only been growing, but giving back.
“Our business model is based on giving back,” said co-owner/operator Tina Newberry of A Little Bird. “We sell gifts that give and everything that we sell meets a set of core values that we established when we started the business.”
Those core values consist of supporting small local artisans, products that come from woman-owned businesses, products that are eco-friendly, and products that come from makers who also support charitable causes.
Co-owner/operator Lisa Henderson added, “customers have the option to round-up their change of which the remainder is then donated to a cause of the month, which was the Veterans Multi-Service Center for the month of November.” “We are also a collection site for ink cartridges for Roads to Peace, also known as the Clinton County Women’s Center,” she added.
Rounding up change is not the only way the store gives back. “We also fundraise for charitable causes through events,” Tina said. “We participate in Greyson’s Grand Adventure, an organization based out of Centre Hall, to raise awareness for Angelman Syndrome which is a genetic disorder that causes delayed development, problems with speech and balance, intellectual disability, and sometimes, seizures…and also a purse sale where proceeds go to Tucker’s Teddies every February, which supplies teddy bears to families that have lost a child so they do not have to walk out of the hospital empty handed, smaller bears for children being treated for in-patient procedures, and by delivering craft materials, memory making kits and holiday decorations to those being treated at various hospitals.”
Tina and Lisa estimate that about $75-100 is accumulated monthly in rounded-up change alone. “Very small amounts add up to make a great big difference,” said Tina.
The store itself has a little something for everyone, which is evident walking around the showroom floor on East Main Street in the old Penny Lane building. From women’s clothes, to items for men, children, pets, bath and body, home decoration, seasonal items, jewelry, coffee and tea, and baking, it is a very unique shopping experience.
Loyalty points are calculated based on dollar amounts spent in store with customers being able to redeem a coupon for 15% off when 50 points are reached, and 25% off when 100 points are reached. “You get 5 points for every dollar spent,” said Lisa. “Extra points can also be awarded through signing up for email marketing, listening-in on our Facebook Live presentations when we announce promotions such as double-points days!”
All of the business and promotion does not go anywhere if you aren’t passionate about what you do. For Lisa and Tina, they knew all along that they wanted to go into business together.
Tina and Lisa have been friends since just about birth. “Our moms met when we were only a year old,” said Tina. “They are still friends today, Lisa and I are friends today, and our kids are friends today,” which equates to 3 generations of friends and family. Lisa, who moved around a lot due to her father being a minister, eventually made her way back to Clinton County where she and Tina decided to start this business. Tina also has a degree in Sociology while Lisa has a degree in Vascular Ultrasound.
Tina and Lisa have great hopes for the future of their business including the idea of franchising for women who can own their own small business in their communities and give back. “Local businesses are your friends – you see them (customers and business owners) all the time,” said Tina. Lisa reiterated, “a goal is to become a non-profit organization and continue to raise money and have bigger involvement to help do good things.”
Charities and organizations that do good are key for Tina and Lisa. “For me, a charity near-and-dear to my heart is the Jana Marie Foundation in State College which works to known-down walls and transform emotional distress into resilience and hope,” said Tina. For Lisa, it involves being a survivor of domestic violence. “When I was younger, I did not feel like I had support or confidence to get help…I was in a bad relationship in high school and it affected my life in a lot of ways; it is important to not just help the survivor/victim, but also the person doing the abuse.” “Roads to Peace raises awareness of domestic violence and helps those people in need who seek assistance.” As well, Lisa added, “a product we sell, Bitchstix, gives back to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.”
As for the birds in “A Little Bird,” their names are Sally and Burt and if you caught it, yes – Smokey and the Bandit are where the names come from. Burt is blue and Sally is yellow.
Normal Hours:
Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm
Saturday – 10am to 3pm
Holiday Hours:
Starting November 27
Monday – Friday 10am to 6pm
Saturday 10am to 5pm
atalittlebird@gmail.com
Facebook: @alittlebirddesigns
Instagram: alittlebirddesigns
