Find the perfect gifts in the PA Wilds
- by LaKeshia Knarr
- November 13, 2020
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Despite all the ups and downs of 2020, time marches on. And, suddenly, holiday shopping season is here!
Whether you’ve already begun shopping or you’re just getting started, you can easily make an impression on a loved one with a special gift while also making an impact on rural small businesses by shopping local in the PA Wilds.
Handmade jewelry and wares, commemorative items, unique experiences, and more — there are gifts suited to all tastes and interests that also reflect our region’s beauty, bounty and rural traditions. Not only that, but supporting PA Wilds artisans and retailers has a ripple effect on our area economy. While strengthening your local economy, you also can save money by not paying for shipping and help the environment by reducing transportation of goods.
You can experience the PA Wilds in full by shopping in communities throughout the landscape, or find ways to connect with and support regional businesses online.
Here are some easy ways to find #PAWildsMade products, services and experiences:
PA Wilds Conservation Shops
PA Wilds Conservation Shops are retail locations tied to public lands of the Pennsylvania Wilds and managed by the PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. The primary supply line for the Conservation Shops is the Wilds Cooperative of PA. Shop on link (see previous link) or visit one of two physical shop locations:
- Kinzua Bridge State Park, 296 Viaduct Rd, Mt Jewett, PA 16740
- Lycoming County Visitors Bureau, 102 W 4th St, Williamsport, PA 17701
Wilds Cooperative of PA
Over 350 artisans, small businesses, nonprofits and agencies are members of the Wilds Cooperative of Pennsylvania network. These small businesses and organizations are all located in the PA Wilds, a 13 county region of north central and north western Pennsylvania. These artisans and creative entrepreneurs from the PA Wilds offer products and experiences that reflect our region’s beauty, bounty and rural traditions. Here are some ways you can connect with them!
- PA Wilds Buyer’s Guide – a free, downloadable resource listing professional juried creative makers and retailers, as well as information on sourcing PA Wilds branded products
- WCO Member Directory – searchable listings of Wilds Cooperative of PA members (includes map!). Simply pick whether you want to explore Creative Makers (things to buy) or Experience Makers (things to do).
- WCO Members’ Deals – see deals and discounts being offered on WCO members’ products or services
Shopping in the PA Wilds
Explore the idyllic communities dotting the landscape of the PA Wilds while shopping this holiday season. (Just be sure to check store hours ahead of time and to also take your mask.) The quaint downtowns of the region offer plenty of options from which shoppers may choose. Learn more about shopping in the Pennsylvania Wilds here:
While Saturday, November 28 is the official “Small Business Saturday,” designed to encourage people to shop in downtown centers, you can shop small every day in the PA Wilds.
