All Things Kind Market hosts grand opening
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Lock Haven Express
BELLEFONTE -- All Things Kind Market is Centre County's first one-stop, 100% zero waste, sustainable home goods market and refillery bar.
Shop owner Jaimie Holsinger has dreamed of opening a sustainable store like this since she was in college. Her family has a history of small businesses in the area.
Her ancestors opened the first shoe repair shop around the corner from her current building, and her dad has owned his business, Holsinger's Automotive Repair, for almost 20 years.
"The entrepreneurial spirit runs in my family," said Holsinger. "It was really heavy on my heart that I wanted to give back to the community in a way that is educational and guiding. We're all learning this movement together. It is a learning curve, but I'm here to help bridge the gap."
With numerous products to choose from in the shop, ranging from soaps and shampoos to sustainable kitchenware, All Things Kind Market has something for everyone who already is in the sustainable movement and has the supplies to get interested parties started.
"The market is very experience-based," explained Holsinger. "Everyday items you use -- dish soap, hand soap, laundry soap, body wash -- all of that is refillable. That's the experience part, being able to pick out what you want to use and to know what you're using on your body and dishes."
Holsinger has been researching each product in her collection for a long time, and they're a carefully curated selection. Everything you can think of in your life, Holsinger says she probably has a sustainable alternative.
"Most of the makers are women-owned businesses in the U.S. that you can't find on Amazon. They're very carefully sourced products," said Holsinger.
During their opening day on Saturday, Holsinger says they had a huge crowd and sold out of a lot of products. Holsinger said she tripled what she'd expected the turnout to be.
"I felt so humbled and supported by the community. I had people from Dubois, Mifflinburg, Williamsport and Johnstown come on Saturday... It just goes to show, too, women support women. So many women-owned businesses in Bellefonte, Williamsport, Lock Haven and State College came to celebrate with me," said Holsinger.
One of their product features is a refill station. You can either purchase a vessel from the shop when you arrive, or you can bring your own. You bring the container to the register before you fill it up so that Holsinger can tare it -- meaning the ounces the container weighs will be deducted from the price, so you're only paying for the product itself.
They have many different products to choose from that can be refilled that way, hand soap, dish soap, laundry soap, body wash, dishwasher powder and fabric softener. The products are all free of microplastic and harsh chemicals -- for example, the dish detergent will not only clean your dishes, but it will also clean your dishwasher and not leave behind any residues.
"It's very gentle. They're more concentrated because it's not watered down. You only need a little bit," said Holsinger.
Sarah Smeltz, Holsinger's best friend since sixth grade, is also a big helper at the shop. She got involved with the business as Holsinger's dream was lining up. She helps out part-time at the shop.
"Anyone -- it doesn't matter who you are -- you can easily swap out one of your day-to-day items with something that is here. Personally, my boyfriend and I are making the transition, we got rid of paper towels. I took them to my local SPCA," said Smeltz, "There's going to be a transition for the average person who wants to go through this lifestyle change, but it is so much better for you and the planet."
"It's for anyone of any type of income, too," added Holsinger, "(Our prices) are very comparable to Wegman's or Weis."
A lot of their products have the potential to be popular with the average camper -- or as Sarah calls them, the "Appalachian Audience."
"This is going to be a really important location for outdoor people and hikers. The toothpaste tabs, the mouthwash tabs -- it's going to make outdoor living so much easier," said Smeltz.
Holsinger had numerous customers on her first day open since her grand opening, one of which was her grandmother.
Bonnie "Mimi" Stauffer was very excited to be supporting her granddaughter's business, "I am happy to see something come into town that is sustainable. We're always throwing everything away with everything ending up in the ocean -- I'm proud that's the direction she's taken. I expect good things. I'm proud of the product. It's not just kind, it's caring."
They also plan on getting involved in some farmer's markets as well as pop-ups. Information on which farmer's markets they'll be attending will be posted to their social media accounts.
The shop is located at 136 W. High St., Bellefonte. The hours have the potential to change as the mission grows, but at the moment the shop is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
For more information and to keep up to date with All Things Kind Market you can follow them on instagram @atkmarket_