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As a staple downtown Williamsport business, Gustonian Gifts has been a local trend setter and has showcased creative projects often overlooked by living by the motto, "Where Unique Matters" for 18 years.
In 2002, Denyse Miele went on vacation to California with her mom, Barb Miele, and bought a souvenir: a unique license-plate purse of California. She was often asked everywhere she went locally where she had gotten it. This sparked a realization for Denyse: "I could start selling purses here," she said.
Beginning at craft shows selling hand-crafted purses made in Pittsburgh with other items that she and Barb and other family members made, the pair began the early stages of Gustonian Gifts in 2003. Two years later, Gustonian Gifts opened in downtown Williamsport.
With guidance from Denyse's advisor at Pennsylvania College of Technology and through a helpful class at the Small Business Development Center, in Lock Haven, the Mieles felt equipped to transition to the storefront.
"Craft and art shows were a big learning experience for us," Denyse said. "We had a variety of products we sold so we always made enough to at least pay our fees if it was a bad show for us. The big lesson for us was seeing our artist friends who specialized in one product getting passed over if the customer had no interest or need for the product."
Watching people's unique and skilled work go unnoticed steered a certain direction for the store to currently include local to global artists. "We have handcrafted gifts, many one-of-a-kind pieces," Denyse said. "We have price points for any budget."
Over the last 18 years, the Mieles have watched retail shift from in-person to online and the fluctuation between. This has led Gustonian Gifts to continue the in-person shopping experience they're known for, but also to add online shopping.
"People are more apt to buy online," Denyse said. "We have a website, www.gustoniangifts.com. We have a typical ecommerce site where we ship all over, but we have the option where customers can buy online and pick up in-store if they live close."
No matter the retail trend, Denyse stressed the importance of the local community's support in evolving downtown retail.
"We have a beautiful downtown with amazing architecture, restaurants, hotels and Bed and Breakfasts, and shops," Denyse said. "It truly is one-stop shopping, dining, and more just steps from area hotels. Buy local! Supporting small business means you're also supporting your local community. Spending your money there helps stimulate the local economy and keep business booming within your local area. Buying local with us helps small businesses everywhere."
For local businesses, especially those downtown, each has unique perspectives and experience gained on how to improve the area and businesses in it. Gustonian Gifts has seen many eras of downtown commerce and plans to stick around and invest in downtown and its development.
"I'd like to see more events like arts festivals, Sip and Strolls, and an Ice Festival," Denyse said. "I also hope to see slanted parking down Pine Street to bring more people to our town. If we had slanted parking on Pine and Fourth down to Pine and Third, I know our downtown would be even more popular than it already is. This type of parking would allow for people to park right in front of your place of business. This might just give us an extra 20 years in town."