Sustainable shopping at home/closet store Honeyella on William Street
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In 2020, soon-to-be college graduate Lyndsay Miller began her sustainable home and closet store "Honeypot Home," now Honeyella. It began as a way for her to have an income during the COVID-19 shutdown while preventing perfectly usable goods from further polluting landfills.
"100% of the items with a Honeyella tag are thrifted or sourced secondhand," Miller stated. "I've always been determined to keep everything ethically and sustainably sourced rather than just buying from a retailer at a discount price and selling it for more."
While some individuals turn their noses at the idea of rooting through thrift store bins, Miller believed repurposing and representing second-hand items would provide an avenue for consumers trying to shop sustainably.
"I started with just home decor and about a year ago started doing clothing as well, which has now become my main source of income from Honeyella," Miller said. "With a lot of work and money spent, my Instagram grew large enough for me to be confident in opening a brick and mortar downtown after being in business for 3 years online."
Miller opened the brick-and-mortar version of Honeyella on Oct. 6th of 2023 at 416 William St., Williamsport. Inside, she has a wide array of home goods, clothes, and florals to choose from. There are even other small businesses sharing the retail space with Honeyella; "I have brought in a few vendors that are set up around the store that are also ethically sourced or handmade items," Miller said. "Nothing is from a big-name store or retailer... just small businesses like me!"
For Honeyella, it is not just the home goods that are obtained with sustainability in mind. Lyndsay pointed out that "in terms of inventory, there is zero waste happening. When someone orders online, I often try to reuse cardboard boxes before resorting to plastic mailers, and I purchase local for supplies whenever I can," Miller said. On top of materials, an array of Honeyella's dried florals are collected locally, "some kinds like straw flower and Celosia are even from my Mom's flower farm, Deeply Rooted Flowers in Jersey Shore, Pa!"
"I'm so excited to enter my fourth year of business," Miller said when asked about her goals in 2024. "I want to continue to grow my social media accounts to help people find their own unique style."
If outside of downtown Williamsport, you can find Honeyella online at myhoneyella.com or find Lyndsay Miller at pop-up events and markets in the Lewisburg, Bellefonte and Lancaster areas.