Customer demand propelled Byers Botanicals toward a permanent storefront
“Over the last year we went to so many vendor shows—probably 60 or 70 last year alone,” Logan Byers, owner of Byers Botanicals said. “As I’ve gotten to know clients and listened to their feedback, I found that they all want to be able to shop from me more consistently.”
Logan’s large selection of plants and the know-how to keep them thriving are unique and valuable, especially in the Somerset area. So, after thinking about it over the winter, she said, “things began to fall into place.”
“The timing felt right,” she said. “In addition to knowing customers were on-board, my friend Alex purchased a building downtown, which is where I’ll be located.”
Her journey has included help from local resources including Somerset County’s Startup Alleghenies Coach Matt Reckner, Regina Coughenour from Somerset Inc., JARI, and the Penn State Law Clinic.
“Seeing Logan move into a storefront has been surreal,” said Regina. “From meeting her at our festivals then recruiting her to the SoCo Farmers Market and now seeing her business as a funded rent abatement grant business in a newly renovated storefront that’s been revived in part by grant programs—she is the epitome of a startup who utilized every resource to elevate her business and dreams and we couldn’t be more honored to be a part of that process. We can’t wait to watch her business continue to grow.”
Jeff Boldizar from the Saint Francis SBDC agreed, “Logan is very dedicated to the business. She has developed a local market and is always looking for ways to improve and expand the offerings of her business.”
Logan said she plans to create a more one-on-one experience for customers in the new space, helping them to choose the right plans and educating them on how to best care for them, “turning them into green thumbs.”
She will also have a consignment area where other local vendors can share and sell their products. “I really want the space to help support other small, local businesses,” she said. These vendors will also be invited to take part in parties and workshops that Logan will offer, which she hopes will be fun and also show the community what it takes to be a successful artisan and business owner.
“For example, we’ll invite people to make a candle or crochet their own plant holder. In addition to learning and having fun, they’ll be able to see how much goes into the process,” she said. Logan plans to host parties and workshops creating terrariums and moss art, and painting and planting.
“These events are perfect for friends and families, co-workers and other small groups,” she said. She’s also hoping to expand into things like kids birthday parties making fairy gardens or dinosaur-themed terrariums. “I want it to become a gathering place as much as a store.”
A terrarium party (Sunday, April 21, 2 PM) will be part of her grand opening weekend April 19-21, in honor of Earth Day on April 22.
Byers Botanicals will open at 152 West Main Street in Somerset. The business is also part of the Alleghenies Marketplace.
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