In the Lehigh Valley, small businesses are the norm. According to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, the average business size in the Lehigh Valley is 18 employees. This means that the Lehigh Valley has become known as a great place for entrepreneurs to come and put their dreams into action by starting their own businesses, despite the rough economic times.
One of these businesses is Loose Threads Boutique, which opened in May 2009 by co-owners Laura Jasorka and Helene Perucci. Loose Threads specializes in women’s clothing, shoes and accessories, and the owners hand-pick each item from local designers and fair trade companies.
Jasorka said the main reason why they decided to start their business in the Lehigh Valley was because of Perucci. Perucci attended Lehigh University and thought there was a need for a boutique in the area.
“We’re both really creative people – I’m in the jewelry design business and she was a manager at many different stores and stuff and was a part of fashion for a long time, so we just thought we’d go for it,” Jasorka said.
She also said they tailor their image and attitude towards the consumers they most often sell to. “There are a lot of universities,” she said. “We definitely have a very young and fun look for us here, so that was really what we were going for.”
Jasorka said that there are a ton of areas of the Lehigh Valley that offer great prospects for entrepreneurs. “I feel like Easton, Allentown, Emmaus, all these different little areas of the Lehigh valley – there’s so many different things going on and people and opportunities for small businesses to thrive as part of the area,” she said. “The Lehigh valley is a really good hub, I think, for small business owners.”
Jasorka said that not only has Loose Threads been successful, but it’s been growing and adapting to the changing Lehigh Valley market. “We’ve expanded our business plan into not just catering to that college girl,” she said. “It’s more now towards anywhere from 18 to 45, which is a huge range, but we kind of try to tackle everybody. We like to shop for women in general.”
Overall, Jasorka is optimistic about the future success of Loose Threads Boutique. “I don’t think we’re going anywhere, so that’s a good thing in this economy and this time of year,” she said. “You know, it’s been though for a lot of people and we’ve just been doing better and better. We think we’ll be around for awhile, and I guess that means we’re successful.”
Another small local business in the Lehigh Valley is Tallarico’s Chocolates, owned by Brian Tallarico. Located at 26 E. Third Street in Bethlehem, this company began by a passion that Brian had to venture into the business of selling chocolates locally.
“Brian has pulled together many of his life experiences for this endeavor. Everything from growing up in family kitchens and living in Tuscany, getting a fine arts degree, and raising three children,” boasts the Tallarico’s Chocolate website.
Tallarico explained in our interview that his business is a seasonal one, and so it is tough in that sense to keep this type of company constantly profitable, since business booms only during several periods a year. Some of these times are Valentine’s Day, Easter and Christmas.
Yet even though his is a seasonal company, he is still optimistic about future entrepreneurs looking to open their own business in the Lehigh Valley. He prides his business on being a very family oriented environment, and feels that Bethlehem caters to exactly that kind of company.
Ultimately, Tallarico thinks that, “Regardless of the economic situation in the Lehigh Valley, people are looking for an affordable luxury. They turn to chocolate for comfort, and to make themselves feel better.” In his opinion, this chocolate business that he began in November 2004 won’t be going anywhere with such a desirable product to offer.
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