Lostetter Designs Artisan Market features a dizzying array of unique, handmade items from local artisans. Photo courtesy of Lostetter Designs Artisan Market
AKRON — When Allen Lostetter started looking for a brick-and-mortar store for his artisan woodworking business, he looked for things he liked at other stores. More importantly though, Lostetter said he also looked for what he did not like.
“What we emphasize here is that we want all our artisans to be successful,” he said of the recently opened Lostetter Designs Artisan Market at 3290 S. Main St. “That is what is different about it. Vendors are like family; they are not competition to us. They get to know each other’s products to the point where they help each other out.”
Lostetter said he began woodworking with his grandfather as a child before going into the home remodeling business with his father. Lostetter Designs began as a business making wooden outdoor furniture, carved signs and American flags.
“We started four years ago making folding picnic tables,” Lostetter said. “Four years later we were in a few stores and wanted to open our own.”
The new business also kept Lostetter on the road nine months of the year, attending craft shows from Ohio to Florida. Meanwhile, the limited and largely seasonal product line made opening a store challenging — until he hit upon the idea of a year-round, multi-artisan market.
The 3,000-square-foot Lostetter Designs Artisan Market currently has 60 vendors with room for up to 100, Lostetter said. The store is open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Having officially opened Nov. 1, Lostetter Designs and Artisan Market will hold a grand-opening celebration Dec. 1-3 with free hot dogs and pop and a variety of specials from all vendors.
Lostetter said his products include the aforementioned furniture and wooden signs and flags, as well as wooden board games, ornaments and stainless-steel tumblers and drinkware that can be custom engraved with texts, logos or custom laser photo engraving.
By far the most popular Lostetter items are its wide variety of custom wooden flags and American flag “concealment boxes,” which are used for hiding and protecting valuables or items that need to be quickly accessed. Lostetter said the cost of the flags and concealment boxes start at $75 and $175 respectively, with virtually limitless customization options — from dates and insignia of military or public safety service, to laser photo printing.
Lostetter said he opened the market to give customers an opportunity to buy local handmade products not found in big box stores. He said the variety of items available is mind-boggling.
“We have three or four vendors that do consumables — desserts, jellies and gifts; one who does one-of-a-kind tie dyed shirts; vendors who do embroidery; jewelry; live plants; other woodworkers that do live-edge tables; ornaments; candles; crochet work; wreaths; leather and metal workers; a lady who upcycles jeans into things like purses and cellphone carrying bags; and one who makes ‘Psycho Barbie’ dolls. If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist,” he said.
Lostetter noted this is many of the vendors’ first market experience and watching their success is often more fulfilling for him than seeing his own business thrive.
“I need to make money, but I’m not in it for the money,” Lostetter said. “If I can help somebody start their business and guide them, it is worth more money than you can give me.”
For more information, visit lostetterdesigns.com or call 330-942-6685.
Editor’s note: Advertiser features appearing in Leader Publications are provided as a service to the advertiser and our readers and are completed through interviews with the business. They do not serve as an endorsement of a company, person, product or service.
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