Homegrown and handmade in the U.S.A.
That says it all for Small Potatoes: Artisan Crafts and Unique Gifts.
The unique shop, located at 50 Pleasant St. in Norwich, opened in 2013.
“I decided on a low overhead consignment approach to a gift shop and it turned into Small Potatoes,” said Erica Sullivan, its owner.
“There are many creative minds with the desire to take their craft to the next level and they need a place to show their work,” she said. “That’s where Small Potatoes comes in. When the doors opened in July 2013, the store quickly became the best place in town to shop for that one-of-a-kind gift as well as a creative outlet for many local artisans.”
The name, Small Potatoes, is designed to perfectly sum up the store’s ambiance.
“When tossing around the idea of the shop, I was trying to find a way to say ‘bits of this and that’ because I wanted to have something for everyone,” she said. “My mother, being from the South, said there was a phrase that was common back home – ‘We ain’t no small potatoes.’ Boom, that was it!”
The shop only measures about 700-square-feet.
“It’s just big enough to be roomy, but also intimate at the same time. The shop has been known to be a place of comfort, safety, and friendship. We constantly have people admiring our display work and even our choice of music,” said Sullivan.
The shop is brimming with all kinds of items, ranging from soap, kids toys, stationary, candles, and bath salts, to pottery, jewelry, crystals, housewares, and home goods. Food products include teas, local honey and syrups, and dog treats. In addition, customers will find retro and kitsch items.
“It’s a unique shop that carries items made from artisans from across the country,” Sullivan said, “When you purchase something from my shop, you know you’re going to give the best gift because they’re not the type of gifts you’ll find in other stores.”
Amy Beckwith, of Norwich, patronizes the shop monthly.
“I’ve purchased jewelry for my daughters as well as baby gifts for my new grandbabies,” said Beckwith. “There’s always something new and I love how Erica keeps the inventory ever changing.
“Most products in Small Potatoes can’t be found in other shops and it makes the purchases even that more special.”
Sullivan works with a large number of crafters and artisans from the local Connecticut area and way beyond.
“I used to be able to give a number, but now it’s a wild guess of about 400. I am constantly on the hunt for new artists through different avenues such as craft shows, other shops, online artist resources, and in many cases, they come to me directly,” said Sullivan whose goal is for repeat customers to always discover new items every time they step into the shop.
In addition, Sullivan offers personalized service. She wraps, ships, delivers, and customizes items.
For Sullivan, the mission of Small Potatoes is two-fold. She appreciates the opportunity to help dedicated artisans find a home for their hand-made crafts and she offers customers an accessible way to shop local, she said.
“Prior to opening Small Potatoes, I didn’t really put a lot of thought into shopping small but now it’s a priority. By doing so, I’ve also met and maintained relationships with many other local shop owners. The networking and community that comes from it is priceless,” said Sullivan, a Norwich native and amateur crafter, who noted she feels blessed to be running a small business and doing what she loves.
“I bring that sense of community to all that I do within the business and I try to support all local events as well as fundraisers when I can. I’ve worn many hats in my life and all of them included working with the public. My focus became creating a shop where local artists could find an audience for their wares.”
Sullivan works mostly on consignment.
“This allows the artist to have zero initial investment other than the time to bring the work to the shop. In some cases, artists are a little farther along in their journey and would prefer to work on a wholesale basis. In some cases, the work is just a must-have for the shop so I agree to those terms,” she explained.
“In order to consider items for the shop I take in to account a few important factors that may be different than others. It isn’t about whether I like the items for myself, but it is important that I like the presentation, the packaging, the quality, and the artist themselves,” she said. “If I have the chance to meet the artist in person, I like to explain the shop and what we represent.”
Sullivan said she also offers advice and input on pricing based on her experience in the retail industry and the local market.
Making sure her customers receive the best service is top of mind for Sullivan.
“I treat the customer like I would want to be treated – as a unique individual. I like to help customers with their purchases for others by asking questions about the recipient and the occasion,” she said.
“In many cases, I get to hear, ‘I knew I’d find the right thing here.’”
Keeping the shop affordable is also a key consideration.
“One of the most important things I have always tried to do is to acknowledge the fact that everyone has a different budget,” she said. “There should be something that everyone can afford and feel good about purchasing. The point of gift giving should not be the amount you’ve spent, but the thought you put into it.”