Today’s Business Highlight: Made in the Neighborhood

rosajaviersales
Jan 8
11 min read

Updated: Jan 14

**Made in the Neighborhood's Owners: Ashlyn and Josh Guerrero**

Today, I visited Made in the Neighborhood at the Palmer Park Mall and had the pleasure of speaking with owners Ashlyn and Josh Guerrero—a couple whose passion for community is woven into every corner of their store. More than a retail space, Made in the Neighborhood is a home for local creators: a place where artists are not only able to display their work, but truly sell, grow, and connect with the people who walk through the doors every day. Even while balancing full-time day jobs, Ashlyn and Josh show up daily to ensure their vendors are represented with care and intention. During our conversation, it was clear that this wasn’t just about art—it was about people. From personally reaching out to vendors when a customer falls in love with a piece, to guiding creators as they build their businesses, Made in the Neighborhood exists to uplift the entire community it serves. Join me as Ashlyn and Josh share their story and the heart behind the space they’ve built.

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**Entrance to Made in the Neighborhood**

I have transcribed the entire conversation into this blog. The interview was conducted in English.

Business Information:

Name: Made In The Neighborhood

Address: 140 Palmer Pk Mall, Easton, PA 18045

Email: Madeintheneighborhood2025@gmail.com

Phone: (835) 230-0668

Website: https://www.facebook.com/MadeInTheNeighborhood/

Meet the Owners: Ashlyn & Josh Guerrero

Rosa: Hi, guys! How are you?

Ashlyn Guerrero: Good! How are you?

Rosa: Good! Good. Here we are- And I wanted to ask you guys, who are you? What are you? And where can people find you?

Ashlyn: My name is Ashlyn. I am the owner- well, one of the owners of, “Make in the Neighborhood.” During the day I’m a surgical assistant for an oral surgery practice. And at night, I’m here!

Josh Guerrero: My name is Josh Guerrero, and I’m the other owner- because there are two (laughs)- during the day, I work construction for Skoda Contracting. Doing gas work for UGI. And I also do laser work that I sell in the store- And other than that, I’m usually here.

How “Made in the Neighborhood” Was Born

Rosa: Awesome! So, what inspired you guys to create, “Made in the Neighborhood”?

Ashlyn: We were actually vendors in the store. It was previously called, “Blue Flame Events.” We were vendors here for almost a year- and our friends- who were the previous owners- they needed somebody to take it over because they couldn’t do it anymore- for personal reasons. They asked us if we wanted to take it over and we said, “yes.”

Why Easton (and Everywhere) Needs a Store Like This

Rosa: Awesome. So, what made you feel like Easton needed a store like this?

Josh: I think everywhere needs a store like this. I think local creators need more outlets to have their stuff out there- not just online with Etsy and everything.

Rosa: Right!

Josh: You need to be able to see and hold the product.

Why This Is Different From Etsy or Online Shopping

Rosa: So, what makes you guys different from Etsy?- Like, why should people come here instead of just going online?

Ashlyn: So, here, it supports multiple small businesses. All in one place- and they’re all local. Hence the name, “Made in the Neighborhood.” And here you can physically see the product that you’re purchasing, rather than wondering if what you’re buying on Etsy is actually going to be like the description.

What “Made in the Neighborhood” Really Means

Rosa: What does the phrase, “Made in the Neighborhood” mean to you?

Ashlyn: So, basically, it’s a collection of local vendors who are relatively local to the Lehigh Valley. And most of the products that we sell in the store are made locally. So, “Made in the Neighborhood” is just kind of a play on the fact that it’s a local vendor market.

Josh: Yeah, even the stuff that isn’t made locally, it’s sold by local businesses. Like we have someone who sells imported snacks from other countries. But he’s from Easton. He’s from the area.

Rosa: Which country is this? Can you give an example?

Josh: He has stuff right now from China, Japan, Korea, Canada, and Australia.

Rosa: Like- what kind of stuff do-

Ashlyn: It’s like snacks. Like- imported snacks that you can’t find in the United States.

Rosa: Right, right!

Josh: Like- different flavor. Like- he has a couple different Kit-Kats bars, but they’re like drumstick, ice cream Kit-Kat bars. Rolo candy- yeah, so it’s like flavors of snacks, you know? But the flavors you can’t get here

Personal Backgrounds That Shape the Store

Rosa: Okay! What part of your personal story, culture, or background shows up in the vision of this store?

Ashlyn: I have been doing local vendor markets- like craft fairs and stuff for about six years, now. I had a small- crochet business, and prior to that I made and sold hot sauces. So, I’ve always kind of had the ambition of wanting to own my own business. And when I was a crafter, I used to find it really difficult to get my name out there. So, this is kind of just- like a place where everybody can do that- and it’s easier for people who can’t really afford to have their own store.

Josh: She wanted a business, so- I got her one.

Rosa: (laughs)

Josh: And, even with the craft fairs, I would have to go to help out and- like- I don’t know anything about crocheting. So, we decided maybe I should figure something out also. So, I bought a laser, and now I do laser engraving. I’m pretty good at it!

Rosa: Yeah? (laughs) How long have you guys been doing- like craft and lasering separately?

Ashlyn: Separately? Well, he kind of just started with the lasering- maybe about a year and a half-ish ago?

Rosa: Right.

Ashlyn: And that was his contribution to my setup at craft fairs.

Rosa: Okay.

Ashlyn: But I’ve been setting up at craft fairs- I think- for maybe six years or so. Maybe more.

Rosa: And you guys custom made things?

Ashlyn: Yeah!

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: Most of the laser stuff I do is custom- like- I have some ornaments and keychains- but I do a lot of custom tumblers and signs.

Supporting the Community Beyond the Store

Rosa: Okay! Well, which is the closest fair where people can find you?

Ashlyn: Right now, since we have the store, we haven’t really booked any. But I do- while previously I did a lot in the mal- because the mall used to do their own vendor events- but they’re not doing those as of right now- but there are a few- like for Roseto Helping Hands- Roseto Ballpark- We do that pretty much every year.

Rosa: Wow!

Ashlyn: And there’s some non-profit organizations that also try to set up a fair, and when they do tricky trades and stuff like that.

Rosa: Okay!

Ashlyn: So, we try to participate in those. There’s also one for Awareness 365 that we do- in the Blue Valley Farm Show.

Josh: Yeah, even if we can’t go to the craft fairs, we usually make some items and donate for the tricky trades.

The Heart of the Shop: Vendors First

Rosa: That’s cool! So what’s at the heart of what you do here? The purpose, or feeling that guides the entire store?

Josh: I think the main thing is people helping each other. We’re here to better the vendors and get them out there.

Rosa: Okay, awesome! What part of the shop reflects you the most?

Ashlyn: Honestly, I think all of it. Because all of it kind of speaks to who we are as people, and that’s helping the community grow, and help small businesses grow. So it’s not just like- a specific section of our store where we sell our own stuff. It;s the whole store.

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: And we have some stuff in here, but it’s not like we’re putting it right here up front and saying, “Hey, buy our stuff! Like- there’s other stuff, too! But buy our stuff!” We kind of stuck it here and there, spread out throughout the store just randomly.

Rosa: Okay.

Josh: And really just push everybody.

Ashlyn: Our main focus is the vendors.

Rosa: Okay! So, how do you guys choose your creators, vendors or products to feature here?

Ashlyn: Some of them were already in here- when we started and when we took over the store. But we’ve done vendor open houses- they’ve found us via social media. They’ve put in an application or just by word of mouth- people, vendors recommend their friends who do crafting and stuff like that. They say, “Hey! You know, this is a good place to put your stuff in.

Josh: Yeah, it’s usually the vendors find us. We have a couple where she’ll go to craft fairs and check out the vendors- pass out cards.

Rosa: Oh, okay!

Josh: But for the most part, they reach out to us.

How Vendors Are Chosen & How the Process Works

Rosa: What is the process of becoming a vendor here?

Ashlyn: So, there is an online application they can fill out. And that kind of gives us all of the information that we would need- basically once they fill out that application, they just choose how much space they want. The pricing just depends on how much space they need for however much product they want to display. And from there it’s just a quick signature of a contract and then- they just come and set up.

Josh: Yeah, it’s called an application, but it’s- it’s not like you’re- you’re- most people don’t get denied or anything. The only reason we would deny somebody would be if we have a lot of that- we try not to have too much competition amongst the vendors.

Rosa: Okay.

Josh: You can’t have ten people selling earrings. You can’t have twenty people selling the same kind of hat.

Rosa: Gotcha.

Josh: So, for the most part as long as you do something different, there’s always space for you. And it doesn’t mean that just because one person sells something- that doesn’t mean you can’t. Especially if it’s- like, slightly different. But we can’t have too much of it.

Ashlyn: Yeah.

Josh: But we do have a waiting list for certain items that we already have an abundance of and can’t take in more- but if a space were to open up then we would- they would have first shot at it coming in.

Ashlyn: Yeah, then we would reach out to them- like- we do have a couple people that do cutting boards, but one does like- specifically resin cutting boards. One does glass cutting boards and the other one just does plain- like solid wood cutting boards.

Rosa: So, the list is like first come, first serve?

Ashlyn: Not necessarily. It’s more so- like- we have to be selective. We have to select who we can bring in because we can’t have an overabundance of certain things. Like- if we have somebody that puts the application in for- as a candle vendor, and we already have six candle vendors, we have to limit the amount of vendors that have similar products.

Josh: But then, the waiting list would be first come, first serve.

Rosa: Like- for candles

Josh: We would do a backup

What Makes This Shop Different From Others

Rosa: Okay, gotcha! So, what makes Made in the Neighborhood different from the other shops in the Lehigh Valley or inside other malls?

Josh: I don’t really know- honestly, we just kind of- we don’t focus on what other people do.

Ashlyn: It’s not, like big- mass produced companies and stuff supplying our inventory. It’s real people who live here, and they know the community and they contribute to the community. So, it’s like small businesses and real families and not just mass produced items.

Rosa: Gotcha!

Josh: Our main concern is the vendors. We- we try to keep our fees down as much as possible. If we can save money somewhere, we’ll pass the savings along to them. As then- not- everyone does that.

Rosa: right.

Josh: So, that’s a little thing that might make us a little different.

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: But like I said- I don’t really focus on how others handle it- Just how I feel it should be handled or how we feel it should be handled.

A Store That’s Always Changing

Rosa: Okay. What’s the one thing you want every new customer to understand about the store and its mission?

Josh: No matter how many times you come here, you’re always going to find something different.

Ashlyn: I was just going to say the same thing! There’s always something different. Vendors are constantly bringing new inventory, and most of the time, it’s not just a remake of the same thing. A lot of vendors, since they do hand make their products. It’s not just like- fitting some mold where they’re going to replicate the same thing over and over again.

Investing in the Next Generation: Children Vendors

Rosa: Okay! So, like the people here, the vendors, they’re artists. How can- you tell me one specific artist that- like- his or hers personality, like- reflects in their art?

Josh: Well, I think all of them- their personalities reflect in their art, and what they do. Our newest thing is- we opened up a spot for children.

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: We’ve gotten some children crafters. And with that– they come in with their parents. Their parents sign the contract and they don’t pay a fee like the other vendors do. They get there, they get a free shelf.

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: With our- with our fees- our space fee- the vendors pay a fee. And then we take a small commission to cover the- register cost.

Rosa: Okay

Josh: We have Square’s fee, Mastercard, Visa, etc. But with the children, we pay those fees for them.

Rosa: Okay.

Josh: So, whatever they sell, they get one hundred percent from the sale.

Who This Store Is For

Rosa: Really?! That’s awesome. When you think of this- or when you guys were thinking of buying or creating this space, who was the perfect customer for it? Like- who do you envision coming in here?

Josh: I don’t think there is a perfect customer. Everybody- it’s- customers are unique, just like the vendors are unique.

Rosa: Okay.

Josh: You know? Everyone’s looking for something different.

Rosa: Right.

Josh: You can usually find it here.

Long-Term Impact on the Community

Rosa: Very cool- How do you hope that Made in the Neighborhood impacts the Easton/Palmer community- long term?

Ashlyn: I just hope that it’s a good way for small businesses to get their name out there and to sell their products- somewhere where they might not have been able to before.

How They Want You to Feel When You Walk In

Rosa: Okay. How do you want people to feel when they walk in your store?

Ashlyn: I’d like them not to feel overwhelmed- but I like them to be kind of shocked that they can find all of this cool stuff in one place.

Rosa: Okay!

Josh: That’s pretty much it!

Rosa: Yeah? (laughs)

Josh: There’s no other way you can describe it.

Ashlyn: It’s unique

One Message They Want Everyone to Remember

Rosa: Unique! - If you wanted- the people out there that are going to watch or read the blog- to know one thing about this store, what is it?

Josh: We’re here for the community.

Rosa: Here for the community! That’s awesome! Do you guys want to say anything else that I missed?

Ashlyn: No, I don’t think I have anything off the top of my head.

Where to Find Them

Rosa: Okay! Tell people where to find you- your socials. Anything you want to plug in?

Ashlyn: We are at the Palmer Park Mall, in Easton, Pennsylvania. We do have a Facebook page and an Instagram. We have a TikTok as well. It’s all under the same name, “Made in the Neighborhood.”

Rosa: Awesome! Thank you guys!

Supporting Local Means Supporting the Community

Supporting Made in the Neighborhood means supporting real people, real creativity, and the local families behind every handmade piece. This space exists to give local creators a place to be seen, supported, and celebrated. Strengthening the community one small business at a time!