Little Shops at Niwot are holiday ready

October 2021 marked the one year anniversary for the Little Shops at Niwot (7960 Niwot Rd., Suite D-15), a unique small business collaboration that began life last year as the Little Holiday Shops at Niwot. And though the storefront has rebranded and moved across the shopping center, the business, which functions as a type of co-op for local artists and vendors, has continued to see success.

"When you think about it, there were a lot of pop-up vendors who lost their opportunity to do farmer's markets and different fairs across the year [due to COVID]. That's why I opened it," said Leigh Suskin, the Little Shops at Niwot founder and proprietor. "I just have an affinity for artists and small businesses and felt we had to keep it going."

Suskin, who managed the Little Shops through both its Little Holiday Shop iteration and its move to the current space next to Winot Coffee, noted that the collaboration is a reimagining of what is necessary to own a successful small business.

"I think it's going to continue to be the way that people want to do business, because it's such a lower risk for small businesses in retail. It allows us to share resources and be smarter about our investments," said Suskin.

While COVID-19 was the unfortunate impetus to Suskin's invention, she was driven by a desire to help the local artists, makers, craftspeople, and small business owners in the Niwot area.

The shop, which started with holiday wares in October 2020, eventually transitioned to its current space in March 2021. Suskin said that the shop has since received great support from the community and has thrived through partnerships with other businesses and events in Cottonwood Square.

"We're a gold member of the NBA [Niwot Business Association] and took a lead in helping with Oktoberfest and Dancing Under the Stars, which was amazing for business and such a great way to get to know people and let people know we were there," said Suskin.

As part of the effort to get to know the community, each vendor also works in the store one day per month, which Suskin says is a great way for them to get feedback and facetime with customers.

"It helps them get a sense of what sells and what people are looking for," she said.

Looking to the future, Suskin will be handing management of the Little Shops at Niwot over to one of its vendors, Sarah Campbell, owner of Poppybox. Campbell, who will take the reins as the owner and operator of the store in January, plans to keep the momentum rolling in the new year.

"Sarah's dream is to run a boutique. My dream was to get entrepreneurs started, so she's a great person to take it from here on out," said Suskin.

In addition to sprucing up the space and continuing to diversify vendor offerings, Campbell was also excited to share that the Little Shops at Niwot will get a small rebrand. The rebrand includes a name change to The Little Shop and a new logo that will soon adorn the front of the store. The shop will also be getting some physical upgrades, including a new floor and a new light-up sign out front.

"I'm really looking forward to some major upgrades that will really elevate our aesthetic in the shop. My vision is more of a boutique feel vs. a flea market feel. And I'm looking forward to diving more into the community stuff," said Campbell.

The shop currently hosts 25 different vendors, and Campbell said that the original women-focused offerings have been expanded to include more baby, children, and men's items. She also hinted at a new dog-focused brand that could be popping up at the store in the future.

At present, the vendors are focused on seasonal holiday wares, and shoppers can find everything from Christmas wreaths, sweaters, pom-pom beanie hats, and decorative seasonal items knit from alpaca yarn to cocktail drinks, pickled food items, and fried in-shell peanuts.

"Everyone is focused on Christmas wares for the holidays. We've got a lot of new things being made and brought in on a daily basis. We've got ornaments and holiday-themed items, sweaters, and things like that," said Suskin.

No matter whether you are shopping for the holidays or just to treat yourself, Campbell said she feels the strength of the boutique is in the variety of its offerings.

"I just love that we are able to carry a variety of things," Campbell said. "I don't see how anyone can come into our shop and leave empty-handed. I can't work a day without buying three things. We have new things, hand-made things, vintage things, a little bit of everything within everyone's price range."

And as rumors of national inventory issues, backorders, and shipping woes continue to crop up as the holidays approach, shopping local is one smart solution for purchasing Christmas presents this year.

"There's a nationwide shipping issue. So I would say to consumers, what you see right now in shops is what you're going to get for the remainder of the year," said Campbell. "Last-minute shipping is probably not going to be in anyone's best interest this year. And I hope that means that more people will come out and support the local shops whether that's in Niwot or all of Colorado."

Last year the Little Holiday Shops were very successful for local vendors, a reception that provided the necessary jumping-off point for the permanent year-round storefront. Suskin said she expects a similar outcome this year during the holiday season.

"There's no reason to think it won't be as successful, but we're just enjoying it as it unfolds," Suskin said.