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Hearts all around: Valentine’s Day markets draw shoppers to Shepherdstown, reflect financial challenges

By Tabitha Johnston - Chronicle Staff | Feb 17, 2023

Denise O’Brien, of D. O’Brien Glass, helps 10-year-old Josie Wilson look through her necklaces, as Josie’s parents, Kearneysville residents Heather and Mark Wilson, browse behind her in the sixth annual Shepherdstown Valentine’s Handmade Market on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — As is the case every year, Valentine’s Day proved to be a major selling event for local artisans over this past weekend. But unfortunately for those artisans, while the previous year’s Valentine’s Day sales reflected the desire for life to go back to normal after the COVID-19 Pandemic, with an increase in sales, this year’s sales reflected another nationwide concern, inflation, with a decrease in sales.

According to Shepherds Blessings LLC owner Betty Shepherd, who was running The Love Shack pop-up shop for the second year-in-a-row out of Evolve, while this year’s pop-up shop sales weren’t insignificant, they fell short of last year’s

“This is our second Valentine’s season in here,” Shepherd said, as she pointed out chocolate truffles, toffee and cement succulent planters as her additions to this year’s sale. “It’s definitely slower than Black Friday was or the Christmas season. However, for our business, it’s definitely worth doing, money-wise.

“We’ve found that some people shop at our stores, while others tend to shop at our events. So when customers come into our store, we tell them about upcoming events, and then when one of us is at an event in town, we tell customers about the stores,” Shepherd said. “It makes a circle!”

Those who were only selling in Shepherdstown this Valentine’s Day weekend, however, agreed the sales decline was a little disappointing. Joygems owner Deanna Thomas, who was selling T-shirts, home decor, fudge and handmade jewelry in The Love Shack, said she had anticipated a larger turnout of Valentine’s Day shoppers so close to the holiday.

Ranson resident Laurie Wolf and her son, Kyle Wolf, chat with Graceland Studio owner Larry Wagner about his copper roses in the War Memorial Building on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“We had a little rush,” Thomas, who lives in Charles Town, said. “To be sure, my fudge has been popular! As soon as they taste a sample of the fudge, they have to buy some to take home with them.”

Over at the sixth annual Shepherdstown Valentine’s Handmade Market in the War Memorial Building, the sales decline could equally be felt, in spite of a constant stream of customers.

“Today, it seems a little bit less than last Valentine’s Day, for sure. At Christmas time when I was selling in here, people were spending money — that was normal,” Panhandle Cottage Goods owner Luisa Smith, of Falling Waters, said, noting her soy candles were her most popular seller at this market. “I’m pretty sure it has to do with inflation. A lot of people are paying with their credit cards rather than cash this year, which I think is an indication that more people are struggling financially.

“Whether or not customers purchase something in this economy, depends on whether or not they will use something up,” Smith said. “Things like shampoo bars, that people will always be able to use, are consistent sellers for me, just like my candles.”

In the War Memorial Building last Saturday, the Very Rev. Protopresbyter Fans Miloro helps his wife, Connie Miloro, look through jewelry at the Dream Sister Studio booth, owned by Donna Wallace. Tabitha Johnston

Painted wooden hearts, created by a Shepherd University art student for the sixth annual Shepherdstown Valentine’s Handmade Market, were modeled after the Valentine’s Day candy staple, the Brach’s Candy Conversation Hearts. Tabitha Johnston

From left, John and Lisa Prinzo, of Honey Brook, Penn., chat with Joygems owners Deanna and David Thomas, of Charles Town, in The Love Shack pop-up shop at Evolve Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston