WH Media has partnered with local small business champion to develop a unique shopping experience in Bishops Corner this holiday season.

A family portrait by Sara Huber Photography. Courtesy photo

By Joy Taylor

As temperatures have dropped and holiday decorations have started to appear, locals are getting ready for another season of mega sales from big box retailers and online giants. But here in West Hartford, two organizations have joined forces to bring a very different shopping experience to life.

WH Media has joined forces with another local marketing services firm, The Small Business Collective, to present the We-Ha Holiday Pop-Up – a two-day retail event kicking off on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as on Nov. 25, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“When Tom and the WH Media team approached me about working together, our initial conversation centered around a project I launched last year – the Greater Hartford Holiday Gift Guide (greaterhartfordholidaygiftguide.com),” said Annisa Teich, founder of The Small Business Collective. “We decided to marry their annual Dazzle gift guide with the Greater Hartford Holiday Gift Guide under that name, offering a curation of gifts from local makers, artists, and retailers as well as gift-able services and experiences – all with the goal of providing greater visibility to these small businesses during a season dominated by big retail.”

The Greater Hartford Holiday Gift Guide is set to launch alongside the pop-up event. “When we were offered a vacant retail space to use, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring the Greater Hartford Holiday Gift Guide to life,” said Tom Hickey of WH Media.

The event will take place in Bishops Corner, at 2523 Albany Ave., a spot previously occupied by Sylvan Learning Center that is currently vacant. The building is owned by EDENS, which was eager to partner again with WH Media after the success of their summer pop-up shop in the same space, and is offering a very reasonable fee for the use of the space. 

“We are thrilled to host this event, supporting nearly two dozen local businesses with placement in our high-traffic retail plaza,” said Karen Fillian, regional property Manager with EDENS.

Vendors that will be included in the We-Ha Holiday Pop-Up range from food and beverage, fine art, handmade gifts and jewelry, to beauty and other local services.

Sara Huber Photography is offering $50 holiday mini sessions in the space, and encouraging those interested to sign up in advance at sarahuberphoto.com. And Josey Sanchez of Crafty Creations is holding string art classes for just $35 including all necessary supplies. Click here for schedules and pre-registration.

West Hartford Coworking is a sponsor of the event, enabling the participation of a handful of up-and-coming businesses as part of their Small Business Incubator program, in partnership with The Small Business Collective.

Click here to see the full list of vendors.

For information on available sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected].

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