Just across the way from the candy counter in downtown Harrisburg’s Strawberry Square sits Ideas and Objects, a store that’s full of “neat stuff to give and to get,” according to the shop’s slogan.
Owner Susan Johnson has been filling her shelves with unique items since 1987, though not always in the current location. For its first 14 years, Ideas and Objects was upstairs, on the second floor of Strawberry Square. Temple University then moved into the building, and all retail moved downstairs.
She couldn’t imagine her store being anywhere else but Harrisburg.
“I believe in downtown,” she said. “I believe in growing the U.S. economy.”
Initially focused on selling gift items, Johnson added wearables in later years to fill in a gap from the loss of several clothing boutiques downtown.
Many of the items sold in the store are made in the United States, and several lines are handcrafted in Pennsylvania. It is a high priority for Johnson to sell well-made, local goods as much as possible.
One such product line comes from Bettina Riedel, who makes unique kid couture items. Another is Jonathan’s Spoons, maker of handcrafted cherry wood kitchen utensils. Gatski Metals products are also sold at the store; they make sculptures and furniture right here in Pennsylvania.
What else will you find on the shelves at Ideas and Objects? Almost anything you can imagine: jewelry made from recycled materials like license plates and beer bottles (as well as from more traditional materials), wallets and handbags, scarves, sweaters and jackets, pottery, photo frames, artwork and children’s toys.
Johnson purchases all the items for the store at gift shows and direct from artists, not from catalogues or the Internet. When the products arrive, she and her two part-time staff look at each one to make sure it’s in perfect shape. If an object has a defect, back it goes to the manufacturer. It is that attention to detail that keeps her customers coming back time after time, said Johnson.
The items that Johnson sells separate Ideas and Objects from other stores. Many of those products are unique to the area. Johnson says she “would never knowingly sell a line that Plum or another downtown store would sell,” to minimize competition. New merchandise comes in every week and can sell out quickly. You can find out what new things are being sold by following the store on Facebook. Johnson frequently posts photos of up-and-coming merchandise, in addition to tidbits on healthy eating and living well.
“Some people sell trendy things,” said Johnson, “but we sell the basics that stand the test of time.”
Her goal: if you purchase an item at Ideas and Objects, you’ll be able to wear it for years and not look out of style. And, if you need assistance finding your style, she’s happy to help you locate the right piece with the right fit. She will offer her opinion on something, “whether they like it or not,” because she’s not pushing for a sale. She wants to make sure customers are happy with their purchases.
Finally, Johnson is an outspoken evangelist for shopping locally, a mantra she repeats over and over in person and on the shop’s Facebook page. This may sound self-serving, but it’s a cause with a social mission. When people spend local, their money stays local, helping the community where we all live.
“The taxes will go to your municipality,” she said. “You know where your money goes and you support your neighborhood. It makes sense financially and on so many other levels.”
Ideas and Objects is located at 11 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg, within Strawberry Square. Hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and nearly anytime by appointment. Call 717-234-4505 to schedule an appointment and visit the store’s Facebook page to find out what’s new.
