First Posted: 1/2/2015
PITTSTON — Look out for the hippos on Main Street.
Julia McDonough, owner of JBB Naturals and Hippo Alley, has taken the stuffed animal to the next level. Her homemade animals are currently flying off the shelves in all kinds of different sizes and styles.
Located inside Phil’s Clip Joint at 106 S. Main St., the store caters to all kinds of patrons. McDonough specializes in homemade products and currently has several lines available. She offers children’s items, such as the hippos, and homemade soap and lotion for the skin.
McDonough, Duryea, currently owns several product lines and moved to the new location from two blocks down in August. The former Treasure Chest and Nature’s Boutique was also owned by McDonough, until the move this past fall.
Now, McDonough rents from Clip Joint’s owner Phil Gianfarcaro.
For the kids
McDonough wanted to make something creative that everyone would enjoy. Enter: hippos. McDonough’s mother died at an early age and was the seamstress of the family. McDonough admitted that sewing was not her forte until two years ago.
“I keep attributing my mother on this,” she said. “She was the seamstress. I used to hate needles.”
Much like the popular Beanie Babies, which were founded by Ty, Inc. and were first popular in the 1990s, the hippos feature their own names, personalities and even come with a birth certificate.
McDonough doesn’t know exactly why she chose hippos except for the fact they are different.
“I don’t know why I picked them,” she laughed. “They are different. Some of them are limited.”
The hippos aren’t just special because of their print, but because of the manner in which they are made. The hippos are designed so that when you pick one up, they are perfect for hugging.
If you want it, McDonough can make it. The store owner takes custom orders as well. She’s done everything from Penn State and Washington Redskins hippos, to Disney’s popular movie “Frozen.” She said, however, with licensed merchandise such as the aforementioned, those hippos are “limited edition.”
Along with the hippos, McDonough has created a “take-along” hi-chair that can attach to just about any chair. McDonough also sells homemade bibs. She said she is currently working toward making the place more of a baby space with all the new products.
McDonough gets most of her inspiration from her five grandchildren, which range from eight months to 15 years.
For the body
McDonough didn’t start making homemade skin care products just to make a buck. She did it because she had to.
All her life, McDonough dealt with Eczema and contact dermatitis. So, she got to work and after several months of research and trial and error, she made it work.
“Nothing doctors did worked,” she said. “I spent a couple years researching all the benefits. I’ve have been using my own stuff for six years and have not had one breakout.”
JBB Naturals is home to McDonough’s line of homemade body care products. All JBB Naturals’ products are all natural and paraben free. McDonough said her products are 98 to 99 percent all natural.
She offers soap, body bars, skin lotion, bath salts and soaks, and lip balm, along with many other specialized products. The store carries different fragrances to cater anyone’s needs.
“I try to do a variety,” she said.
JBB Naturals and Hippo Alley is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Reach the store at 570-479-4208.
