MANAYUNK

Blog post by Manayunk Development Corporation Summer Intern, Alison Angelo.

     Meredith Podob opened Latitudes and Longitudes to create a place where all her loves could coexist - style, design, and most of all, giving her customers satisfaction whether through purchase or experience. Meredith is a Manayunk local who attended Philadelphia University and has worked on Main Street for over 10 years. After receiving her degree in Industrial Design with a background of Interior Design, Meredith then moved beyond the classroom to pursue what she was genuinely passionate about. She opened her dream boutique and established herself as her own boss, like many of her family members who are also entrepreneurs. She worked, followed by working as a Product Design Engineer Consultant for several companies to gain a good understanding of the industry. She revamped the old gallery into a new, open and welcoming space to give her customers an inspiring place to be and shop. Now, Latitudes and Longitudes reflects a mix of Meredith's personal style infused with classic, authentic vintage findings that have inspired her over the years. When asked what special memories she has from her store, Meredith replied by saying Latitudes and Longitudes is a place where special memories are created.Expect the unexpected when you walk through the doors of this boutique and discover all of the unique merchandise Meredith has to offer .

     Located in the heart of Manayunk, Latitudes and Longitudes has come a long way since its first day on Main St in June 2012. Before opening her storefront, the business was originally known as Latitudes Gallery, where Meredith worked for the prior owner part time during the time that she was a student. This month, she celebrates her third year of being part of the business community in Manayunk.

     Open and welcome to any age, Latitudes and Longitudes showcases a diverse collection of boutique gifts available in a plethora of style options at affordable prices. Meredith has a very careful and considerate eye when it comes to choosing trendy essentials for her store, traveling to different trade shows each year accompanied by her mother. Her fun and unique gifts come in a variety of shapes, sizes and functions ranging from items that are in a seasonal fad, to classic styles that will be popular for years to come. She carries a variety of products including candles, wine accessories, picture frames, jewelry, kids toys, and more! Recently, Latitudes and Longitudes has expanded on product options to include gifts for men, children, and religious offerings. She especially likes to show off the entire back room she's devoted to Melissa and Doug toys for playful children and her "exquisite" selection of greeting cards, to say the least.

     Additionally, Meredith likes to incorporate products made from local vendors in the hopes that her customers find something they've never seen before, whether purchasing it or not. "I want to offer everyone a special piece of Philadelphia," she says with excitement, "Especially if it comes from Manayunk". As a courtesy, she provides vendor information displayed with the products to recognize and accredit the business. She is also happy to do special orders to meet customers' needs. Her personal efforts of exceptional customer service and persistent relationships with her longtime loyal client base are a testament to her reputation as a leader in the industry.

     "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life," says Meredith since opening her dream boutique. Likewise, she employs her store with friendly, personalized customer service ensured by herself and her staff: Makayla, Randy, Brianna, and Dana. Not only are her sales associates knowledgeable and welcoming, but they are also outgoing and enthusiastic about selling the unique, one-of-a -kind merchandise found in the store. Together, this bubbly crew prides themselves on making every day at work fun and full of life in the Latitudes and Longitudes boutique. 

    For Meredith, her job is most rewarding when she can also find ways to support the local businesses around her. "I'm willing to donate all my time to being actively involved in the Manayunk community," Meredith says. In the past, Meredith has held small events in her store such as Small Business Saturday to feature local artists on Etsy or seasonal discounts for the Manayunk Moms. She also enjoys partnering her store with special charitable events, such as Santa Paws in December, to give back to her community. She believes everyone deserves an opportunity to showcase their work, especially in the friendly business culture of Manayunk. "Everyone knows everyone here. We're all constantly visiting each other's stores, hanging out, lending a helping hand," Meredith boasts."We truly resemble a small family that lives in the heart of Manayunk."

     When asked about the future of the store, Meredith feels that with her vision and design skills, she could only make the Latitudes and Longitudes business bigger and better. With the continuing support of her family and friends, Meredith's only dream now is to expand on what she's already made into a reality by improving the business with more collaborations. Since rebranding and revamping the storefront, Meredith hopes to one day design and sell her own jewelry line as part of her store collection.

     After many years of devoted time and hard work in the Greater Philadelphia area, Meredith finally found comfort and happiness in creating Latitudes and Longitudes. She has always felt the potential for good business with lots of newcomers in the Manayunk community. Although she is still a relatively new business owner, she already feels successful in the pursuit of her dreams with her unique store, while also making meaningful connections along the way, "I know I have reached the place where I want to be, and more importantly, where I'm meant to be," Meredith claims. She truly loves to get involved with the community and genuinely wants to help make not only her store, but Manayunk as a whole, a place where people will come to shop for all of their needs.