Shop of the Week- CircaC20 8

This week’s Shop of the Week is CircaC20, owned by Karen. 

What is the meaning behind your shop name? 

When I was brainstorming for shop names I wanted something that encompassed which type of vintage items I would be selling. Since I couldn’t settle on a style/era/category of what I like to collect, I figured I needed a name to cover it ALL. I love the use of the word ‘circa’ before dates and I figured that ‘around the 20th century’ would pretty much cover what I’d be collecting!  

How did you get your start selling vintage? 

I only started within the last 10 years. After we started a family, I got nostalgic for things from my own childhood. First it was Pyrex Rainbow Stripe mixing bowls. We had those when I was young and I had recently broke the one my mother gave me. Then it was Fenton hobnail milk glass because it is ubiquitous and I love the cottage chic look. Then handmade quilts since my grandmother was a quilter. I soon met a woman with a local shop who introduced me to Brimfield Antique market and a whole new world opened up to me. I have a conflicting lifestyle of trying to live simply and minimize our family’s own belongings, yet I love to collect unique pieces I find. Having my Etsy shop is the perfect resolution to my dilemma. I get to go on the hunt and bring it home, yet I don’t have to keep it! (Though sometimes I really, really want to!)

What is your favorite item in your shop right now, and what makes it special to you? 

It’s hard to pick a favorite, because when I buy for the shop I try to buy unique items and only what I love. I’m particularly fond of this chair that I just purchased at auction last week: I am usually not drawn to the Victorian era, but it’s in perfect condition and there’s just something about this chair…

Victorian Chair

I also love this hat form. It’s the perfect size of my head and holds my summer hat so nicely:

Milliner’s Hat Form

And this thermos…oh this thermos! I finally listed it, but it’s so unique and such a beauty:

Thermos

What is the most unusual or amazing item you have sold from your shop? 

Well I don’t know about amazing, but this coat was quite a find. I had never seen one like it and had the winning bid at auction. The shearling on it was gorgeous and it was in perfect condition. It was also my first big ticket sale, but if it had fit, I would have kept it:

SOLD!

 Do you sell your items at other venues outside of Etsy? If so, where can we find you?

I am working on getting a Shopify account set up so I can sell on Pinterest. I want to stick with just Etsy but feel that I need to start taking charge of my own marketing and sales venues. The shop has been open just over a year so now I feel ready to start to spread my wings a bit. Eventually I’d love to have my own shop so I can start selling larger items. Storing the amazing furniture I find at New England auctions will be a problem until then. 

What social media platforms do you use? Share your links with us, so we can follow you!

You can find me on Instagram at:

www.instagram.com/circac20

And for now, my Pinterest account is a page on my personal account, but stay tuned! 

www.pinterest.com/umajoy/circac20