Modish Shop Tour: Fact & Fancy

As promised, welcome to the first shop tour!  Today we'll take a look at fact & fancy, started by Danielle Maveal, once of fake diamond ring fame who now works for Etsy as a Community Leader, and Christine Domanic of Jack Rabbit, creator of amazing art and crochet pieces. 

Together, Danielle and Christine are a force to be reckoned with- they opened up their shop from scratch in just 6 weeks!  Let's take a closer look!


What is the name of your shop and where is it located?
It's called Fact & Fancy and is located at 75B Hoyt St (Hoyt & Atlantic), Brooklyn, NY 11201

How long have you been in business?
We opened only 3 weeks ago in Boerum Hill in Brooklyn.  We love our new neighborhood - the neighbors have been so supportive and excited!  The first weekend we opened we kept a sales tally on the chalkboard outside and asked our neighbors to be our "4th Customer, 5th customer" and so on.  It was fun.

What sorts of items do you sell?  Who are some of the designers you carry?
We sell original art, ceramics, clothing, housewares, cards, bags, tchotches.  We want to provide our customers with accessible art and craft.  Right now we're busting at the seams with 40 artists - some of the favorites are Element Clay Studio, Crankbunny Pop up Cards and puppets, Andy Eats Only Candy from Finland, Showpony from Scotland, Amazing Talking Paintings, The Runny Bunny Ceramics, Bailey Doesn't Bark (gorgeous handpainted stoneware), Hisss (crazy orignal prints), Ice Bear (also crazy original prints), Miss Mouse, Oh My Cavalier, Sarah Ogren (mixed media pieces), Brenda Rose, Michele Maule (original paintings to.die.for), handbound books by Your Secret Admiral, gems by Contrary, Clevergirl, Lotus Jewelry Studio, J.Davis Studio, Kelly Lyn Raspa, Dutch Door and Rar Rar Press.  Do you want me to continue?



What sort of mood/design aesthetic does your shop have?
Christine and I have this clean and modern design aesthetic, but mixed in with a little 70's vintage flair.  There are mustaches everywhere (Christine's own Mustache paintings are in the gallery along with giant letter-pressed mustache posters by Rar Rar press that read things like "Wanna Go for a Ride".)  We're not afraid to poke a little fun at our fancy little gallery.  We love hidden meanings and get a big kick out of a shopper laughing out loud at something they find in our gallery.  We kept the gallery mostly white so that the work would speak for itself - our creative output was handpainting the faux bois floors. People love them - we've had people biking by say they had to stop and turn around and come in just to check out the floors.  Am I rambling?  I guess I can describe our design aesthetic this way:  A white bunny wearing a mustache riding a white ceramic lochness monster through a faux bois forest.

What price range do you carry?

We start at $3.50 for postcards and go up to $380 for an original ceramic wall pillow.

What do you think makes your shop stand out from the crowd and keep people coming back?

I know we stand out, lets just hope they come back! Actually even in the short time we've been open we've had repeat customers.  There's a lot to look at - and its fun in here.  I think all our fun artists and their clever clever work will bring people coming back.  If not, I guess we can start a moonshine business on the side.

Do you operate on wholesale or consignment?  Do you accept submissions of handmade items from designers?  If so, what's the best way for them to approach you?

We are 100% consignment right now.  That means we owe it all to the artist that believed in us and our vision for the gallery.  We are always on the look out for artist who want to work with us and think they will fit in with the other work we carry.  You can just drop us an email at factandfancybrooklyn@gmail.com with a bit about yourself, your work and photos!

What is the best thing about owning your own shop?  And the worst?
The worst part (lets get this over with) is the packing peanuts.  SO MANY PACKING PEANUTS.  Unpacking new work is exciting - but with it comes clean up and in a 150 square foot gallery, not fun at all.  The best is the feeling you get when you are writing up a sale.  This piece of art made by a friend of yours is going to a new home and you get to cut the artist a check at the end of the month.  It's sort of like matchmaking.



What is one lesson you can pass down to future shop-keeps who are just getting started?
We opened up this gallery in about 6 weeks.  Literally came up with the idea, rented the space, cleaned, painted, stocked, inventoried, packed up peanuts in only 6 weeks.  My advice is get a good partner - someone who you work well with - and just get down to it.  If we did it in Brooklyn, on absolutely no savings, you can do it.  Oh and don't take yourself too seriously!  Don't sweat the small stuff, etc :)



So there you have it, a little glimpse of Fact & Fancy!  How much do you LOVE that floor?  Thank you Danielle and Christine for sharing!  And if you're in Brooklyn, be sure to stop by soon- you'll get a free mustache handkerchief (as seen above) with any purchase, while supplies last!  Also, check out their big opening party this Saturday, June 21st from 4-8pm!