What started as an Etsy store selling room decor on Instagram during the pandemic is now an entire boutique in Toronto’s Kensington market.
Zubair found herself jobless during the pandemic, so she started selling home decorations on Etsy and posted on Instagram. Her account now has over 20,000 followers.
She began tagging Etsy, Goodwill, and other organizations she wanted to work with on all of her daily social media posts. Eventually, they reached out to her for sponsorship opportunities.
With that kind of traction, Zubair was able to secure a physical location for her brand Boho Chachkies. However, the Jewish entrepreneur didn’t want to just open a store for herself.
Instead, her store is home to 28 brands, all very different from one another.
“I want to bring the pop-up market scene to a store,” Zubair told Now Toronto.
Zubair describes the shop as having “boho vintage vibes,” and rightfully so because customers are greeted by a range of sparkly, unique jewellery sets neatly arranged on light oak plank boards near the entrance.
In terms of designing the store and arranging the brands that get to display their items, Zubair attributes the store’s interior to her experiences working in the makeup industry.
“I can see colours that other people don’t see,” she said as she pointed to two different pink coloured shirts hanging above.
Instead of focusing on following, Zubair looks at a small business’ vibe and often works with people who sell unisex and plus size clothing. Some of the featured brands are Judy Jean Vintage, Pete and Pert, Sleepy Kitty Vintage, and City Girl Vintage.
Meanwhile, other brands have nothing to do with vintage, such as Plants and Things and Anam Creations.
“I realized with disabilities I couldn’t work a 9-5 job,” Plants and Things owner Amber Dror told Now Toronto.
Dror feels like Boho Chachkies has been a place for her to grow her confidence both professionally and personally.
Though Boho Chachkies has only been open for a little over three months, Zubair and the other vendors see lines of people everyday. Even major filmmakers have stopped by to buy props.
“My neighbours became a real community and that’s what I felt like the vintage community was missing….because pop-up markets are so expensive now.”
As the weather gets warmer, Zuabir is looking for more sponsors, DJs, food and drink businesses, photographers and other creatives. She has an open vendor application that interested people can fill out online.
