Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Birnie.
Hi Amanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Hello! Thank you for having me! I’ve been a photographer for the past 12 years, shooting anything from weddings to family portraits to brand photography. In 2016 I started photographing portfolio images for interior designers, and I found a deep love and passion for Interior Design through that genre of photography. My love for Interior Design is what led me to rugs, and in 2020, when I had “nothing else going on” and my career was basically canceled, I was looking for something thing I could do to replace my photography income and take my 1-month-old baby and my 3-year-old to since daycare was also canceled. I’ve always wanted to start a rug shop but have never had the time, so I figured it was then or never. I began collecting rugs from a supplier I dug many hours to find and from FB Marketplace and estate sales. From there, Curio Rugs was born. I decided to name my company “Curio” because I wanted something that reminded me of something special, one of a kind, unique, old, and classic. My Grandmother was a collector of many things, and she had about 6 curio cabinets that held all her treasures. The word Curio always reminds me of her, so that is how I came to the name Curio Rugs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The beginning was very smooth, but as my store grew, I found that my strategy for storing rugs in my garage and basement and schlepping them to my South Minneapolis studio was not for the faint of hearts! I realized that my not having a specific place to work out of and store all my inventory was stunting my business growth. Also, as the world came back alive after covid, so did my photography career. So I have been juggling both for about a year, and it’s been hard. However, in a few months, I am partially retiring from photography and focusing only on Curio.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Curio Rugs is an e-commerce vintage rug store. We currently offer antique and vintage handmade rugs that we carefully source from Turkey and Pakistan. Our rugs are revived, cleaned, repaired, and ready for your home. Within the next few months, we will launch our newly handmade India, vintage-inspired rugs. Our curated rugs range from affordable Turkish neutral rugs to high-end Antique Persian rugs that are 90-100 years old. Our rugs are meant to inspire our customers for their next design or refurnish. At some point in the Fall of 2022, we will be offering by-appointment showings for those customers who are local and interested in seeing specific rugs in person. We can’t wait to meet all of your interior design-loving locals. Always start with the rug.
We love surprises, fun facts, and incredible stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I have grown this company completely solo and have sold about 1000 rugs! I source every rug, photograph every rug, ship every rug, write every email, and run the entire business on my own. As I continue to grow this business, I plan on offering and sourcing newly made rugs that are inspired by vintage rugs and handmade in India.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.curiorugs.com
- Instagram: @curio_rugs
- Facebook: @curiorugs
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/curiorugs
Image Credits
The one where I am blurry is credit to Rachael Larson https://www.raelarson.com
