Vol. 6 Retailer Spotlight – The Kabine
Our latest Volumes release, the Blackwing 6, pays tribute to the independent businesses that have made up the backbone of our communities. We partnered with several of our amazing Blackwing retailers for the rollout of this release and had the pleasure of being able to talk to some of them about their stores and their journey of starting an independent business.
Can you give us a brief bio of you and your store?
My is Kim Hayes and my shop is The Kabine, (pronounced kah-been-uh) our nickname is A Tiny Shiny Shop™
Can you describe your shop?
The Kabine is a slow stationery and travel goods shop. We have the original Kabine which is a 23’ 1965 Airstream Safari and the Kabine Too which is a 25’ 2004 Airstream Safari. All our stationery and travel goods are thoughtfully curated and based on our motto, “find inspiration in travel, relationships, music, laughter, and tenacity.” As A Tiny Shiny Shop, I like that I must be selective about what comes into the shop. We have family connections to Japan and Germany and luckily the countries have beautiful and wonderful stationery! During family research, my brother discovered “We’re not German, we’re Swedish.”, which led me to add a new Swedish pen and a few Scandinavian goods. We also have vintage finds, goods we’ve discovered on our travels, and items created in the Kabine Studio.
Our current home base is market and cafe A&O Co. in St. Louis, MO. We take advantage of having wheels and travel to Airstream events in the summer, meandering our way back to St. Louis.
What’s the story of The Kabine?
The story of The Kabine started with a dream and continues with my passion for connection in meaningful ways. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to have my own shop. Seeing shop windows at Marshall Field’s downtown Chicago location to our town’s stationery store made big imprints on me. When I learned about Airstreams I thought it would be the perfect space for my shop, from its design, to its size and mobility. I was in my own little world and simply fell in love with vintage Airstreams and was focused on my entrepreneurial and creative dreams. As time has gone by it has been fun to learn that mobile businesses are actually not new and Airstreams have had many lives from mobile offices to quarantine units. I am grateful for those who see the value of tiny businesses in unique spaces added to the mix.
How did you fall in love with stationery?
I always loved picking out back-to-school supplies and my father would put stationery goods in our Christmas stockings. Before stationery stores got big, they were like candy stores to me. I remember the unique smells. With the computer age and social media, my passion for stationery has grown stronger and I want to help preserve a very important method of communicating with others and oneself.
How did you first hear about Blackwing and what’s your favorite Volumes?
I first discovered Blackwing during pencil research. I believe I “Googled” to see what was happening currently with Blackwing and discovered you all. My favorite Volumes is Vol. 54 and product is the Slate Ruled Notebook.
What’s your favorite unique thing in your shop?
My favorite unique thing are the Happi via No Junk Mail Club packages. I love curating, creating, sharing the work of other artists, inspiring slowing down, and sending real mail.
Lastly, what are your favorite things about the neighborhood or while you’re on the road?
My favorite thing about my current pop location at A&O Co. is the community vibe that extends to all four corners. All the businesses are local and the neighborhood is a mix of businesses, homes, and parks, making it a wonderful area to walk and ride bikes. It is very important and makes me happy to experience the local treasures whether in STL or on the road. Shop dog Meri and I love beautiful parks, exploring local shops, and tasting regional cuisine. Our gracious host chef Ben Poremba and his team make delicious food and drinks, which are dangerously convenient. As people get to know us I hope we can inspire letter, journal writing, or reading a book, while sipping tea on the patio. When we stretch our wheels the inspiration flows. I value the Airstream’s mobility, allowing us to explore outside our borders. We love searching out the arts, local history, being curious, making new friends, and the potential bonus of discovering goods to add to the shop. We are grateful when people feel the same way and step inside A Tiny Shiny Shop.
The Kabine
Located at AO & Co.
1641 Tower Grove Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
https://thekabine.com/a-shop
@thekabine