The Eclectic shop concept started on Ebay in 2004 as an answer to Elaine's ever-growing problem of "too much stuff, too little space". Her original desire was not actually selling craft supplies, but making jewelry, hats, and many other things that left a great deal of bits and bobs left over. Perhaps a design flopped and she didn't want to keep the remaining supplies afterward, or changed her mind about a doing project altogether, or bought supplies in bulk to save money but never ended up using them all. Whatever the case, the problem was clear - what to do with all that stuff?!

Enter the idea of "de-stash", where packrats like Elaine can clean out the boxes and drawers and shelves now and again, and pass big savings on to you. And not only that, it's a great way to recycle!

But since this isn't your ordinary craft shop with regular suppliers and stock, selection is always changing. That's where the name "eclectic" comes in. Most items are liquidation, limited run, discontinued or vintage, so stock really is eclectic: "a bit of this and a bit of that".