A go-to shop in St. John’s, N.L. for finding unique kitchenware, cards, clothing, accessories and more, customers have been shopping for treasures at Posie Row for three decades. Founded by a new mom wanting to bring products from across the world to the province, the brand later also answered customers’ demand for local goods. Now 30 years old, Posie Row recently celebrated this milestone with generations of customers.

Opening shop

Anita Carroll opened the quaint little shop in downtown St. John’s in 1995. After working for Barbara Roberts at Bogside Gallery in Halifax, Carroll wanted a change. She was a new mom with a second child on the way and sought meaningful employment and flexibility. Confident in her business management and merchandising skills, when she saw a business opportunity in Newfoundland, she went for it. She negotiated a deal to purchase a commercial space at 210 Duckworth Street and opened her very own retail shop, which, on a whim, she named Posie Row.

Like many business owners in downtown St. John’s, Carroll and her family lived above her ground-floor retail space. At the time, many shops in the area catered to Newfoundlanders’ love for local. So, she saw a gap in the market and focused on bringing in products from across the world.

Growth and change

Since the beginning, Posie Row has focused on staying ahead of trends and selectively curating products that can’t be easily found elsewhere. Women’s hats were one of the first products Carroll brought to the shop, which are still popular today. Posie Row also offers a range of clothing, housewares, jewellery, cards, stationery, puzzles, games and more.

In 2016, Carroll purchased the building next door to the shop to expand. The move allowed Posie Row to grow its product selection and carry larger household items. While having products from around the world remains a focus, in recent years, the store has added some local products to its shelves and a vintage section. In 2020, Posie Row also expanded into online retail, allowing locals to purchase online for in-store pickup and other customers to have products shipped wherever they are in the world.

Another big change happened in 2022 when long-time employee Jane Manuel purchased the business from Carroll. Manuel says it had been a long-time conversation and was a natural transition after her years of managing the operations.

Milestone celebrations

Today, operations continue for Posie Row at 210-214 Duckworth Street in downtown St. John’s. With a staff of about nine, the shop continues to offer a variety of globally-sourced, local and vintage products.

Earlier this month, Posie Row celebrated 30 years in business with an in-store party complete with cake, a scavenger hunt, contests and special promotions. Reflecting on the milestone, Manuel commented: “Since we’ve been here for 30 years, we have a multigenerational customer following. Our celebrations felt like an exercise in goodwill to thank the many familiar faces who came out to recognise us.”

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