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tinker & co.
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Tinker and Company
our history
CAN'T BUY IT? MAKE IT.
IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT OWNER/FOUNDER ANTHONY COLEMAN WENT INTO THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY. WHILE HIS GRANDFATHER WAS A SKILLED CABINET MAKER AND HIS FATHER WAS A WOODWORKING TEACHER EMPLOYED BY THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, TONY AND HIS BROTHER, MICHAEL, LEARNED FROM THEIR PEERS.
IT BEGAN AS A HOBBY, HELPING THEM TO EARN EXTRA MONEY AND TAKE PRIDE IN LEARNING A SKILLED TRADE. NOT ONLY DID THEY RESTORE FURNITURE FOR THEIR HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOOD LOCALS, BUT THEY ALSO MADE GIFTS FOR THEIR WIVES AND FRIENDS, SUCH AS JEWELRY BOXES, CARVED TOYS AND HOME DECOR.
1975
Tinker & Company
BAND OF BROTHERS
AFTER THEIR FATHER DIED IN 1975, ANTHONY AND MICHAEL TEAMED UP AND OPENED UP TINKER AND COMPANY IN RICHMOND, WHICH SOLD RESTORED FURNITURE, NAUTICAL EQUIPMENT AND AN ASSORTMENT OF GIFTS. THEIR COUSINS IN CONNECTICUT ASSISTED BY MAKING A VARIETY OF ITEMS, SUCH AS CUSTOM WEATHERVANES AND CUPOLAS.
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AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED, ANTHONY'S INTEREST LEANED CLOSER TO FURNITURE RESTORATION, UPHOLSTERY, AND BRASS POLISHING, WHILE MICHAEL'S DEGREE IN ART AND SCULPTURE LEAD HIM TO RESTORING DAMAGED ARTWORK. THE NAUTICAL ASPECT WAS PHASED OUT AND THEY MOVED THEIR BUSINESS FROM HULL STREET TO DOWNTOWN RICHMOND.
A WOMAN'S TOUCH
MAKING LIVES MAGICAL
SHARON COLEMAN, ANTHONY'S WIFE, FOUND INSPIRATION, CHANGED CAREERS IN THE LATE 80S, AND OPENED UP TINKER'S. THE RETAIL STORE HAS GONE THROUGH A VARIETY OF TRANSFORMATIONS OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS. IT HAS BEEN AT TWO PREVIOUS LOCATIONS AND ORIGINALLY, IT SPECIALIZED IN ANTIQUES, WEATHERVANES, AND CONTEMPORARY FOLK ART. IN 1997, BOTH BUSINESSES JOINED FORCES AND MOVED TO WESTWOOD AVENUE. JUST ONE YEAR AFTER OPENING, THE RETAIL STORE BURNED DOWN AND THE COLEMANS EMBRACED CHANGE.
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THE 20,000 SQ. FOOT RETAIL SPACE IS NOW COMPRISED OF 2 BUILDINGS, EACH WITH A MAIN SHOWROOM AND THREE INDIVIDUALLY THEMED SUB-DIVISION ROOMS. IT SPECIALIZES IN A WIDE VARIETY OF HOME DECOR, FASHION ACCESSORIES, IN-HOUSE RESTORED FURNITURE, HOLIDAY GIFTS, AND IS A HOT SPOT FOR BABY, BRIDAL, AND WEDDING GIFTS.