SKAUT Design on Kingston Road set for 10th anniversary celebration this Saturday

By JESSICA SHACKLETON

A Kingston Road Village business is celebrating 10 years of unique designs and gifts. SKAUT Design is marking a decade in the community with a special celebration this Saturday.

Opened in 2016 by husband-and-wife duo Janis and Inese Korbs, SKAUT sells vintage, locally designed work, and innovative pieces from around the world.

Behind the intriguing window display, which features quirky salt and pepper shakers, cool cuckoo clocks, and vintage furniture, one can find all kinds of things.

Inese Korbs gave Beach Metro Community News a walk-through of the store and highlighted the shop’s inventory.

“We started 10 years ago, and it was just a function of us having a lot of vintage things in our garage and liking to shop for vintage and new things,” said Korbs.

There is something interesting to look at on every wall and shelf of the store, and Korbs recommends taking a seat on the couch and letting your eyes wander.

She pointed out the giant scoreboard, a new Italian-designed trivet, a comfortable Latvian chair, Toronto dish towels, a typewriter, and a collection of piggy banks, to name a few.

Also lining the walls are some of Korbs’ own paintings.

The store is officially open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and shoppers are welcome to browse. SKAUT also works with customers personally to find that special piece.

“People make appointments to talk about what they’re looking for, and we’re happy to follow their schedule and meet them whenever,” she said.

Christmas is one of the most popular times for SKAUT, as people are looking for something memorable to give to others.

“We try to entertain them into buying interesting things,” said Korbs, while showing a stack of iconic East Toronto landmark puzzles. “We welcome people to come in and talk to us about what they have to offer; we try to celebrate different artists in different months.”

Korbs also said the store is an ideal spot for housewarming gifts. They boast a large collection of house ware needs, including the earlier-mentioned salt and pepper shakers, fun serving dishes, and kitchen gadgets from Italy.

Among the store’s best-selling items are candles from Germany.

“They don’t drip and have no scent. People are addicted to them. They buy them by the dozen,” she said.

Another item people keep coming back for is the “indestructible” floor mats.

“People buy one for their back door, and they love it and buy another one for their cottage,” said Korbs.

Behind the building, they have a storage space that holds more vintage furniture like a barber’s chair and an eerie dentist’s chair.
SKAUT Design is always looking for new pieces and finds them in all kinds of places, including from people who approach the store with items it might be interested in.

Plans for this Saturday’s anniversary are taking shape.

“We want to thank everyone for their support over the years. We’re going to have lots of candy, balloons, games, and shopping opportunities,” said Korbs. “We feel we’ve contributed to Kingston Road’s growth and success.”

The 10th birthday celebration is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, at SKAUT, 874 Kingston Rd., near Beech Avenue. For more info, please visit SKAUT online at http://skautdesign.com/