There are a lot of reasons why Marguerite Baker loves her shop. She loves interacting with her customers, but she also enjoys bringing new life to things which were much loved by their previous owner. Tinkess Photo
MORRISBURG – Walking into Barnfull O’Goodies in the Morrisburg Shopping Plaza offers an experience that is unique, yet at the same time extremely familiar. For those of as certain vintage, it is like stepping back in time and coming across many of the things you grew up with that today seem to have vanished from the landscape. For those a bit younger, it is like visiting a grandparent’s home, and being allowed to look, touch, and explore, and to experience the things that meant so much to them.
Marguerite Baker is the driving force behind Barnfull O’Goodies, which has recently celebrated its tenth anniversary, but she says that wasn’t always the case.
“It wasn’t my idea, actually, it was my husband’s,” says Baker. “And I wasn’t on board.
Baker had been doing online auctions on Facebook, because, as so many others have discovered, when you are busy raising a young family, it is difficult to commit to a “regular” job. “It was handy because it was at home, and people could just come to the house and pick up their purchase. I didn’t drive at the time either.”
What led to the auctions was as much a survival plan as anything. “I like people and I like old things and we’ve been collecting for a while because we bought an old farmhouse down the road,” said Baker. “And once that was full, I was like, okay, stop going to auctions, stop bringing stuff out. This was kind of a way, the online auction was a way to kind of move things along, so it just kind of worked out.”
The Facebook auctions, however, took on a life of their own. Baker found herself doing 250 auctions every second week and ended up with all the work or photographing the items, posting them, answering questions, storing purchases until the winning bidder came to pick them up, which required being tied to the house. It became less of a job and more of a business, which eventually led to the creation of Barnfull O’Goodies and a physical location to offer all their finds. They do still run Facebook auctions on a regular basis, but it is easier now, since purchases are picked up at the store.
Baker admits it was a tough go at the beginning, as she didn’t have a business background, but together and with the help of friends they figured things out. They made it through COVID, which in itself is a testament to their resilience.
One thing that has helped is the change in public perception. The shop is described as offering “Antique, vintage and repurposed items,” which is ideal for thrifting. Thrifting is the practice of reusing or repurposing things that not that long ago might simply have been disguarded, has become very fashionable, stylish even. “When we were kids, we did this because we had to,” said Baker, “But today, people do it because they want to.”
There is also an increased consciousness about wanting to give gifts that are not mass produced, that are unique, and which require an amount of effort not needed with the look at the screen, click the one you want and wait for it to be delivered.
Not everything at Barnfull O’Goodies is old either. There is some locally produced woodcraft, and even honey, if you’re looking for something sweet. There is always something new!
The best part of the business, however, is the people. Baker says that it is about a 50-50 split between new customers and regulars who return. And not all of them come to shop, some just stop in, have a look around and chat.
“It makes me happy,” says Baker. “And it gets boring when I’m here by myself. When there’s a steady flow of people, the days go a lot faster.”
Barnfull O’Goodies is located at 59 Main St. in the Morrisburg Shopping Plaza. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday and are open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. You can learn more about them on Facebook, where they still host auctions on a regular basis. You can also reach them be email at barnfullogoodies@gmail.com.
If you would like to have a light shined on your business, please contact us at: editor@etceterapublications.ca or call us at 613-448-2321.
Terry Tinkess is a professional photographer, educator and journalist. He has been making a living with a camera and keyboard since 1999 and has been featured in such publications as The Ottawa Citizen, Cornwall Standard Freeholder, The Globe and Mail, The Miami Herald, Ottawa Construction News, The Ontario Construction Report, Ontario Home Builder Magazine, Reed Construction Data, Canadian Potato Business and most recently, The Record and Eastern Ontario AgriNews. Terry lives in Ingleside, Ontario with his wife Brenda, Mia the anxious Pittie and cats Wally and Chubbers.
