About Us

Hi there!  I'm Monica, the proud owner of The Knickknack Shack by Darthside LLC.  I run this operation all by myself, which can be challenging at times, but most definitely fulfilling.  I'm a mom of three amazing kids, two boys and a girl, and the wife of a wonderful guy who has always supported me and my dreams.  I count myself extremely blessed to live the life that I do.

For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to own a store.  Back when I was around eight years old, my dad owned a shop, the "Monique Trendsetter Center", which he also lovingly nicknamed the "Monique Boutique".  (Monique was a nickname given to me by most of my family when I was younger, and some of them still call me that to this day.) 

Monique Boutique had so many cool things for sale, from clothes and shoes to gift items like toys and knickknacks.  It was a magical place for me, packed to the rafters with unique and amazing things from all kinds of unique and amazing places.  I don't remember how long my dad owned that shop for, but it was enough to spark a lifelong dream for me.

 

 

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Fast-forward a few years, and in 2019 I founded Darthside LLC, my first solopreneurship venture.  At the time we were focused on providing digital business services such as website design and customer service.  It paid the bills, but I wasn't as happy as I thought I would be, or should be.  

It was at that point that the dream of owning a store reignited and I decided to open an online boutique, just like I'd always wanted.  The shop went live in January of 2021.

It started with a handful of mugs and half a dozen T-shirts. Over time, I slowly added more and more products until it grew into what it is today: a massive collection of things that I would personally love to own, things I feel people would enjoy surrounding themselves with.   My motto was, and still is, "If I don't love it, I won't sell it."  

 

Open Sign

 

So here we are, in 2023.  The store has changed a lot over the last couple of years, and I'd like to think it's for the better.  

Our online catalog is quite massive, with hundreds of products listed and more being added on a fairly regular basis.  The products themselves might change over time as things go out of stock or are discontinued, but something new is always waiting to take its place. 

FAQ

These are the questions I get asked a lot.

Why the name?

The original concept behind the store was an online gift shop that specialized in mugs and T-shirts.  As time went on, more and more items were added to our inventory such as tech accessories, kitchen gadgets, and of course, decorative items and tchotchkes. 

I introduced my Bath & Body Collection in 2022, when I partnered up with a supplier of really high-quality skincare products and soaps.  I'm a sucker for soaps and fragrant lotions, so this was a no-brainer niche for me to go into.  We also introduced our Health & Wellness section in 2022, which focuses on improving overall health and wellbeing in the most natural and wholistic way possible.

Coffee and Tea are another passion of mine, and while I am still searching for a supplier of high-quality tea products, I have managed to source some really interesting and delicious coffee blends that will satisfy even the most persnickety of connoisseurs.

Yes, my inventory is eclectic, and I'm totally fine with that.  My store is nothing if not a catalog of all the things that I love. 

Do you still have those original catalog items in stock?

You bet!  I still have most of my original mug and T-shirt designs available, although I've had to switch suppliers a few times over the years.  Some of my designs have been retired, but the collections are intact, for the most part.

How do you choose what items to sell?

In a nutshell:  I sell things that I love and personally enjoy.  I use all my own products, and I gift them to my family and friends all the time.  I strive to maintain a high standard of quality that I can be proud of, and that my customers can feel confident in.

I have a product recommendation or request!

Send me an email or use our Contact Form and I will gladly look into it!

We can accommodate bulk orders (with accompanying bulk discounts) as long as you give us enough time to process them (we like to give our suppliers a 2-week heads up for big orders).

Some of our products are customizable. Look for the "Customizable" tag on the product page and check the product description for more information on how to request customization.