Today we’d like to introduce you to Clinton Edminster.
Hi Clinton, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My story starts with realizing that nobody anywhere at any time has any idea what’s actually going on. On the surface, most of us do a pretty good job of waving hello and paying our taxes but just a couple layers down from there it starts getting squeemy and unknowable pretty quick.
When I was younger, growing up in Alaska, I assumed that most adult folks had a pretty good idea of what was going on and that when I grew up I too would know “what’s up” – as they say. It was sometime in high school when the creeping feeling of unease started to set in – maybe these folks, just like me, aren’t really sure what’s going on. What if… my god… What if I’ll never actually know what’s going on?
Moving to Savannah in 2009 extinguished any small hope that I had of finding someone, anyone, who knew what was going on. It was obvious, really, that nobody anywhere had any clue. I prepared myself for the impending doom this understanding would surely cast yet it never arrived. Instead, I found myself realizing that if nobody has any clue then nobody can tell you what is or is not possible.
The story of our world, it could be argued, is a story of folks who thought they knew what was going on – but didn’t. Other folks came along and proved them wrong. And then other folks came along and proved them wrong. And then and then and then and finally we’re caught up to here and now, this interview, and this long-winded answer to such a benign question!
Also – I’m also the owner and creator of Starlandia Supply, a new and reclaimed art supply store located in the Starland District.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The struggles and challenges we’ve confronted at Starlandia have been adopted as lessons to create a quite sturdy little business.
I’m extremely proud of our resiliency and the store’s ability to absorb lots of stress and continue chugging away. One thing we’ve learned is to stick to our core business model and don’t stray. We have experimented with LOTS of different things (live music, printer/copy services, guinea pigs, low lighting, disco lighting, consignment) and we learned instead to just focus on the core business of selling art supplies.
We can’t be all things to all people but we can be a damn fine art supply store.
We’ve been impressed with Starlandia Supply, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Starlandia Supply is unique amongst art stores for a couple of reasons.
We are a hybrid store that combines a selection of reclaimed supplies and new supplies so our customers get the best of both worlds. New items are consistently ordered, very competitively priced, and well… new! Reclaimed supplies are always changing, priced well below retail price, super random, and fun. Sometimes you don’t need a full tube of titanium white paint for $13 – the $1 half-used tube will work just fine.
One thing some folks don’t realize is that you can bring in your old, unused, half-used, whatever-used, art supplies and creative materials and trade them for store credit. Last year, we processed over 1,100 trades and reclaimed over 20,000 pounds of materials!
We know of no other store on earth that does what we do, to such an extent, and in such an organized way. There are regular art supplies carrying new items and there are a handful of reclaimed art supply stores – but there’s nothing like Starlandia.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I really don’t have any idea what’s going on. Just winging it every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: starlandiasupply.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/starlandiasupply
- Facebook: facebook.com/starlandiasupply
