Small Business Q&A: Knick Knack Shack

Becca Nichols is the primary buyer of , a family owned and operated business that sells home furnishings and accessories.

Nichols, an entrepreneur, was working as chief financial officer for before shopping became her vocation.

Findlay Roofing owner, Steve Findlay, is Nichols' fiancé and business partner. The two also own Pizza 3.14 in Woodstock. Their newest venture is buying a Marietta sports bar named The Stadium on Sandy Plains Rd.

"I've learned about business from life experience. It teaches you a little more than college does," said Nichols. 

Q. What's the best thing about your job?
A. I get to work with my family. And, I like to shop.

Q. What is the best thing about Northeast Cobb?
A. This is home. We're originally from New York. We moved here when I was young. My brother and I grew up in Smyrna and have been in the general area since.

Q. Why did you pick this kind of business?
A. With the economy the way it is, this is a place where you can buy nice things for pennies on the dollar.

Our median price range is between $8 and $15.

You can buy something here for 50 cents up to $4,000.

All kinds of people come in here, teens to seniors.

You may find two items that are the same with two different prices. That's because we only mark up so much and may have bought one item cheaper than the other.

Q. What are some of the services you offer that people don't know about?
A. We have a 'Find It' service. If we don't have what you're looking for we will see if we can find it.

I can't promise that we'll be able to get what you want, but we will look around.

We promote the 'Find It' service inside the lobby of the restaurant. They have an electronic sign that promotes area businesses.

Q. How long have you been in business?
A. We opened in November 2011.

Q. How did your business get started?
A. My dad and I have been going to 'storage wars' and auctions. We would have garage sales to make our money back. We wanted an indoor space so the weather wasn't a concern.

This place was a Findlay Roofing showroom. The showroom has moved to the main office and this space became available.

It only took a month to buy all this stuff and get the store ready to open.

We're not the kind of people who sit around. We get on it and get things done.

Q. Do you have advice for anyone who'd like to start a small business in this area?
A. If anyone has the means to open a small business to support themselves and their families, do it.

Financial backing is important.

Location is important. People already tell us they want us to stay. There are two years left on the lease and we plan on being here.

In the future, we'll probably add a location.

Q. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?
A. I'd like to see more people supporting small businesses.

Go into mom-and-pop shops and see what they're all about.

Knick Knack Shack
3778 Canton Rd., Suite 100
678-402-5514