Country Crow Primitives

Country Crow Springs Forward | March 2018
By Maria Landry

From new reproductions to farmhouse antiques, Country Crow Primitives in downtown Skowhegan is brimming with home décor and gifts.

“I would say we carry seventy percent locally and handmade,” said Darcy Spooner from inside the well-stocked shop, which she co-owns with business partner Tammy Breault. “The rest we like to go out and antique. We also make things.”

“We fix things up, repurpose, upcycle, recycle, all of that,” Breault added.

“It changes daily,” said Spooner. “We don’t just say that—it literally does. We have consignments daily, we have orders coming in.”

Consignors stop by often, interested in selling their wares at the cozy downtown shop. In fact, Country Crow has become so in demand that it’s filled up with consignors at present, according to Spooner. Some of the consignors offer custom options, which are popular with store patrons.

“We have three builders right now that are willing to take on custom orders to do cabinetry or nightstands or anything in here that you would like in a different size,” Breault said. Spooner added that they can special-order curtains and bedding as well as rugs up to 8′ x 10′.

“We also have a lot of signs that are made to order,” Spooner said.

Spooner and Breault have known each other since high school and have been friends since their early 20s.

It was 2011 when the idea for Country Crow came about. Downtown gift shop the Blueberry Cupboard closed in June of that year, and the two women thought it was a good time for a new gift shop in Skowhegan.

Spooner explained, “Tammy had approached me because I’d had a primitive shop out of my house in Madison ten years prior, and [Tammy’s brother] had space available to rent. The Blueberry Cupboard was closing, and the timing was perfect. I’d been selling online and wanted to get into retail again. The timing, the space, and the partnership were ideal.”

They opened in September 2011, two storefronts down from their current space at 61 Water Street.

Less than two years later they outgrew those initial quarters, moving into their current storefront in March 2013. This year marks their five-year anniversary in that spot.

“We actually had the opportunity to move here because Karen [Lewia] from the Children’s Cottage had the space prior, and she purchased the building across the street,” Spooner said. “She had approached us and thought it would be a great move.”

In addition to more space, the current store also has more parking and is closer to the other downtown shops, the women said.

While Country Crow has a lot of local customers, Breault and Spooner said they have many regular customers from out of the area too, including people who come from the Bangor, Waterville, and Farmington regions. Campers and other tourists tend to frequent the shop in the summertime.

“Certain tourists make it a point that we know their face every year when they come in,” Breault said. “Whether it’s once or twice they make it during the summertime, we recognize their faces.”

To help promote other Skowhegan-area businesses and to feed tourists’ desire for local products, Breault and Spooner recently started selling local foods.

“We have Smith Brothers maple syrup, Nelson’s peanut brittle, and Mandy Corson’s canned goods,” Spooner said.

This is the latest in the continuing evolution of their business.

“Just last year we started doing craft lesson nights,” Breault said. The craft nights typically take place monthly on a Thursday evening, spring through fall. The typical charge of about $30 includes all the supplies, the craft lesson, and refreshments.

“You’ll walk away with your finished product at the end of the night and some snacks in your belly,” Breault said. Past projects have included Maine string art and prim spring décor featuring a bucket of flowers.

The local products, customized touches, and casual craft nights all help create a community atmosphere.

In fact, Spooner noted that one of her favorite aspects of owning the business is the downtown community.

“Everybody’s so helpful downtown,” she said. “It’s tightknit. We’re all out there, I call it having a shoveling party, some mornings. We send business to other businesses, they send it to us. Our customers are awesome. We have some of the best people that come in here.”

Breault agreed: “I think that’s the most enjoyment for me, the everyday customers that come in that you get to know.”

For more information and to learn about upcoming craft nights, check out Country Crow’s Facebook page.