March 12, 2020

Meet Karen Teeter of The Fox Hole in Metro Atlanta

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Teeter.

Karen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a love for fine furnishings and a desire to cherish family pieces that reflect history and tradition. As a native of Charlotte, NC, I recall being in my great-grandmother’s home when it caught on fire. The house and the contents were a total loss, with the exception of a few minor things. That experience, paired with my mother’s love for quality furniture and timeless decor, shaped my appreciation of and desire to help others furnish their homes.

After relocating to Atlanta in the late 90s, it was my turn to decorate my own place with all that I’d learned in my youth. Initially, I thought I’d be drawn to modern, as this was the wave for those in my age group at that time. I bought some of the less traditional pieces that weren’t connected to anyone’s story – especially mine. To learn my way around the city, I began spending weekends’ getting lost’ by browsing, antique malls, estate sales, and auctions. I was searching for that history, patina and charm, that special piece that would speak to space in my home. Before I knew it, I was buying and stockpiling inventory – and I was good at it! This truly was one of my God-given talents. In the summer of 2005, I began consigning some of the furniture pieces I purchased. I still had a thirst for something more so in early fall, I walked into a quaint little shop in Lilburn, GA and asked the owner if she had a booth for rent. The shop owner was willing to take a chance on me and I moved in right away! I was a sponge absorbing all that I could about buying, pricing and merchandising inventory for the business.

I was doing very well as a small business, but I felt the call to expand my offerings to include fewer gifts and decor and concentrate on more antique and vintage furnishings. It was at that point that The Fox Hole was birthed in the heart of Snellville, GA. God has guided me into some amazing opportunities. I have been a vendor among some highly respected antique shows in the metro area including The Country Living Fair, Scott Antique Markets, and Crabapple. Currently, I am a regular vendor at Vintage Market Days of Greater Atlanta. God has blessed me to feature my antique and vintage wares locally at three amazing shops: The Cotton Depot (Monroe, GA), Athens Antique and Vintage (Athens, GA), and Antiques in Old Town (Lilburn, GA). While all three shops are home for The Fox Hole, each represents a unique and eclectic mix of farmhouse, cottage, French, rustic, and antique goodness for customers to choose from.

Has it been a smooth road?
When I launched The Fox Hole, I maintained a full-time job in the healthcare industry, so I wasn’t dependent upon the income from my booth sales. I didn’t realize it then, but God was giving me a chance to make some buying and merchandising mistakes so that I could learn from them and not have my household bottom line be impacted. At that time, some might have considered it a hobby to support my shopping tendencies! This all changed after God blessed me with two amazing daughters, Chloe and Brooke, affectionately known as The Cubs. Those closest to me know that my favorite bible verse is found in Luke 12:48: For unto whomsoever, much is given, of him shall be much required. As a parent, your heart desires to give your children the best of everything; and this comes with a price. My so-called extra money suddenly turned into their money! After Chloe was born, it was a new experience working my booth with a baby in tow or pushing a stroller through an antique mall; but I adjusted. Once Brooke was born two years later, I had to reset The Fox Hole. I became a master planner. I was the best at packing enough snacks to get me through a booth redo or even an auction. I didn’t do it alone. I had some pretty amazing friends in the business who helped entertain the girls if they were with me while I was taking care of my business needs.

As the years progressed, it became very clear that this small business would again have to reset if we were going to remain in business. I had no idea that The Fox Hole would evolve into a family business to support a private Christian education for Chloe and Brooke. I didn’t realize the extent, but week after week, the girls watched me and were silently taking notes that would benefit us all in the long run. I remember the first time that I saw Chloe arrange a vignette at home. It was impressively clear that she’d seen her mom make a similar arrangement in the shop. I often think back on time, I watched Brooke refuse to pay full price for an item at an estate sale. The transaction wasn’t about her beauty. It was about her brains. Both girls have learned life skills that include merchandising, negotiation, pricing, working with customers, and much more. I still consider myself a master planner and so many folks are amazed at how I get it all done between the girls’ busy schedules. My answer is, But God. Nobody but God! He gives me the strength to make it through that last aisle in huge antique malls. He places pickers in my path who shop for the specific types of inventory that I sell. Those in the business know that ‘the hunt’ for inventory is one of the biggest challenges, but I rarely end a day of buying empty-handed.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Fox Hole story.
The Fox Hole is an antique business specializing in all things vintage, weathered, and worn. We have unique offerings of vintage and antique goods, including furniture and decor, in addition to vintage clothing and linens. Customers consistently complement our displays that create a dreamy ambiance of style, well-grouped wares, and an intentional mix of old and new.

The Fox Hole operates daily within three local shops, in addition to pop-up shows throughout the city. Among the combined locations, my customers have access to my antique and vintage wares seven days per week. We also service customers online via social media. With this option, customers can view current inventory and request us to locate that one of a kind pieces for them. We are blessed to work with some amazing people throughout metro-Atlanta, including designers, bloggers, photographers, shop owners, and homeowners who depend on The Fox Hole to help furnish their personal spaces. I am so proud of our reputation of style that continues to create opportunities for us to grow. For all who follow Pinterest, I am thrilled to announce that The Fox Hole received a personal invite to be a vendor at Pinners Conference & Expo here in Atlanta – April 17 – 18, 2020. This is a huge opportunity for us and we are solemnly grateful. But God!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The Fox Hole is in a great season of growth and I truly believe that it is my turn. We have a growing list of antique and vintage shows lined up this year, and I foresee this list expanding into a full roadshow. We always monitor decorating trends and do our best to shop for the best antiques and vintage offerings. We have a loyal customer base who continually asks me to find those hard-to-find pieces, and I deliver on those wish lists!

The Fox Hole is looking to expand our work with photographers by offering onsite vintage rentals. We’ve been busy working on vintage promo photo backdrops, and we hope to grow this part of the business through our continued partnerships with local photographers.

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