Oktober’s, a metaphysical shop that primarily sells crystals, candles, books, tarot cards and herbs, has introduced a frequently held trinket trade event. The event, called the Shiny Swap Trinket Trade, is hosted in the store’s side room. It functions as a gathering where participants place items — ranging from rocks and jewelry to miscellaneous collections — on a central table. The trade allows people with old collections they no longer use to show them to newcomers.

Unlike many shops that require payment to host trinket trades, the Oktober’s event is different because it is free. Nothing is for sale except the items in the main store. Participants may bring as many items as they like. Some people brought five items, while others brought entire buckets without specific descriptions. There are no bounds to the trade.

Jessica Oktober, owner of Oktober’s, emphasized the value of accessibility. “I host events at the store because I think it’s important to be a place where people in the community can come and do fun things like classes and workshops, but also things that don’t cost anything, such as the Shiny Swap Trinket Trade,” she said. Since classes and workshops often have a fee, people are less likely to attend. Because the Shiny Swap Trinket Trade was free, many community members came to connect with others through shared interests.

Attendance and Atmosphere

The events are open to the public and are announced frequently on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms. Attendees vary widely, ranging from childhood collectors to people who simply find their items interesting. Even if attendees are not drawn to the shop’s metaphysical items, the trinket trades are open to everyone. You can join anytime, bag in hand.

Trinket collector Bob Shiner noted the positive atmosphere. “Everyone’s been really friendly so far, so it seems like a good atmosphere for friendship,” he said. Participants bond over their shared love of collecting unique items. If attendees are worried about attending and not fitting in, they can simply start a conversation about someone’s collection. Collectors are proud of their items and happy to share, often leading to long discussions.

Participants browsed what others had to offer, some stating that they wished they had brought more items to trade. Throughout the event, some people left, leaving items they didn’t mind others taking on the center table. As more participants arrived, people condensed their piles to make room for new trades.

Criteria and Upcoming Events

The criteria for choosing a new trinket vary for each collector. Local participant Shavon Martin said, “I like little, tiny, cute things I can put into my garden pots.” All trinkets at the trade had to meet a specific criterion set by the event organizer: they had to fit in the palm of your hand. This requirement was perfect for Martin’s goal of finding something small enough for her garden pots.

With the success of these events, the store is beginning to host more people and connect with different activities. An upcoming event is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m., called the “Shiny Swap Trinket Trade — Craft Supplies Swap.” Unlike past events that focused on small trinkets, this future gathering allows participants to trade unused craft supplies for new items, giving others a chance to enjoy them.