Plastic Fantastic
Plastic Fantastic is a New York-based sole proprietorship, founded in 1996 by Karima Parry, that sells authenticated vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, and Lucite costume jewelry from the 1920s–1960s directly to collectors via its catalog website and email ordering, supplemented by authored reference books.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersNot specified, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Plastic Fantastic does
Plastic Fantastic is a sole proprietorship operated by founder Karima Parry, established in 1996 and based in New York state, specializing in authentic vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite, and other plastic costume jewelry from the 1920s through the 1960s. The business maintains a strict authenticity policy, personally guaranteeing that all Bakelite sold (excluding contemporary Shultz Bakelite) is genuine and vintage, and explicitly refuses to deal in "French Bakelite" or Far East reproductions. The catalog also extends to contemporary signed Shultz Bakelite pieces by artists Ron and Ester Shultz, vintage costume jewelry from designers such as Trifari and Boucher, and a smaller Fine Jewelry line of gold, silver, ivory, and coral pieces priced up to $885.
The underlying "technology" is human domain expertise rather than software: proprietary authentication testing protocols (hot water phenol odor test and Formula 409 yellow-residue test), a proprietary color terminology glossary covering more than 50 named colors, and a four-tier condition grading system (Mint, Fine, Excellent, Good). Karima Parry has authored four reference books on Bakelite collecting, identification, and pricing, which double as both products and authority-building content.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model exclusively through its own catalog website, with orders submitted via email and payment accepted by personal check, cashier's check, or electronic bank transfer. There are 12 employees, no third-party marketplace presence, no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed institutional investment. Geographic reach is domestic U.S., with New York customers charged 8% sales tax and Pennsylvania dealers eligible for resale exemption. Pricing is fully transparent on the website, with jewelry pieces ranging from $25 to $3,000+ and books priced between $20 and $100.
Plastic Fantastic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastic Fantastic
- Legal name
- Karima Parry's Plastic Fantastic
- Website
- https://plasticfantastic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Plastic Fantastic is a New York-based sole proprietorship, founded in 1996 by Karima Parry, that sells authenticated vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, and Lucite costume jewelry from the 1920s–1960s directly to collectors via its catalog website and email ordering, supplemented by authored reference books.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastic Fantastic industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vintage Costume Jewelry
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459), Used Merchandise Retailers (4595)
- SIC
- Costume Jewelry & Novelties (3960)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Collectibles, Art & Antiques C2C (CRAFAKAG)
Keywords
Where Plastic Fantastic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Not specified
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plastic Fantastic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Vintage Jewelry Sales: Direct sales of vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite and other vintage plastic costume jewelry from 1920s-1960s. Also includes Fine Jewelry (gold, silver, ivory pieces) and Shultz Bakelite contemporary artisan pieces. Sales through email-based ordering system with payment by check, cashier's check, or electronic bank transfer.
- Book Sales: Sales of educational books authored by Karima Parry on Bakelite collecting, pricing, and identification. Books include Shultz Bakelite Jewelry ($36), Bakelite Pins ($24.95), Antiquing and Collecting on the Internet ($20), and Bakelite Bangle Price and Identification Guide ($100). Books are signed by author and shipped via US Priority Mail.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual vintage jewelry pieces - wide price range from $25 to $3000+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Educational books by Karima Parry |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Plastic Fantastic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastic Fantastic is a catalog-based online retailer that sells authenticated vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite, and other vintage plastic costume jewelry from the 1920s to 1960s, as well as contemporary Shultz Bakelite artisan pieces and a small selection of fine jewelry. The owner personally guarantees authenticity of all Bakelite sold (excluding Shultz Bakelite) and explicitly refuses to deal in "French Bakelite" or Far East reproductions. The business also sells four educational reference books authored by owner Karima Parry covering Bakelite identification, pricing, and collecting.
Product overview
Plastic Fantastic is a catalog-based vintage jewelry retailer specializing in Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite, and other vintage plastic costume jewelry from the 1920s-1960s, as well as contemporary Shultz Bakelite pieces. The product portfolio includes authentic vintage Bakelite jewelry (bracelets, bangles, pins, earrings, necklaces), Shultz Bakelite contemporary handcrafted pieces, other vintage plastic jewelry (Lucite, Celluloid), costume jewelry (wooden and signed designer pieces), and fine jewelry (gold, ivory, coral). Additionally, the company publishes educational books about Bakelite identification, pricing, and collecting.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vintage Bakelite Jewelry Authentic vintage Bakelite (phenolic resin) costume jewelry from the 1920s-1960s, including bracelets, bangles, pins, earrings, and necklaces, all personally authenticated by owner Karima Parry via hot water and Formula 409 testing methods. Sourced for serious collectors and resellers seeking verified-authentic pieces.
- Shultz Bakelite Jewelry Contemporary handcrafted Bakelite jewelry by artists Ron and Ester Shultz, featuring limited-quantity and one-of-a-kind bangles with motifs including checkerboards, confetti polka dots, wrap-around dots, and Belle ovals. Targeted at collectors of signed contemporary artisan Bakelite.
- Other Vintage Plastic Jewelry Vintage plastic jewelry including Lucite, Celluloid, and other non-Bakelite plastics, covering bracelets, pins, earrings, necklaces, and rings from the mid-20th century for collectors seeking pieces beyond Bakelite.
- Vintage Costume Jewelry Vintage costume jewelry including wooden bangles, Trifari and Boucher signed pins, rhinestone pieces, and carved wooden figural pins. Sourced for collectors of mid-century designer costume jewelry.
- Fine Vintage Jewelry Pre-ban vintage ivory pieces, gold jewelry including 14K and 18K gold items, coral pieces, and silver bangles. Targeted at collectors building broader vintage jewelry collections beyond plastic.
- Shultz Bakelite Jewelry Book 160-page book by Karima Parry chronicling the contemporary Bakelite artistry of Ron and Ester Shultz, featuring over 570 color pictures and pricing information. Sold to collectors and dealers for reference and identification.
- Bakelite Pins Book Book covering the evolution of Bakelite pin designs, testing methods, decorative techniques, other vintage plastic pins, and contemporary Bakelite pins by artists Ron and Ester Shultz and Bruce and Vickie Pantti, with over 600 full color photos. Sold to collectors and dealers for reference.
- Bakelite Bangle Price and Identification Guide Comprehensive reference book on Bakelite bangles with over 320 full color photos of more than 1500 different bangles, including chapters on identification, testing, decorative techniques, fakes and reproductions, and a price guide. Sold to serious collectors and dealers.
- Antiquing and Collecting on the Internet Book Guide for successful buying and selling of antiques and collectibles online, covering search engines, online auctions, buyer/seller psychology, website creation, and the impact of the internet on the antiques business. Sold to collectors entering the online antiques market.
Companies that use Plastic Fantastic
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Plastic Fantastic technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Plastic Fantastic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Plastic Fantastic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ruby Lane: Online vintage and antique marketplace with a strong curated jewelry category. Directly comparable as a destination for collectors seeking authenticated vintage jewelry, though broader in scope than Plastic Fantastic's Bakelite specialization.
- Sulafa Vintage Jewelry: Online dealer specializing in vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, and Lucite costume jewelry. Directly comparable in product category, era focus, and collector target market.
- Lang Antiques: San Francisco-based dealer in vintage and antique fine and costume jewelry with deep expertise and educational content. Comparable in operating model (expert-driven dealer with website catalog) and target market (vintage jewelry collectors).
Broad incumbents
- Bonhams: Global auction house with significant jewelry and costume jewelry departments. Comparable in expertise around authentication and valuation of vintage jewelry, particularly costume and signed pieces of collector interest.
- Etsy: Large online marketplace with extensive vintage and handmade jewelry categories. Comparable as a channel where Bakelite and vintage plastic jewelry is also sold, though Etsy provides the platform rather than curating authenticity.
- eBay: Massive online marketplace with significant secondary market for vintage Bakelite and costume jewelry. Comparable as a transaction channel for the same buyers, though lacking Plastic Fantastic's authentication guarantees.
- Replacements.com: Large online retailer of discontinued china, crystal, silver, and collectibles. Comparable as an established collectibles retailer with strong authentication expertise and collector-focused catalog model, though broader in product scope.
- 1stDibs: Online marketplace for luxury vintage furniture, jewelry, and fashion. Comparable as a curated destination for authenticated vintage and antique jewelry buyers, though oriented to higher price points.
Emerging players
- Worthpoint: Online research and pricing database for antiques, collectibles, and vintage items. Comparable as a resource for collectors authenticating and pricing Bakelite and vintage costume jewelry, though not a direct seller.
- Cowan's Auctions: Auction house specializing in fine and decorative arts including jewelry. Comparable in authenticating and selling vintage jewelry to collectors, though operating through auction format rather than fixed-price retail.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Plastic Fantastic social profiles
Digital presencePlastic Fantastic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastic Fantastic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Plastic Fantastic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastic Fantastic M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plastic Fantastic
What does Plastic Fantastic do?
Plastic Fantastic is a catalog-based online retailer that sells authenticated vintage Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite, and other vintage plastic costume jewelry from the 1920s to 1960s, as well as contemporary Shultz Bakelite artisan pieces and a small selection of fine jewelry. The owner personally guarantees authenticity of all Bakelite sold (excluding Shultz Bakelite) and explicitly refuses to deal in "French Bakelite" or Far East reproductions. The business also sells four educational reference books authored by owner Karima Parry covering Bakelite identification, pricing, and collecting.
Is Plastic Fantastic a public or private company?
Plastic Fantastic is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Plastic Fantastic founded?
Plastic Fantastic was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Plastic Fantastic based?
Plastic Fantastic is headquartered in Not specified, United States, in the North America region.
How does Plastic Fantastic make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Vintage Jewelry Sales are the primary driver. The others are book Sales.
Who are Plastic Fantastic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ruby Lane, Sulafa Vintage Jewelry and Lang Antiques. Broad incumbents are Bonhams, Etsy, eBay, Replacements.com and 1stDibs. Emerging players are Worthpoint and Cowan's Auctions.
Does Plastic Fantastic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastic Fantastic.
What industry is Plastic Fantastic in?
Plastic Fantastic's product category is Vintage Costume Jewelry. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAGAE, Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail, with a secondary code of CRAFAKAG, Collectibles, Art & Antiques C2C. Its NAICS code is 459 and its SIC code is 3960.