The Evolution Store
The Evolution Store is a privately held, 30-year-old specialty retailer in NYC's SoHo selling natural history specimens — fossils, minerals, taxidermy, insects, and science-themed home décor and gifts — to individual collectors, gift buyers, educators, and designers via a flagship store and a global e-commerce site.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Evolution Store does
The Evolution Store is a privately held specialty retailer founded in 1993 and headquartered at 687 Broadway in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. The company sells natural history specimens and science-themed merchandise — including preserved insects (entomology), taxidermy and aquatica, skulls and skeletons, fossils, minerals and meteorites, home décor, and fashion and lifestyle items — to individual collectors, gift buyers, educators, and interior designers. Products are priced on a unit basis across an unusually wide range, from $1 entry-level curios to museum-quality specimens priced up to $16,995, and the company has introduced themed tiers including a Premium Collection and discipline-specific Starter Packs.
The business operates a dual-channel model: a flagship physical retail showroom open six days a week and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront built on BigCommerce. Distribution includes international shipping to customers across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Revenue is generated almost entirely through one-time retail transactions, supplemented by a themed gift-certificate program. Insect specimens are framed in-house at an Upstate New York studio and sourced from sustainable insect farms, providing limited vertical integration on the entomology line. The company maintains organic social media presence across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and Tumblr, and uses content-driven product categorization with Eco-Friendly, Made in USA, and Shop Small filters for SEO and brand positioning.
The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional funding, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. Headcount is reported at 11-50 employees. There are no disclosed patents, regulatory actions, mergers and acquisitions, leadership changes, or restructuring events in the available data.
The Evolution Store firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Evolution Store
- Legal name
- The Evolution Store
- Website
- https://theevolutionstore.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Evolution Store is a privately held, 30-year-old specialty retailer in NYC's SoHo selling natural history specimens — fossils, minerals, taxidermy, insects, and science-themed home décor and gifts — to individual collectors, gift buyers, educators, and designers via a flagship store and a global e-commerce site.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Evolution Store industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Retail – Natural History Collectibles
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912), Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Retailers (459420)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail (CRALAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)
Keywords
Where The Evolution Store is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Evolution Store business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: The company generates revenue through direct sales of natural history specimens including insects (framed and in resin), taxidermy, fossils, minerals, meteorites, skulls and skeletons, home décor, fashion accessories, and jewelry. Products range from affordable items ($1-$50) to premium pieces ($1,000-$16,000+). The business operates as a traditional retail model with both physical retail store and e-commerce channels.
- Gift Certificates: The store sells gift certificates allowing customers to purchase products at a later date. Gift certificates expire after 5 years and are nonrefundable per store policy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing ranging from budget to premium |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Evolution Store product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Evolution Store curates and sells natural history specimens—including framed insects, taxidermy, fossils, minerals, meteorites, skulls, and skeletons—together with science-themed home décor, jewelry, fashion accessories, and educational gifts. It operates a flagship retail store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood at 687 Broadway and a global direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront serving customers worldwide.
Product overview
The Evolution Store is a natural history collectibles e-commerce retailer offering a diverse portfolio of scientific and curiosity-based products. The core offerings span seven main categories: Entomology (preserved insects and specimens), Taxidermy & Aquatica (preserved animals and marine life), Skulls & Skeletons (human and animal anatomy), Fossils (dinosaurs, prehistoric specimens), Minerals & Meteorites (crystals and celestial fragments), Home Décor (natural history-themed interior items), and Fashion & Lifestyle (jewelry, apparel, and lifestyle goods). The store operates on a tiered model with a standard collection, a Premium Collection featuring museum-quality specimens, and Curated Selections organized by theme or collector level. Additional services include Gift Certificates. The e-commerce platform is built on BigCommerce.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Entomology Collection Curated selection of preserved insects including framed and unframed specimens, insects set in resin, and insect-themed jewelry. Specimens are sourced from sustainable insect farms and many framed pieces are produced in the company's Upstate New York studio. Targets collectors, jewelry buyers, and gift purchasers.
- Taxidermy & Aquatica Collection Professionally preserved animal specimens including taxidermy mounts (e.g., two-headed calf, Tarbosaurus shoulder mount replica), aquatic specimens, seashells, and marine life displays sourced from across the world. Targets serious collectors and high-end décor buyers at premium price points.
- Skulls & Skeletons Collection Animal and human anatomical specimens including real and replica skulls, bones, skeletons, and anatomical models. Serves collectors, design buyers, and educational institutions seeking scientifically accurate teaching materials.
- Fossils Collection Fossilized remains including dinosaur fossils, megalodon teeth, ammonites, trilobites, volcanic bombs with olivine, and other prehistoric specimens spanning hundreds of millions of years. Available from entry-level to ultra-premium price points.
- Minerals & Meteorites Collection Natural mineral specimens and crystals together with meteorites including lunar and Martian samples and named falls such as Campo del Cielo and Sikhote-Alin. Targets collectors, educators, and high-end décor buyers.
- Home Décor Collection Natural history-themed interior décor including skull décor, wall art, rugs, globes, tools and instruments, artifacts, and display domes and stands for showcasing specimens. Targets collectors and interior designers seeking distinctive pieces.
- Fashion & Lifestyle Collection Nature-themed wearables and lifestyle goods including jewelry (e.g., Cobra Vertebrae Bracelet), clothing and accessories such as the Evolution Skull Hoodie, drinkware, stationery, self-care items, and educational toys. Targets individual consumers and gift buyers.
- Premium Collection High-end, museum-quality tier spanning premium entomology, taxidermy, fossils, minerals, meteorites, and home décor items, including highlights such as the Tarbosaurus Shoulder Mount Replica ($16,995). Targets serious collectors, interior designers, and boutique commercial buyers.
- Curated Selections Thematically organized groupings such as the 30th Anniversary Collection, Desk collection, Workshop collection, and Starter Packs covering Entomology, Geology, Paleontology, and Zoology. Designed to onboard new collectors and to function as themed gift bundles.
- Gift Certificates Digital gift certificates available in themed designs such as Birthday, Christmas, and Celebration, allowing recipients to redeem against the store's full assortment. Certificates carry a 5-year expiration and are nonrefundable per store policy.
Companies that use The Evolution Store
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Evolution Store technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Evolution Store partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Evolution Store competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Fossil Era: Online fossil retailer offering dinosaur fossils, shark teeth, ammonites, and trilobites to collectors. Directly comparable to The Evolution Store's Fossils category on product type and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model.
- Bone Clones: Manufacturer and retailer of osteological replicas and anatomical models used in education, museums, and film. Directly comparable on Skulls & Skeletons and Human Anatomy product lines and on the educator/scientific buyer segment.
- Prehistoric Planet: Specialty retailer of dinosaur fossils, replicas, and prehistoric specimens. Comparable on premium-tier fossil merchandise and on serving serious collectors rather than mass-market buyers.
- Skulls Unlimited International: Oklahoma-based retailer specializing in osteological specimens, skulls, skeletons, and taxidermy for collectors and educators. Highly comparable on category mix (skulls/skeletons, animal bones) and on educational vs. collector customer base.
- The American Museum of Natural History Shop: Museum-affiliated retail outlet selling science-themed gifts, fossils, minerals, apparel, and educational toys. Comparable on museum-quality positioning, gift buyer segment, and the science-curiosity retail concept.
- Maxilla & Mandible: Long-running NYC natural history bookstore and specimen retailer. Comparable as a SoHo-tradition specialist in natural history curiosities serving collectors, scientists, and curious consumers in the same city.
Regional players
- Ruby Lane: Online antiques and vintage collectibles marketplace hosting many natural history and curiosity sellers. Comparable on the vintage/antique collectibles buyer and on a curated marketplace model serving similar collectors.
Emerging players
- 1stDibs: Online marketplace for rare and vintage items, including antique natural history pieces and curiosities. Comparable on the rare/curated collectibles buyer and on premium pricing across vintage decorative specimens.
Broad incumbents
- Etsy: Mass-market handmade and vintage marketplace hosting large numbers of natural-history specimen sellers (insects in resin, small fossils, jewelry). Comparable on entry-tier SKUs and gift-buyer acquisition channels, though vastly broader in scope.
- Smithsonian Museum Store: Museum-affiliated retail operation offering fossils, minerals, science-themed gifts, jewelry, and apparel. Comparable as a science-curiosity retail destination, though broader in category and with vastly greater brand reach and traffic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Evolution Store social profiles
Digital presenceThe Evolution Store financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Evolution Store leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Evolution Store funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Evolution Store 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 The Evolution Store
What does The Evolution Store do?
The Evolution Store curates and sells natural history specimens—including framed insects, taxidermy, fossils, minerals, meteorites, skulls, and skeletons—together with science-themed home décor, jewelry, fashion accessories, and educational gifts. It operates a flagship retail store in New York City's SoHo neighborhood at 687 Broadway and a global direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront serving customers worldwide.
Is The Evolution Store a public or private company?
The Evolution Store is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Evolution Store founded?
The Evolution Store was founded in 1993. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Evolution Store based?
The Evolution Store is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Evolution Store make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are gift Certificates.
Who are The Evolution Store's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Fossil Era, Bone Clones, Prehistoric Planet, Skulls Unlimited International, The American Museum of Natural History Shop and Maxilla & Mandible. Ruby Lane is listed as a regional player. 1stDibs is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Etsy and Smithsonian Museum Store.
Does The Evolution Store have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Evolution Store.
What industry is The Evolution Store in?
The Evolution Store's product category is Specialty Retail – Natural History Collectibles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAGAE, Vintage & Antique Collectibles Retail, with a secondary code of CRALAJAG, Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.