KINKA
KINKA is a founder-led, single-location retail concept in NYC's East Village that combines curated plants, art, and Japanese-inspired food under one tea-ceremony-inspired brand, serving urban plant enthusiasts, art collectors, and culinary culture seekers through in-store, e-commerce, and offsite workshop channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KINKA does
KINKA is a privately held, founder-led retail concept operating a single brick-and-mortar store at 63 East 7th Street in New York City's East Village. Founded by Tom and EunYoung Sebazco in July 2020 after a pandemic-delayed launch, the business combines three pillars — plants, art, and food — under a Japanese tea ceremony-inspired brand identity ("kinka" meaning "forbidden flowers"). The core retail assortment spans live houseplants and succulents, curated artwork from 15+ represented artists, ceramics (including a proprietary "Around Dirt" line by EunYoung Sebazco), Japanese specialty food and matcha products, wellness and beauty items, books, kitchenware, incense, and KINKA-branded merchandise. Pricing is unit-based with no subscription or tiered structure, ranging from $3 accessories to $500+ art pieces and $1,350 art prints; gift cards run $25–$200.
The business earns revenue through three primary streams: one-time retail product sales (in-store and via a Squarespace-hosted e-commerce site at kinka.nyc), workshops and events (botanical, culinary, and art classes both in-store and at offsite venues), and custom planting design and consultation services. Distribution is concentrated in a single physical location — plants are explicitly non-shippable — supplemented by e-commerce and an emerging asset-light layer of offsite programming at venues such as The Standard Hotel East Village and Bozzuto's 475 Clermont rooftop. The customer base consists of three primary personas: urban plant enthusiasts, art collectors and appreciators, and culinary culture enthusiasts, all served through a hybrid segmentation approach that mixes in-store experience, e-commerce, Instagram (@kinka_nyc), and an email newsletter.
Operationally, KINKA is small and founder-centric. Co-founder EunYoung Sebazco holds a degree from the New York Botanical Garden Professional School of Horticulture and previously served as horticulture manager at one of NYC's largest City Parks, providing botanical authority; co-founder Tom Sebazco contributes original artwork (Pop-Star Zombies, Psychedelic Lennon series) sold in the store. A professional horticulturist is available on weekends, and the company employs a small team to run store hours of 11 AM–8 PM weekdays, 11 AM–9 PM Saturdays, and 12 PM–7 PM Sundays. There is no evidence of institutional funding, no public listing, no parent company, and no AI/ML or proprietary technology stack beyond a standard e-commerce and social media presence.
KINKA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KINKA
- Website
- https://kinka.nyc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KINKA is a founder-led, single-location retail concept in NYC's East Village that combines curated plants, art, and Japanese-inspired food under one tea-ceremony-inspired brand, serving urban plant enthusiasts, art collectors, and culinary culture seekers through in-store, e-commerce, and offsite workshop channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KINKA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Lifestyle Retail (Plants, Art, and Japanese-inspired Goods)
- NAICS
- Art Dealers (45992), Office Supplies, Stationery, and Gift Retailers (4594), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (44424), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spiritual, Metaphysical & Inspirational Gifts Retail (CRALAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture) (THAJAKAA), Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)
Keywords
Where KINKA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KINKA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: KINKA sells a curated mix of products including plants, ceramics, art, Japanese food items (matcha, tea, sake-related products), wellness products, books, and KINKA-branded merchandise through their physical store and e-commerce website. Products range from low-priced items ($3 for cactus gel pens) to higher-value art pieces and ceramics ($500+).
- Workshops and Events: KINKA conducts botanical workshops, tasting events, and art workshops both at their store location and at offsite venues, generating revenue through class fees and event participation.
- Gift Cards: KINKA sells gift cards in denominations from $25 to $200, providing a revenue stream and encouraging repeat customer engagement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing across categories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
KINKA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KINKA runs a single East Village retail store and accompanying e-commerce site that curates and sells plants, ceramics, art, Japanese specialty food items (matcha, tea), wellness products, books, and branded merchandise. The offering is rounded out by botanical workshops, art exhibitions, tasting events, and custom planting design services that convert the physical space into a community gathering and cultural exchange venue.
Product overview
KINKA is a New York City-based retail concept that combines plants, art, and food into a unified cultural experience. The core offering consists of live plants and botanical specimens sold alongside curated artwork from diverse artists and specialty food products. The product portfolio includes ceramics, matcha and tea products, wellness and beauty items, books, home and garden tools, Japanese kitchenware, and branded merchandise. Services include custom planting design consultation, plant care guidance, and regular events and workshops. KINKA positions itself as a community space that bridges cultures through botanical programs, art exhibitions, and culinary experiences, celebrating the changing of seasons.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Plants (Live Houseplants and Botanical Specimens)
Companies that use KINKA
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
KINKA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
KINKA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
KINKA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KINKA social profiles
Digital presenceKINKA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KINKA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
KINKA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KINKA 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 KINKA
What does KINKA do?
KINKA runs a single East Village retail store and accompanying e-commerce site that curates and sells plants, ceramics, art, Japanese specialty food items (matcha, tea), wellness products, books, and branded merchandise. The offering is rounded out by botanical workshops, art exhibitions, tasting events, and custom planting design services that convert the physical space into a community gathering and cultural exchange venue.
Is KINKA a public or private company?
KINKA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KINKA founded?
KINKA was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KINKA based?
KINKA is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does KINKA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are workshops and Events and gift Cards.
Does KINKA have an API?
No public API is recorded for KINKA.
What industry is KINKA in?
KINKA's product category is Specialty Lifestyle Retail (Plants, Art, and Japanese-inspired Goods). Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRALAJAJ, Spiritual, Metaphysical & Inspirational Gifts Retail, with a secondary code of THAJAKAA, Arts & Crafts Workshops (Painting, Pottery, Ceramics, Sculpture). Its NAICS code is 45992 and its SIC code is 5945.