Welcome to the Curio Shop, hope you find what you’re looking for!
Steve Webkinz here. It’s hard to imagine Webkinz World without Arte Fact, but when Webkinz.com launched in April of 2005, it originally didn’t include the Curio Shop. However, just over a year later, the idea for a place where players could find some special items arrived in Kinzville.
The original version of the Curio Shop launched in early 2006 with a lot fewer options than are available today. What hasn’t changed is that Arte still updates his stock every hour, and not only is there a random chance that you’ll find an item that can only be found in the Curio Shop, but if you come at the right time, you might even finds a rare item!
Arte’s stock consists of a mixture of different items, including clothing, furniture and decorations from the KinzStyle Outlet and the WShop. While some of these items can be picked up for a discount, you’ll have to be careful, because sometimes Arte’s prices can be more expensive than in other shops. However, if you’re looking for a Curio Shop-only item or a rare item, those prices always remain the same.
While Curio Shop-only items have more recently become easier to spot since adding the “Arte’s Favorite” sticker, rare items are not. It takes a savvy shopper to know how to spot something rare.
One way to make finding rare items easier is by building your friendship with Arte. The better friends you are with him, the more specific he’ll get when you ask him about rare items. When you become one of his best customers, he’ll even tell you exactly when a rare item will be in stock.
How do you become one of Arte’s favorite customers? Here are three easy tips:
- Visit the Curio Shop every day
- Buy things from him as often as possible
- Leaving a generous tip is always appreciated
Also, don’t get too comfortable once you’ve become a good customer. If you stay away from the Curio Shop for too long, Arte may just start being less enthusiastic to see you when you finally return.
If you’re looking for a quicker way to track down rare items and you have a Twitter account, you can also follow our official @webkinz handle, turn on your mobile notifications, and watch for our #RareItemAlert tweets.
Later in 2006, the idea for a daily Gem Hunt was proposed. Because Doug the Dog had been featured as the gem-loving character in the W-Tales, the original concept was supposed to have Doug as the host in a separate Gem Hunt location in Kinzville. However, rather than add a whole new section, the Gem Hunt was instead added to the Curio Shop. “The Last Adventure” W-Tales story was later created to explain how the gem mines came to be under Arte’s control and how that affected Arte’s and Doug’s friendship. Of course, Doug the Dog now appears randomly in the Collector’s Room of the Clubhouse and will trade you any extra gems you’ve collected for some special prizes!
In 2009, an extra Deluxe section was added to the Curio Shop. Like the section for other players, the stock for Deluxe Members changes every hour, and there is an extra daily rare!
Want to see galleries for some of the rare and Curio Shop-only themes? Check out the links below:
Rare Themes
Curio Shop Themes
This has been Steve Webkinz reporting for Webkinz Newz! Are YOU one of Arte’s favorite customers? And what would you like me to report on next? Let me know in the comments below.
I love Arte!! I check out his store everyday! Gem hunting is fun!
I wish rare items were easier to afford.
Steve Webkinz thank you for the special report on Curio Shop. It is nice to have the links for the rare galleries all on the same page. Quicker access to see which items are still needed. Do you think you could put a bug in Arte’s ear to change up his items in the Curio Shop the same items have been appearing forever. It would be really nice if he offered some seasonal items once in awhile like some of the first Christmas trees which I don’t have. :}
I am on of Arte’s favorite customers, I have been for quite some time, I had lost it for awhile and then manage to earn it back. I would buy something every day and tip him also it doesn’t take long to become a favorite customer.
Hi Steve! Can you please do a report on earning badges? Why is it I have 111 possible badges to earn but my friend only has 99? And why can I earn the Pen Pals badge but not the Dry Heights badge, but my friend has the opposite? I’m trying to earn as many badges as I can, but think I will never get to level 15 on Stardrops or win a game of Bingoz. Any tips?
I actually finally made it to level 15 of Stardrops not too long ago. Whenever it was part of a recent Deluxe Challenge. First time I’ve ever been anywhere near that high on the game; I was stunned when it played out like that. That game is as much pure luck as anything, so you never know when the pieces will fall how you need them. Just keep trying. I also managed the Bingoz on just one (of many) accounts, last year sometime, I think it was. Been awhile, so I don’t really remember how scored that.
Egypt theme I would love to get lamps and just 1 tv , a coffee table and desk but they never show up . !!
The Egyptian theme retired on June 20, 2012. Sometimes if you buy trading card packets you can still get them, but, ironically, it’s rare.
You forgot another theme that’s now a part of the curioshop. “Green leaf” theme can also be found at the curioshop.
LADYBEAUTY… Check your “message center” in Webkinz World!! Something special awaits you for being such a “rare” and valuable friend!!! ;)
Steve, where can we read “The Last Adventure”?? My friends and I have been looking for it for months, and we can’t find it anywhere online!!
There is an easy way to do it, but I have forgotten how. or you could Go into the the Newspaper section of Webkinz World, keep paging back through the stories and find it that way. I will warn you, though, it’s quite a ways back.
Whoops, I just paged back 60 pages and it won’t let me go beyond that, sorry.
Send arte a gift he might send u a copy. I got one last week from him
That is not in print. The Last Adventure is not a W-Tales you can buy. He will send you The Lost Tomb or An Air of Mystery but the Last Adventure was never made into a book you could buy.
Is Arte ever going to get in some new old stock. He’s had the same stuff for years. Add some of the older holiday items. All the other sections get updated why not this one
Isn’t there also a Green Leaf theme (I think, green with white leaf print) under the Arte’s Favorites? I just now started collecting these items and have a medium sized apartment featuring items from it. The history of Arte was very interesting. I’d like to know history of more stuff.
It is one of his favourites, like the retired Kids Theme, Space Theme, Bloomin’ Theme, Cats Theme, Dog Theme, Cars Theme, Country Theme, Hockey Theme, Sweets and Treats Theme and Rock and Roll Theme. These are Curio Only and not really rares.