In the past year I've received countless questions about owning our vintage boutique, Red Velvet. You can see photos of our local shop here. I thought it would be fun to sit down with a cup of tea and really write about our experiences. I invited my good friend Jill who owns Lune Vintage in Winnepeg to add her thoughts to the conversation too. We both own local and online shops that sell vintage (as well as handmade) fashion. It's a dream job, but there are many aspects to our daily workflow that you might not expect! This post is for aspiring vintage sellers and anyone curious about the daily life of a boutique owner. Enjoy….
Q: Where do you find all the vintage clothes that you sell? Elsie: This is by far the most asked question that I hear. Most people assume that I must thrift every day to keep the store running, but the truth is that I buy most of our clothing in bulk. We purchased a fully stocked store with a second level packed with even more vintage last year. Since we already have such a large inventory I only invest in vintage pieces that are a 10 out of 10 (or that could be with reasonable alterations, of course). We pass up a lot of average stuff and polyester dresses from the 1980s because we want the shop to be beautifully curated.
With that said, we buy from local people who bring (usually large lots) of clothing into the shop for us to look at. We also attend private sales on occasion. Thrift shopping is a hobby of Emma's and mine. We both pick items up for the shop every now and then, but it's by no means the quickest way to collect good quality vintage. In my experience, the best way to gather a well curated collection is from private sellers and people cleaning out homes. Also, other vintage stores that need to liquidate inventory.
As you become an experienced vintage buyer you'll learn what prices are fair, unreasonable and great deals. You'll learn which styles are easy to find and which are more rare. You'll learn which styles your customers are most interested in too. Knowing what's valuable to your customer base can be much more important then knowing the value on every piece of vintage you come across.
Jill: Yep, I get this question more than any other too. One method for building a well curated collection is extensive thrift shopping. I’m on the hunt 4 days a week at the very least in which I visit a series of stores in succession, based on a pattern of restocking that I’ve noticed for each location. I’ve also developed relationships in the past with a small charities who allow me to view items that are not suitable for their recipients (like free clothing facilities for the poor and newly immigrated who are not interested in wearing “old” looking clothing).
Not all our stock is thrifted. Having a physical location where people can make an appointment for buying or consignment helps us dig up some really rare, quality vintage. The most profitable buy is usually in a “lot”. A lot is a large collection of items, usually not entirely inspected (boxed and not inventoried) and priced as a whole. You must determine what the lot is worth to you by viewing it quickly & by its most valuable contents. I’ve come out smelling roses by piecing out lots (like the time I bought a costume jewellery lot that unexpectedly included a freshwater pearl necklace & two diamond rings, no joke!). They’re a lot of fun if you know how to deal with them.
Lastly, we make house calls. This can result in a fabled but sometimes real life vintage treasure trove, but most of the time results in a mix of mediocre items or worse yet, unsellable and completely undesirable garbage. Screening & assessing these situations is key, but knowing how to do this is sometimes complicated, and comes with experience. When it’s good, it’s great! And if it’s bad, at least you’ll always have some good stories to tell.
What do you love most about owning your local shop? Elsie: I love so many things. Before owning my shop, I worked from home (online) for many years. Running a local shop is so incredibly fun and fulfilling. If I had to choose the best part it would be a tie between meeting blog readers almost every day and building displays.
I love the process of visual merchandising. It's so much fun to build something pretty full of products that people can try on and buy! I love building displays with the dresses. Working on our shop makeover before we opened last year was one of the most fun experiences in my career… ever! We've had so much fun as a team fringing paper and wrapping things with fabric. Seeing the customer's interacting with our displays is lots of fun!
Jill: I took a year or so off from running a physical shop, and about a month after I left the space, I began to get the itch again. One day, my husband said – you just need to find another space because you’re not yourself and you’re making yourself miserable. It was true.
What I love the most about owning a local shop is being able to create an environment which is born of an ever evolving vision. It is mine, and a way I can help support our family while manifesting a vision for how I’d like to live a passion filled life. When I walk in those doors, it’s about Lune and nothing else, and I feel so happy. Sharing what I love with others who show so much appreciation for the thought put into it make me extra happy. I couldn’t be long without it.
Q: When designing the interior of your local shop, what was your inspiration? Elsie: I wanted my shop to feel like a gigantic closet with a lot of personality. We designed our layout to be fairly open so that the inventory is easy to shop and not overwhelming. I've shopped in plenty of vintage shops that are jam-packed with too much inventory. I love a breezy shopping environment, so we created a fairly spaced out layout. We rearrange and add new inventory several times a week.
My biggest source of inspiration was my grandmother, Corina, from the 1960s. I love her style and we created the shop with her in mind. Other inspiration sources were Pushing Daisies, Anthropologie (we love their insane focus on displays) and department stores that we've seen on Mad Men.
Jill: This changes over the years, but my current inspiration is a mix of a bohemian holistic crystal shop and a seaside beach shack with sun washed walls & billowing sheer curtains. Both feel like a spiritual place to me, and they welcome the kind of laid back, casual vintage style that the 70’s has to offer us. It’s easy going, natural & unfussy, but also a bit gritty, rock n roll. I’m always striving to perfect the vision. This is why once a month I re-arrange the displays & sometimes the whole configuration of the shop. My hours are limited & when customers visit, they almost always are amazed at how it looks different every time they come in. I love that element of surprise I can offer them.
Window displays are hugely important in my opinion. I consider them to be a billboard for your business. We have our website smack in the foreground of our window, with the display being the backdrop. In a way, it’s like the intro landing page to a website. I try to think of our entire shop as the physical representation of Lune online, so when you see it, I want you to feel as though you’ve stepped through your computer screen and into our world.
Q: How many pieces of clothing do you keep in stock? Elsie: Our shop is a little on the larger side, so we can fit about 500 pieces of women's clothing plus accessories, some housewares, children's and men's. In our warehouse we currently have several thousand more pieces on racks and in piles waiting for us to shift through it. Since we have a larger building, we need more inventory, but I think a lot of vintage stores can get away with much less because quality truly is more important than quantity.
Jill: Lune is a small shop at about 300 sq feet of sales space. This means I have to be selective and smart about how I stock. I don’t hold on to stock for too long because our storage space is low, but I’d say at any given time, about 100 clothing units are out on the floor. The remainder is accessories, bags, belts, and love lune apparel.
Since our space is small, I don’t keep out of season stock on the floor. For example, when spring arrived I pulled all our wool & plaid skirts, Nordic cardigans, lined boots and fur collared jackets. Those which were fairly new stock or special inventory I packed away for fall. The filler stock which had been around since last year I put on major clearance for a short time, and then donated. Stock which isn’t moving takes up space, even in storage – and space costs money. It’s good business to know when to let stock go to make room for something that will work for your customers.
My best advise would be to sketch out and visualize your target customer. You could even have a couple different 'types' of shoppers. If you keep your target customer in mind when shopping you're much more likely to fill the shop with things they would love! I think that focusing on quality, rather than quanitity, is incredibly important for a young retail business. Also, be sure to purchase items in a wide range of retail price points.
Here are a few tips for buying vintage that I've picked up along the way. Make connections: If you find a source to buy vintage from you can most likely buy from them on multiple occasions. People cleaning out estates and liquidating stores are great sources to purchase in bulk from. Put an ad out: Use your local newspaper or craigslist to let people know that you pay cash for vintage clothing (be specific about what types of clothing you are interested in). Thrift often: If thrift shopping is a good option in your area then create your own schedule to visit weekly and be very choosy about what you buy.
One last thing… We work with about 3-5 alterations ladies at any given time so a very high percentage of clothing we sell has been altered, repaired or refashioned in some way. Having this resource makes the buying process infinitely easier. More than %50 of the dresses we sell have been hemmed or had their sleeves removed to make them more wearable. Hiring an alterations person (or learning to do them yourself) is pretty important, in my opinion!
Jill: My advice would be to spend several months stocking. You’ll need a head start on stock because a few good days can clean you right out of your best pieces. I believe in always making sure you have several stand out items, even if this means purchasing them at retail prices and selling at cost. Your extra special items will put your “filler” stock in a better light, because they lend credibility to your inventory as a whole.
That filler is important to purchase too. In fact, it’s the small $5 – $20 purchases that add up quickly to pay the bills. Stocking for a casual buy at a lower price point will make your shop accessible, and build good buzz for your shop as somewhere you can go to find a little something special for a great price. Vintage customers can be so loyal, treat them well!
Q: Do you make more money online or locally? Elsie: On vintage, I make more money locally. The reason is because a lot of women (like me) prefer to try things on before buying. Also, to be fair, our invertory is much much larger in the local shop. For time reasons, we can only offer so much vintage online each month. Restocking the local store takes less than an hour, while restocking the online store takes at least one full evening of photo shoots plus one full day of listing. There are definitely advantages to owning a local shop. Depending on where you live, it may be an incredible option! In my town there is enough interest to keep us busy, without too much competition.
Jill: When vintage is concerned, definitely local sales are more profitable and easier for Lune. While a $15 item hardly seems worth styling, listing and shipping for the sale online, it’s a quick and easy turn over locally. I love shopping online, but most people are still more comfortable purchasing a garment when they’ve tried it on themselves. When an item leaves our store, I know it’s being loved and that the sales transaction has been completed. As business owners, every moment we spend on our work is worth money, so a quick sale is in our best interest.
I enjoy offering some of my favourite pieces in our webshop Love, Lune too. It allows us to share what we’re creating here with vintage lovers around the world. When an item from our shop ships to a new location, I feel like a piece of me is going with it. In fact, I get excited when it’s a place that I’d love to visit myself. Silly maybe, but it’s all part of the fun!
The thing about vintage style is that you have to be very aware of current and upcoming trends that affect your buying choices. Sometimes a trend may be on your radar when it isn’t quite on the minds of the majority of your local customers. Offering your collection online opens it up to a whole new set of vintage lovers and fashionistas – allowing you to stay both current and profitable.
Jill: Thank you to Elsie for asking me to talk about my favorite subject & share it with all of you. Vintage business is very unique and for the completely dedicated. If you believe in your ability to accomplish set goals, learn from your experiences over time, and discover how to stay relatable in a modern market, you’ll find yourself building a loyal customer base for your own vintage business. It’s always an adventure. Good Luck! (visit Jill's blog here)
Elsie: This was really fun! I loved sharing some of the things I've learned from owning our local shop. I can honestly say that although my standard for "amazing vintage" has evolved, the butterflies I feel for beautiful vintage dresses are just as strong today as they were in highschool when I found my first 1950s dress! It's a magical biz to be in. If you want to hear me talk more about business stuff, check out my e-course Dream Job.♥ elsie
134 Comments
I really throughly enjoyed reading this post. I like that you spun the interior off of having or (it being) a gigantic closet, I really like that idea.
I’ve been wondering lately about what it would be like to own a boutique, Its become my new dream! Thanks so much for sharing.
thanks for this!! i’m from the southest place in the world and i’m dreaming to own a shop, i hace one online but i want a place like yours!! congratulations for your amazing and beautiful work 🙂
kisses from Chile
Paula
This was a great read and I think would translate well to boutique owning in general.
Thanks!
Andrea
Great post with great information. I just love the look of your shop.
♥ sécia
http://www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
I love this post! I own & operate a small (about 300 sq ft.) boutique with primarly handmade clothing & accessories.. but I recently made the decision to add vintage too. I love it! I am doing it on a much smaller scale…but like you Elsie I have been thrifting since highschool & still get those butterflies when I find an amazing piece! I really enjoyed this post! Thank you!! 🙂
This was such an amazing post! I really admire both of you =)
On another note, Elsie I am in love with the yellow dress in the last photo (like every time I see it I get butterflies)
Is that something that is for sale?
<3 Sarah
theantiquepearl.blogspot.com
A very inspiring read. I don’t know that opening a vintage store is something I want to do per se, but I definitely want to own my own business one day (probably a pastry shop… I love food)
This is so informative and amazing, thanks for doing this! 🙂
I remember when I finally made the decision that opening my own shop was a matter of “when” and not “if”. It was such a terrifying but really exciting moment for me! Im sure you can relate. I just love hearing you talk about your shop because it takes my focus off all of the unknowns and sheds light on the reality of being a shop owner while also reminding me how crazy exciting it is to be on this path. you are really so inspiring. i wish i could just come hang out in your shop for a week and learn from you. maybe someday. : )
amanda
You are both my idols. You are vintage goddesses, and I love you both. Thank you THANK YOU for the endless inspiration. You inspire me to me a better person. 🙂
So informative! Amazing post!
I’m pretty sure I need to take a road trip to your shop!! 🙂
BIGGEST THANK YOU TO ELSIE + JILL for sharing your knowledge and experiences. I really appreciate it. I always learn so much on this blog. Thanks again!
How do you clean the clothes from thrift stores?
Ooh, I had been waiting for this post. It seems like you do it all…the store, Red Velvet, the wedding, the blog. I am just amazed. Keep up the inspiring work! xoxo
Amanda, we bring loads of laundry home to wash them all the time. I use grandma’s stain remover and oxiclean. Hope that helps!
XO, elsie
I would have such a hard time buying “fixer upper” dresses and finding way to make them work today. That is a skill. I love that 70s boho style too that Lune has.
Wow, super post! I love both of your shops and this was such a fun article to read. You both inspire me so much, thank you for sharing this! XO.
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been reading your blog for almost a year now. It’s great!
Thanks for sharing. I’ve been reading your blog for almost a year now. It’s great!
thanks to you both..such a great an amazing post:)
Thanks to you both for sharing such an inspiring post! It was full of useful advice! (Besides of wonderful pics!)
Wow, this was such an in-depth post! Thank you!!!
A properly brilliant blog post! Very inspiring and also realistic.
Favourited – I have a feeling i will be revisiting this in 5 years…
I have to say you both are such a large inspiration to so many bloggers out there. I rarely encounter a blog that does not know you or reference at least one of you as in inspiration. I find it so empowering to see you both rocking out your dreams daily. Thank you for being pure motivation for the rest of us to love what we do, live, and of course wear :).
P.S. Please read the book a vintage affair. It’s about a young woman who owns a vintage clothing shop and the stories she learns from those that bring and buy her clothes. I think you both would really like it.
Big huge ((HUGS))
Emily
what a wonderful post about what I dream about doing.
Thank you a bunch,
anna
This was a very interesting post, love these posts where you talk about the whole business part of what you do, thanks for sharing!
what an interesting post! i love the make overs you do!
http://shayyyyy.blogspot.com/
Elsie, it’s the first time I write to you, actually it’s the first time I participate in a blog and comment! So, I hope you can really read all the comments. It’s been fun reading you and watch your photos. The colors, the light in them is amazing. It’s like traveling back in time. I wonder though, how can someone buy something from your online store. Forgive my ignorance but as I said before it’s the first time for me! Thanks a lot! Wish you luck to everything you do!
How fun! I’ve recently started selling some of my vintage pieces in my Etsy shop and to read about your experiences on-line and in-store was captivating. I have a day off today and plan to go out treasure hunting. Reading this was a great kick off to what will be a fun day of shopping.
I really like that first picture, by the way!
Hi Elsie. Great blog post! It was very insightful. I also bought the Dream Job course (about halfway through!) and found this information to be very complementary. Thanks!
Jill’s shop is amazing. I drive by it a lot and love to look at her beautiful window displays.
Terrific interview!
This is a great post. Very encouraging. This makes me want to quit my day job and make my online vintage shop into a real shop! Thanks for all the insight and expertise 🙂
I really enjoyed reading both of your takes on owning a vintage boutique!
I´m dreaming of opening a vintage and antique shop in my hometown some day! So thank you so much for this amazing post!
Have a lovely day both of you!
i really loved reading this elsie. thank you SO much for sharing. i work at a local boutique, but it is not a vintage shop. i run my own online shop and always wondered the difference between running a vintage brick and mortar store vs running a regular brick and mortar store where youre ordering from suppliers. i had no idea about where all of vintage stores inventory comes from, so this cleared up so much for me 🙂
Steffys Pros and Cons
What a great post. Thank you so much for the advice. Would you be able to address a few more questions quickly? How do you know what to charge for an item and how do you verify that things you find at thrift shops are truly vintage?
Thanks so much!
I love this post! I hope I can see RV one day. It’s beautiful!
breatheandhush.blogspot.com/
Loved this post, thanks! We are planning a trip to see Red Velvet!
-Rachel
http://coyotekind.blogspot.com/
Great post, thanks for sharing!!
-Dee
Love your blog!!!
Dear Elsie —
I would just like to say that I am inspired by the fact that for so many years you’ve had a vision, and here – in the flesh – it’s happening. I think when your heart and mind cooperate and take the time to formulate what is it you want to do and who it is you want to be, the dedication, patience, and work it takes to get there is often underestimated.
I — by no means — want to open up a vintage shop, but have my own long, arduous journey ahead of ‘where I want to be’ in my career and how I want my everyday of my working future to look like. In no way connected to vintage – I am inspired by your work. I am reignited with energy by your story. Thank you, and you can be sure I’ll be tuned in.
Sincerely, a blog fan,
Amanda
amazing article thank you!!
This is a great read – thanks for sharing!
I love that you both took the time to share your experiences and you’re not just saving it all for the e-course! I always appreciate how often you share your business tips and DIY projects on here, for free, for everyone. It is a very gracious business habit 🙂
I’m so glad you posted this! It’s wonderful to hear some of the background details of what you do. I sometimes dream of owning a shop like yours, and it seems so overwhelming; but you make it seem practical and doable. Thanks! 😀
Winnipeg, not Winnepeg. I live not too far from there in North Dakota and may have to make a stop over the next time I’m in Canada.
Thank you for this post – it was a fascinating insight into something I’ve got a long held dream of doing, and encourages me to start putting into actions some small steps to achieving that dream. I’m based in the UK – I’d be really interested to hear British or European based vintage sellers would echo your experiences.
Thanks again – I always leave your blog feeling inspired!
It’s great to hear your side of things dealing with vintage and where you get your inventory. Thanks!
Absolutely loved this post! I own a tiny baby boutique here in New Jersey, and I always love to hear other business owners’ stories. I have found that owning my own business is so much more emotional then I ever thought it would be… some encouragement and positive reinforcement is always a great thing. This post did that for me, so thank you!
Thanks Elsie and Jill! What a wonderful post. You answered so many of the questions that itch at the back of mind. Even though owning my own vintage shop may be many years away, I feel so inspired to add to my growing vintage collection!
Thank you thank you! This post actually couldn’t have come at a better time because I am smack in the middle of opening my own real life store! It is a very exciting and completely terrifying process but the both of you have been very inspiring.
xx
Wow. This is such a generous post. It’s so amazing that you are willing to share you secrets and tips with the www. I love the generosity of creativity and ideas that you have on your blog.
Kacie
http://www.acollectionofpassions.blogspot.com/
Great post! I would love to have a job I really enjoy and where I am independent. Now I am curious, what work was it that you did online, from home, before you set up Red Velvet? Was it just your blog?
http://thesignaturebow.blogspot.com/
LATEST OUTFIT POST: Something New, Something Blue
I said it before, but I’ll say it again: I really enjoyed reading this insight into running a vintage indie store. Thank you both for putting this together 🙂
thank you for all the tips and information! It’s fascinating to see how you developed your shop into something really big! Owning a vintage shop isn’t something I aim for but, out of curiosity, do you make your living from the shop exclusively? I can only imagine how much money and time you’ve put into the shop…
This post is so inspiring! Thanks so much Elsie & Jill for sharing
x
Wow! What a plethora of great information! I love how you are always willing to share your “secrets” of business with us:)
Love,
Stephanie Kelley
http://www.maydae.com
I want to work for you. I’m a writer. Need any copy written? I do volunteer work for exposure, too 🙂
I LOVE this post, these photos are so inspiring!
-meesch
http://aperfectkindofday.blogspot.com
Even though I don’t think owning a vintage shop is in my future, it was lovely to take a look behind the scenes anyway 🙂
This is such an amazing interview! Now I want to own a vintage shop 😉
Thank you so much ladies!!
brea-marie.blogspot.com
This is the perfect post Elsie! I am actually in the process of writing my business plan for my own vintage boutique here in London: it’s going to online and a traveler! Reading inspirational accounts like yours remind me that anything’s possible if you believe in yourself and are passionate about what you do, which both you and Jill clearly are. Hopefully one day in the not-too-distant future I’ll be able to write a post about my own success story 🙂
Wow OMG i can’t say some thing this time i am totally shook..
This is wonderful! It’s a dream of mine to eventually open a vintage shop.
I actually unquestionably need to think much more in that course and find out things i can do about this.
It’s good to see this information in your post, i was looking the same but there was not any proper resource, than now i have the link which i was looking for my research.
Elsie! This post and your e-course are so incredibly helpful. I am a Textiles and Apparel management major and what you do it my dream job! These tips are so helpful, thanks for taking the time to do this post.
I want to be you when I grow up.
Everytime I read your blog I feel so extremely inspired.
I started my own webshop with a friend of mine and I can only dream of it once becoming so amazing as your shop!
Such a lovely and insightful post. I absolutely adore both shops/blogs! I always feel immensely inspired by the way you decorate the interior of your shop, Elsie. I look forward to seeing what you come up with for this autumn/winter.
xo
Annalee
http://www.ramblingsofagypsynomad.com
Thanks for sharing! I have to say though, after reading this interview, I am inclined more than ever simply to shop at vintage stores rather than try to run one!
Thanks to all who have the passion and drive to run one!
I don’t know if you remember me asking you for some places to go in Springfield during my roadtrip this summer…
I didn’t have the time to really see the city because we had some problems with our car, but i wanted to let you know that i passed by your shop and it’s a very beautiful shop !
oh, i drank a really good bubble tea ! 🙂
I live not too far from there in North Dakota and may have to make a stop over the next time I’m in Canada.
Putting up your own business will be hard if you do not put your whole heart into it. So aside from planning and organizing, you must love your craft to be successful in your business.
Thank you so much for the insight! Always an inspirtation!
Question: Is there a good mac friendly pos/inventory software for a vintage shop?
Thanks!
Jo
I can’t thank you enough for this post. I’ve been thinking about opening a small vintage store in my area in sydney, australia, as there isn’t a vintage store in the area i have in mind. my whole family is worried about how i would manage the shop and keep getting stock for the shop, but the tips that you both have given are fantastic. it may be a bit different for you guys as you’re in the US but I’d be interested in hearing more about the shop, like how you started and whether it was difficult to get a start and a following.
thanks again!
i love this picture.
Stumbling across your blog is like finding a treasury cave!! I’m soo inspired! I also plan to open my shop with illustrations and vintage stuff, so this post came like cherry on the top of the cake! 😉 Ok, from now on, I’m religiously following your blog! Thank you!
Such valuable information! Thank you so much for sharing, ladies. You’re a constant source of inspiration, + when I get frustrated or scared, I often tell myself “If Elsie can do it, so can I!”
xx.
Thank you for such an informative post! I would love to do something like this some day. So much respect for you two living your passion!
Owning a boutique is not as easy as ABC. You’ve got to give it a hundred percent in order to make it successful. And I know deep in my heart that you love your business so much! =)
Most of us already know what it’s like to own an average boutique. But a ‘vintage boutique is very different from the typical one. Some may not appreciate this new trend. But when you know how to make your your store stand out, expect to earn income and popularity from your customers.
Thanks so much for talking about this. You ladies are so inspiring. Elsie, I discovered your Blog about 8 months ago when looking for ideas for my own wedding last month, and now every day I look at your site. I look forward to getting home every evening and checking out what you have posted !! I manage a shop in Dublin, Ireland, and we do all sorts of pretty papers and gifts. I love vintage, and its always been in the back of my mind to open my own vintage shop and also selling handmade goods. I’m a bit of a diy fanatic so I appreciate the work involved when I see other people’s crafts. Keep up the good work, and hopefully some day I can fly over and visit your fantastic store.x
Hi Elsie, this was super-helpful!
I have an online shop that sells handmade clothing and accessories and its still in the beginning stages. I always knew, since day one, I would also add vintage. However, once my online shop is fully established, my big dream is to own my own shop of quirky, fun items. I thoroughly enjoyed getting both perspectives, it made the information seamless and fresh. Thank you for another inspiring post:)
What college did you go to/ did you go to college?
wow!!!! i love all things vintage…i would go crazy in your store!! 😉
My friend has also her own boutique, and it’s not as easy as it seems. But she’s very eager to meet her goals, and her business is starting grow now after months of hard work.
I wish one day I’ll have my dream job too. Now I am a banker and I hate my job, it’s hell everyday :/
http://rainbowgatherer.blogspot.com
This is great! My dream is to have my own shop one day 🙂 Thanks for this post!
I wanted to say how much I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and how helpful it has been. I’m going to be opening my own boutique in Oregon in a few months and will carry both modern designer consignment and about half vintage. A question for you is about how much inventory to buy? I have about 900 SF of floor space so have guessed on having at least 300 items to fill the space, but wondering about how much I should have in the back room when I open as well. I’m hoping to maintain in the future by mostly consignments but don’t want to run out of inventory my first month, help! FYI, the population of my town is about 20,000 and it is a college town as well.
I am addicted to your style as well as your consistent positivity. Vintage is a huge passion of mine, and your work is truly inspirational. Keep up the good work!
-Jade
hello ! my name is Audrey, i’m french and i love your blog !!!!! it’s just Amazing ! come on in france !
Super fantastic post! Thank you for being so generous and honest!
Yes, I agree with many of the comments here, this post is quite informative overall. I am in a similar situation with above. Currently on Blogger but considering options. It’s important to own the content we create!
i love the photos as well.. what filter do you use on PS or what app do you use to give this kind of 70’s look?
This was a great post. I enjoyed taking a glimpse into the life of a vintage boutique owner!
Inspiring! Thank you so much !
I added this to my “Favorite things Friday” – I loved it so I hope more people read it!
http://www.littlewandererblog.com/2012/01/favorite-things-friday.html
There are shops like yours in a small town by San Diego, CA. The shops are located by the beach and you’d be surprised how busy they are. I know my youngest daughter would get much of her clothes, home accessories and furniture at these shops when she lived in Mission Beach. Another area next to Mission Beach was called Pacific Beach and they too have a couple of those shops. Our daughter used to raid our garage for things I’d kept from the 50’s when I was growing up. I was a teen ager in the 50’s, graduated high school in 1958. Ah what a great time to grow up. Just on the edge of innocence. You and Jill are to be congratulated on your wonderful attitudes, ideas and entepreneurship.(sp?)
lovely post
Your shop is so cute! I would love to shop there.
This is amazing! Im in the process of opening a vintage shop, Im so thankful for the tips! I do have a question regarding bulk buying…. can u recommend a good place to get started?
i just love your look. you look like a crafter and an artist. that is what i am and i am changing the way i look. thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas! i love your website!
Great post, it’s my dream job
Hey!
I just wanted to say how inspiring this post is to me. I know I kinda commented pretty late, but I just wanted to let you know your daily Sunshine-y posts makes a 16-year-old Californian very happy. Good job blogging, so far!
-Your girl,
Trikea
[ tripletrillion.blogspot.com ]
Great post, thank you x
You both have amazing style and talent!! So much fun to read about how it all comes together for you…thanks for sharing!
thankyou,you have inspired me to go forward with my passion of collecting beautiful vintage gems and expand my business from online selling to one day having a small business,i really like your caravan concept lune,kia ora from aotearoa!(new zealand)
http://www.guccioutlet-jp.net/ 一方、年金専門誌「年金情報」が２１年２月、ＡＩＪの疑惑を指摘する記事を掲載して以降、年金基金側から解約の申し出が増加。解約の際は水増しした運用実績分を上乗せして返還する必要があった。
http://www.guccioutlet-jp.net/ このため浅川社長は同年以降、解約金の支払いに困り、新規契約を結んだ顧客からの委託金を払い戻しに充当。経理上は解約されたファンドの商品を新規顧客が買い取る形をとり、アイティーエム証券から直接、解約者に送金していた。
I love your site! Im a newbie in blogging and i stumbled upon your blog because i was searching for vintage suitcases then i decided to wander around your site and its amazing. I also love doing lotsa things and its funny and great to find someone who i can find a lot of similarities with. I also love baking, in fact, i run my own cupcake business (a small freelance kind). And i also love love love vintage..dresses, arts, pieces, projects.. I love them. I’ve also started on photography about a year ago but dont have quite the time to attend to all these things i like doing. Im ecstatic to see your page because everything in your page is everything i love doing. Surprising and fun to see someone who is almost like a twin. I wish i had more time to do these kinds of things but for now i only have 22 days of summer and only 16 days left. God bless on your page!! I really really enjoyed reading on your blogs and hope to read more. Great great job!!!!!
Thank you for sharing this valuable information for wanna be vintage sellers. I love your blog space design, it is colorful and eye-catching!!!
Lulu
Fantastic post! As a (currently) online-only vintage seller, I found the insights really valuable, and it was such a fun read! (And I can totally relate to the vintage-dress-induced butterflies.) Thanks! <3
Owning a vintage boutique or any type of business is an achievement! However, it entails great responsibilities such as managing your staffs, tracking inventory files, and running other business errands.
classic and fashion,that’s my feeling,really like this
hi nice stuff
This was a really fascinating post to read, and it is inspiring me to create my own castle-in-the-air vintage store dreams! What kind of inventory system do you use? Do you have any kind of a database of items, or would that be less useful since most things are one-of-a-kind?Thanks for posting!
im sitting here at work reading your blog, and ive totally been inspired thankyou for this!
jill & elsie you guys are awesome!
What kind of paint did you use for your window (shown in your pics) and how hard was it to get off?
I’m a new reader of your blog and I have to say that I adore everything you feature here! I’ve been wanting to start a vintage clothing business for a few years now, and this post made it seem like it could be a reality. Thanks!
Love this style! This makes me want to do some vintage and thrift shop shopping^^! 😀
Rawrs, Evey
bellaevey.blogspot.com
By any chance, do you guys have a magazine we can subscribe to?
Love getting insight from other boutique owners! Beautiful Inspiration! Looking forward to adding more Vintage to our current mix. Thank you:)
I love this post! I love your photographs! I really love your blog!
Thank you for sharing, very informative 🙂
all your works are truly inspiring…even my boyfriend and i LOVE VINTAGE & have planned to open such outlets wen we grow up and get married!!:)
love from India.
Aw, what a lovely post! You two ladies are such an inspiration. I’m really intimidated by the thought of owning a physical shop that I admire the work & effort you two put into them. I bet they look so wonderful when you first walk in… 🙂
http://horsesofares.blogspot.com
Wish I could have read this 20 years ago when I opened a vintage shop – mine closed after 5 years of struggling to meet rent increases.
Your blog is so awesome!!
I just discovered it:)
http://shubhisrevels.blogspot.in/
Wish I had the confidence to just jump in and do it! Max respect guys! xx
AWESOME.
Val
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
Lovely post!! So inspiring! Thanks for sharing!! Have a wonderful day! xo Heather
Thanks for sharing!! I’m starting a vintage shop online so this is very helpful 🙂 A bricks and mortar is the dream. One day! 🙂
Your blog is so amazing. Love your stuff