Are you NEW?? Introduce Yourself!! 2006-2014

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Another newbie

My name is Cathy though my user name is Cate (too many Cathys it seems) and I'm a new member to this board. I have operated a brick and mortar vintage clothing shop in Alaska (with some antiques, china, linens) for the past year and a half in the bottom floor of an antique shop, not a perfect location or space, but business has been good. I am in the process of moving my shop to a prime location as a stand alone (old lease expires and rates are jumping to prime in a non-prime locale) and expanding my operation to allow some room to spread out and to allow my men's vintage clothing to have more than a few measly racks.

I am one of two vintage clothing/accessories shops in the state (that I'm aware of). A few other consignment shops deal in vintage as a very small side line and the other vintage shop primarily deals in vintage accessories rather than clothing, so I'm unique in my business. I'd be interested in other's experiences especially with men's vintage as I forge ahead into the unknown.

As for me personally, I have had a long and abiding interest in vintage fashion and fashion in general. Essentially I'm an old hippie chick, anti-corporate, rubber stamp fashion rebel and I was sewing many of my own clothes by age 15 and though I haven't done much sewing recently due to time issues, I am still very much interested in that aspect of fashion. Additionally, when I still had my girlish figure in the 80's I bought and wore a great deal of vintage, primarily 40's, clothing. Now I indulge personally in vintage with old costume jewelry, coats and accessories. The rest finds it's way into my shop.

Like a few others, I love the series Project Runway as (surprisingly) does my husband who gives me a lot of moral and logistical support. For that I am grateful. I will be perusing the boards for old information to help with day to day operations and the issues that arise such as clothing cleaning problems etc. Thanks for the site.

Cathy
aka Cate
Birch Cottage
soon to be Metro Retro
 
Hi Cate!

Friends of mine took a trip to Alaska in August and I was envious because of the beautiful photos they came back with. How does your business fare in the winter months? is it customary to take time off like some folks do for a summer vacation in the southern states?
 
Alaska is completely lovely but winters are long and sometimes brutal, like this one. I am considering taking a month or so off for buying etc in the winter. It would likely be after Jan 20 thru March. Things do slow down somewhat in those months and I'd get out of the worst of winter but I would also consider as an alternative taking mid March through late April off as tax season does appear to put a damper on business.

March/April were the only really slow months that I seem to have had and there are no really large social events in Anchorage during those months. The antique dealer that I sub-lease from said that in her experience the March/April timeframe has been her slowest months throughout her years in business as well so that might be the better time to do my buying.

The first year after my move, I will be open year round to get some sense of what I'm up against as I'm moving to a city of 300,00 versus a commuter community of 75,000. Wish me luck.

Cathy
 
hi......what a fab site........

my user name is biker...and i am from swansea ....south wales ..uk

i used to collect vintage clothing about 25 years ago, which was all up in my attic when i got married .....moved......had kids ........and last.....year.....when i was up the attic.... it brought back so many memories going through the clothes..shoes etc.......and it sparked the old interest again......

so now i go round buying items....i keep some......and i sell some on ebay.......etc..

i am hoping in the new year.... to make a small business for myself.......doing something that i really injoy doing.....

i am no way an expert.....but i do have the love and passion in what i do.....

my friends think i'm a bit potty....as they just see old clothes as 'rags' but i see them surounded in mystery and curiosity.....as they make me wonder about the previous owners... sorry going off on one now..that's why my firends think i am potty.......

i really do look forward to be being part of this forum...
 
Hi, I'm new to all this.
I'm about to start up a business selling vintage/retro on market stalls around London. With the very kind help of the Princes Trust.
they told me to get on here and start buttering up all you lovely people for information and what not. haha.
I'm writing a business plan at the moment and I've got abit stuck on trying to find people and companies that deal in selling on wholesale stock. I need to make lots of lists, you see.
so, can anyone give me any information or links or absolutely anything that could help my cause?

It'll all be MUCH appreciated.

thankyou thankyou thankyou x
 
Hi!

I love your name!

I really do applaud your efforts to make a business plan first. So many vintage businesses sputter out because many start selling "on the fly" and haven't thought of everything else to consider. So A+ for you there.

Many businesses start out on the foundation of the person's knack and skill for sniffing out where the vintage is hiding and grows from there. (or on the other hand, some people would have it staring in their face and would never recognize it) The vintage just starts to find you after awhile. To start the opposite way with no inherent "built in magnets "or "radar" for finding it is a tall order indeed. Unlike selling wholesale modern goods, there is a finite supply available and a vintage seller is not going to share their secrets with you - names and places of where they find things. And it is not like calling up the factory and ordering. The alternative would be to partner up with someone who does have that inherent knack and you handle the sales end and they handle aquisitions from private parties, and vintage businesses.

At least that's my take on it. I don't mean to discourage you but like antiques its not the type of business where there is a simple answer and with any serious venture, you need to know the realities as well.

I think at this point it is very important if you are writing a business plan to determine what niche you will provide. Among the many vintage dealers out there - what about your business is going to make it worthwhile despite the competition. Will you specialize in certain eras? or rather Provide a different level of convenience or customer service? Will you cater to a different type of customer than your competitors and how?

Some businesses have flourished while others have waned because they have made a recongizable image for themselves. There are merchants that i do not shop if i am looking for something in very clean, giftable condition for someone who doesn't normally do vintage. There are merchants i look at first when looking for a fancy dress because they cater to my size range or era preference Or just the fact that they have fancy dresses. There are people that pop into my mind when i want an older item. Or want something very quickly. I don't have to stumble and fumble to remember who they are because they have worked at their niche or just inherently are that niche. If you can work that in from the get go I think you can be very successful!
 
Hello and welcome!

Wholesale vintage really isn't that easy to come by in the UK - as you're obviously finding! I have met a few dealers at vintage fashion fairs who had signs up saying that they supply wholesale, which tended to be the retro 70s kind of thing (mens disco shirts etc), but that may be what you're looking for so worth attending a few of those.

Good luck!
 
thanks alot for replying. :]
totally understand about wanting to keep your buyers to yourselves!
I'm working on my niche as I type, surrounded by business plan guidelines and questions about WHY I'm doing this and all the rest of it!
I've been looking on the internet for vintage fairs, I don't seem to be having much luck at getting alot of information. I'd really like to attend some, for if anything, just the experience.
I don't suppose anyone would know of a website of events or a number I could call or anything else like that?
thanks again for your advice!
 
yes wholesale vintage in the uk??/ well let ME know IF you find anyone..l havent come across anyone who sells any qaulity gear....there are companies who import from the usa by the container and sell it on that way...but my budget wouldnt stretch that far!!LOl

welcome to the vfg public board!!!
 
When I lived in London ... 30 years ago ... !!! ... certain areas had "rag sellers" who would open their areas at 5 am or earlier and we vintage buyers would be lined up to paw through their bags. I remember it was dreadful because it was cold and the crepes and rayons were tough on the hands. I would suppose now it is a matter of keeping your nose to the ground to find good suppliers. Advertise that you are looking to buy vintage? Establish connections with bulk buyers? Good luck!
 
You'll really need to be looking in East London. There are a few wholesalers (usually with shops attached, so I've no idea how good their wholesale is likely to be) in the Shoreditch area, and probably cheaper rag traders out further east. Yellow Pages is a good place to start and you may get some recommendations the further you look into it. Good luck!

Liz
 
Originally posted by eatyourmakeup
excellent! thanks alot :]
I'll be sure to get into gear and get my behind to a few of these next year.
Click to expand...

Me and Harriet are doing the Nottingham fair at the end of January, why don't you come up for the day and check it out? The train goes straight from London to Nottingham and you can get a cheap day ticket online for about £15 if you book in advance.

Lei
 
Hallo all -

Another newbie here, although the lovely Paul and I have met elsewhere :)

I'm an Australian who works in the field of maritime history. I've travelled fairly widely and have lived in the UK, USA, Austria and Singapore. I've always been interested in historical costume, but my particular research field (the British mercantile marine ca. 1890 - 1930) led to an interest in Edwardian fashion, and I picked up a few vintage items from that era.

My real passion, however, is the 1920s. I love both collecting and wearing Jazz age fashions. I also love Art Deco - architecture and both fine and applied arts.

Fortunately, I'm surrounded by people who share (or at least tolerate) my interests, including work colleagues, family and friends.

I am utterly inept with the practical side of vintage clothing - the restoration or replication of clothes (I couldn't sew to save my life), and have lots to learn about the physical construction of period clothing. So feel free to swat me over the head when I say something completely that's utter nonsense!
 
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