Moms of Etsy ~ Desiree of ArtDecoDame

I am extremely honored and excited to bring you the following interview of the gorgeous Desiree from the Etsy shop ArtDecoDame.  She has an amazingly curated shop full of vintage from the 20s to the 60s with bright photography and a wide variety of apparel.  She does all this while watching her two lovely children and pets!  Find out how she balances her life as mother and shopkeeper in the following interview!

Meet Desiree

What inspired you to start your Etsy shop?

Honestly, it was becoming so disenchanted with selling on eBay.  I sold for years on there off and on. When I got pregnant with my daughter it became my full-time gig, but its a different crowd.  You feel lost amongst a sea of other things and the fees are painful.  Etsy, due to being more select in what they allow you to sell on the site, you don't get that.  I'd put it off for about a year, though friends kept telling me to sell on there, because I felt like it was more marketed at handmade. But Etsy has a great vintage selection and vintage sellers!

How many kids do you have and when do you find is the best time to work on your shop?

I have two kidlets! My daughter Heidi is 4 and my son Wayland is 2.

so cute! love both of their expressions here!

The best times I've found to work on my shop is throughout the day when I can.  I always take photos when I have natural light so I'll set them up with an art project while I take photos of inventory. When they're eating breakfast, I'll take that time to either sneak in a listing or work on ironing any clothing I've picked up.  I try and do prep work throughout the day so I can knock out listings either that night or the next morning.

With kids you just come to terms with the fact that you're NOT going to accomplish everything you want to do right then and there when you're feeling motivated.  So, instead of getting frustrated that you can't work when you feel like, it it is better to break up what you need to do in smaller to do lists.

What time do you go to bed at night?

I am unfortunately a night owl.  I thought having kids would help that but it didn't.  I'm good at making sure I'm in bed by midnight. Sometimes I can fall asleep right away and other times it'll be one or 2 in the morning before I can sleep.  I have an overactive mind and it doesn't shut off until I'm too exhausted to do anything other than shut my eyes.

What time do you get up and do you need caffeine?

My kids are my alarm clock and they're usually up a little before 7am.  Sometimes I can con them into snuggling in bed with me till 7:30am.  I'm not an early bird so yes, coffee is my best friend in the morning.

Do you take your children with you while hunting for vintage for the shop?  If so, what are some helpful tips.

Yes I do. The preferred method is always to go childless, but that is not always the reality for a lot of us.  I will say shopping with one is so much easier than 2 ( and if you're going with more than 2 you deserve sainthood).  When my daughter was a baby, it was so easy to put her in my Baby Bjorn carrier and go.  My best advice is to make sure your kids are fed before you go! I can't say I would dare bring my kids to an estate sale or auction, but yard sales and thrift stores are easier.  I try to give mine something to hold when we go in the store so they're less likely to grab other things.

5 words to describe yourself.

Sarcastic, Sensitive, Loyal, Nerdy and Shy

What is your favorite item in the shop?

Hmmm,that's a toss up between my Bakelite acorn brooch and the lucite purse!

 

Do you have a go to meal you cook on those days where you're overwhelmed?

I wish I did!  I'm very fortunate to have a husband that loves to cook so on days I'm feeling overwhelmed, he'll happily cook for me.

What is the best and hardest thing about working from home with little ones?

The best part is I'm here with them.  I'm not missing them grow up.  The worst is online sales aren't always reliable like an out of the home job. Also finding balance, though your shop needs attention to work you can feel like finding that balance between giving it the proper attention and being there for your kids is a tight rope.

Are there any other networking sites you post on?

Yes,I'm a tad of a social networking whore
I'm on blogger: www.ArtDecoDame.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ArtDecoDame
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Art_Deco_Dame
and if you're an iPhone geek like me I'm on Instagram under BakeliteBroad

Hope you enjoyed getting to know Desiree.  So many honest truths here about being a stay at home mom.  Thanks so much for reading and thanks to Desiree for being so open!

Moms of Etsy - Ellyn of VintageAga

Since much of the content of this blog deals with being a stay-at-home mom while working from home, I like to showcase others in similar situations as myself.  I really do enjoy connecting with other mothers that own Etsy shops.  Each have such different stories, inspirations, yet are all connected with a love for their children.  I've recently been emailing/tweeting with Ellyn from VintageAga- an irresistibly adorable shop full of vintage clothing for the little ones.  Ellyn's shop carries clothing for both boys and girls, ranging from apparel for newborns to size 8.  Her bright photography captures the clothing very well and each piece is extremely affordable!  Amazingly, she does all this while caring for 2 little ones!

Anyhow, meet Ellyn!

What inspired you to start your Etsy shop?
It was a combination of many things! I left my job as a newspaper reporter last year to be a full-time mama. But after I quit last winter and gave birth to my second child in May, I secretly missed working. I wanted something to call my own while balancing mommyhood. At the same time, I had amassed a pile of vintage finds that I knew other mamas would like. And I wanted to promote the idea of infusing vintage into our children’s wardrobes. It saves money, promotes preservation and recycling, and gives our kids a unique, non-cookie cutterlook!

cute dress from her shop! click here for more info

How many kids do you have and when do you find is the best time to work on your shop?
I have two kiddos, Ella, who is nearly three years old, and Miles, who is seven months old. They are my priorities so working on the shop really depends on their schedules. Fellow mamas would know that raising a toddler and infant can get nutty; sometimes, I barely have any time to take a shower and eat a meal. Other days, the kids synchronize their naps and I get to take shop photos, edit them and list a few items. Most of the time, I work when they go to bed at night.

What time do you go to bed at night?
I usually hit the sack around midnight - when I can’t keep my eyelids open anymore. If I can manage to stay up longer, I usually sleep around 1 or 2 a.m. so that I can squeeze in some work.

What time do you get up and do you need caffeine?
I wake up around 7:30 a.m. with the kids. If I really have the need, I drink coffee to rev up my system. Most days, I don’t drink coffee. I am, however, a big Diet Coke girl. It’s my vice!

Do you take your children with you while hunting for vintage for the shop? If so, what are some helpful tips.
My kids are attached to me ALL THE TIME, so wherever mama goes, babies go. I usually go in the morning when Miles needs his morning nap.  My koala loves to sleep in a baby carrier while I shop. My toddler can be demanding while we’re out so I make sure to bring a lot of snacks to keep her preoccupied. If I go thrifting, I make sure to swing by the book section first so my toddler can sift through them while I peruse. If I check out an estate sale, I might take one of the munchkins with me on the weekend.

Ella in a vintage dress.  Adorable!

Mile's pretty cute and big!

5 words to describe yourself.
Giving,protective, sassy, loving and creative.

Is Etsy a job, hobby, or both?
I’d call my shop a hobby-job. I do it because I love finding great vintage items and sharing them with like-minded people. I also have this weird thing about not being able to abandon a treasure that could go to a loving home and find a second life. I also set my own schedule so the flexibility makes it feel less like a typical job. It is a job in the sense that what I do takes a tremendous amount of time. I don’t want to send junk over to my customers. I mend, launder and press the items. I take flattering photographs. I try to describe the items accurately. And I wrap the items up like it’s a present. Don’t you love getting pretty things in the mail, too?

What is your favorite item in the shop?
I sold it! It was a beautiful toddler girl dress from the 1950s, with candy cane red-and-white stripes, a smocked waist and a pointed collar. I wish I saved it for my girl!

Do you have a go to meal on those days where you're overwhelmed by your family, work, Etsy, etc.? What is it?
When it gets crazy around the house, my husband puts on his superhero cape and brings home a yummy dinner from one of our favorite seafood joints. When I’m overall stressed, a bit of chocolate makes me happy. French fries also make me giddy.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Ellyn!  Aren't her kids adorable?  You can find Ellyn on her fun blog and on twitter @ VintageAga.

Have a great Monday!

Moms of Etsy~ Beth of REiNViNTAGE and REiNViNTAGEkids

One great aspect of shopkeeping on Etsy is networking with others.  There are some people you just click and connect with right away, and Beth from REiNViNTAGE is definitely one of the friendliest vintage moms on Etsy!  Not only is she friendly, but her shop is well-stocked with gorgeous vintage apparel.  She recently began a second shop for little kids, also!  Get to know Beth and how this super-mom handles her shop, family, and work.

What inspired you to start your Etsy shops?

After working in corporate America for 7 years, I started feeling like my creative side was being severely neglected. While I was out on maternity leave with our first son I started brainstorming things to do/make on Etsy. I was also hoping I could find something that would help us bring in some extra income in the future so I could stay out a little longer whenever we decided to have another child. I started reading more on the Etsy blog and came across a QYDJ article about another vintage shop and her story just clicked: www.etsy.com/blog/en/2009/quit-your-day-job-advintagous/

I had been collecting vintage clothing and accessories since high school and my collection had gotten pushed to the back of my closet behind all of my Anne Klein business suits. I decided it was time to dig it out again and see what I had!  I felt like opening a vintage shop might be the perfect way for me to feel whole again - to reinvent myself - and bring some fun back into my wardrobe… so, REiNViNTAGE was born.

(Note: not current picture of Beth! This was when she was 16, dressing up for spirit week in high school.)

After 6 months, things were going great; I was thrilled! Then we found out we were expecting our 2nd child, which I just knew would be a girl. While thrifting I started picking up little vintage dresses whenever I saw them. But in October we found out #2 was another boy…so much for intuition! :) About a month or so later I started planning REiNViNTAGEkids. My hope was to open it in January, but as my pregnancy progressed that date quickly got changed to “whenever I get the energy”. Our 2nd son was born March 19th and REiNViNTAGEkids opened at the end of June.

A dress from Beth's personal collection that made its way into the shop!

How many kids do you have and when do you find is the best time to work on your shop?
We have two boys, Will (2yrs) and Charlie Fletcher (5.5mo). When I was on maternity leave, I would work most days during Will’s naptime (1-3pm) and then again at night after he went to bed around 7:00. Now that I’m back at the day job I’m more reliant on my time in the evening, and then use my lunch hour to go to the post office, catch up on convos or edit photos. I’ve never made “set” hours for my shop because it’s so hard to stick to that plus the boys’ schedules!

What time do you go to bed at night? Heh… *usually* between 10-11pm.

What time do you get up? My alarm goes off at 6am and I snooze until about 6:30 (or whenever one of the boys decides it’s time to get up).

Do you take your children with you while hunting for vintage for the shop? If so, what are some helpful tips. Rarely. When I was out my husband would stay with the boys one day a week so I could go out and it was such a treat! I’ve taken Charlie out with me a few times – he’s a great shopping buddy because he just hangs out in the stroller and smiles. The best advice I can give is to make sure they have a full belly :)

Charlie!!!

5 words to describe yourself. Determined. Pragmatic. Humorous. Thoughtful. Southern <3

Is Etsy a job, hobby, or both? Both! But more of a hobby since I still have a full time day job. I used to be a sales manager and got switched to a customer service position where I don’t make commission or bonuses anymore. The shop helps supplement our income and without me having to work crazy long hours during the day!

Beth's first pair of vintage heels, thrifted at age 15.

What are your favorite items in the shops? For REiNViNTAGE: Channeling my inner southern belle:

vintage 1930s 40s formal dress : O'HARA full skirt

For REiNViNTAGEkids: Making me want to try *one more time* for a little girl:
vintage 1920s 30s dress : PiNK SiLK ivory lace (newborn-3mo)

Do you have a go to meal on those days where you're overwhelmed by your family, work, Etsy, etc.? What is it? I am the luckiest mama in the world because my husband does all the cooking (but he knew when we got married that it wasn’t part of the package). The nights when I “cook” basically means we order Papa John’s :)

Hope you enjoyed reading about Beth, one of the many supermoms on Etsy and thanks to Beth for taking time out of her busy life to contribute to my little old blog! <3

Sponsor Spotlight~Little Bee Vintage

It has been such a pleasure conversing with Jo from LITTLE BEE VINTAGE, a cute little vintage Etsy shop based in the UK with a variety of vintage apparel from the 50s to the 80s!  She's my first international sponsor and I'm delighted to have her. Hope you enjoy the interview!

Isn't she cute?

Explain your reasons for starting an Etsy vintage shop.
Basically I love clothes, I've always been fascinated with different styles & tribes and love the way dressing well gives you confidence and expression. Jean Cocteau said "Style is a way of saying complicated things."


My mother is a dressmaker/tailor, so as a child I remember watching her endlessly at her sewing machine making beautiful creations and effortlessly too. Mum would make me & my sister clothes, whatever we wanted really, which meant we always had clothes in our wardrobe that were a bit different from our peers, and kids thought we were quite cool!


Having my own little shop gives me great satisfaction, I get so excited when it's 'opening time' in the morning. The shopping bit is a very welcome added bonus!


What is your most favorite vintage item you own?
My favourite vintage item at the moment is a 40s Angele Delanghe couture gown with matching sleeveless bolero. I dare not sell it as it's so unique, so it just hangs around my office looking beautiful!

What is your favorite vintage era and why?
The obvious choice is the swinging 60s- this is when the iconic British fashion designers really led the pack. There was a huge movement and shift in attitudes and I think because this was my mum's era, it feels more tangible. I particularly like Jean Shrimpton's fluid & graceful style.

Gorgeous!

I also adore 1920' & 30s fashion and I'm incredibly envious when I see a piece in mint condition. They are so difficult to get hold of in the UK. I love the decadent glamour of the era and enjoyed reading about the rivalry between the queens of couture Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel! Paul Allier's artwork of the time really epitomizes the fashion of the time. I want to look at it forever!

Since you're based in the UK, where do you find your vintage?
 I find my vintage from a number of sources. I have a couple of contacts within the theatre business, so sometimes get have a look through some huuuuge wardrobes. Other than that, auction sites, charity shops (Are these the equivalent to US thrift stores)? Sundays are car boot sale days, they start very early (7am) and sell everything from car engines to home baked cakes & doughnuts, they are amazing places.

Is there an item you sold that was hard to let go?
There have been so many things that were hard to let go off, most recently a 70s Leather saddle bag, some 70s totally funky red leather boots and a 1950s Tribal print dress-  I could've kicked myself!!

5 words to describe yourself.
free spirited, unceremonious, happy, sad, indifferent

What is your favorite item in the shop right now?
Favourite item in the shop right now is a 1950s/60s olive dress that has been there it seems forever, the print is so fabulous and fits like a dream...Why is it still there?

Is Etsy a job or hobby or both?
Etsy for now is a part time job but i hope to go full time. I'm also a Holistic Therapist but my heart lies in vintage shopkeeping!

You've had amazing sales for being on Etsy for such a short amount of time. What have you learned so far?
I've been on Etsy for around 18 months and so far, I've learned that I should reach out to the Etsy community more and use the tools at hand. It's a wonderful marketplace with such artistic folk, it's very inspiring and I feel v special to be a v small part...
I've also learned to ship internationally with a tracking number, it's much better for my nerves!!
 
Hope you enjoyed the interesting interview!  I had so much fun reading her answers.
 
You can also find Jo on her BLOG and on TWITTER.

Sponsor Spotlight- Sassy Sister Vintage

I've had the pleasure of having Kim as a sponsor!  She owns SASSY SISTER VINTAGE- a beautiful curated vintage shop on Etsy full of apparel, jewelry, and home goods! My words can't give enough praise to how amazing her shop is, and she runs it with 2 little daughters! 

Here's Kim and her delightful interview!

(The entire clan is just adorable!)

Explain your reasons for starting an Etsy vintage shop.

Before I opened my Etsy shop, I rented space for about 5 years in an antique mall and sold vintage furniture and clothing. I had another baby and felt a bit overwhelmed trying to keep the space up and take care of 2 little girls. I had been wanting to try an Etsy shop for a while, so I decided this was the right time.

What is your favorite vintage item you own?
Hmmm, there are so many things that I've fallen in love with! I think my favorite item or maybe I should say items is one wall of black and white photos in my dining room. They are all photos that my mom blew up, then matted and framed of family members that have all passed on. They are all very unique and artistically done pictures.

(Beautiful, and I love the lamp too!)

At what age did you start collecting vintage?

Ahhh, why do you have to ask about age? ;-) just kidding. I lived in downtown Salt Lake City in my mid 20's and that's when I became totally hooked on vintage! That was about 15 years ago now.

Which item is your favorite in the shop right now?

I've been making jewelry for quite some time. I initially didn't put any in my shop because there's so much on Etsy. I finally had some that I felt would look good with what's already in my shop. This little necklace and the fabric is just so precious to me.

Find it HERE

Which states have you gone thrifting? Which one was your favorite?

I've traveled a lot on the Western side of the U.S. and grew up in Florida. However, I've found the most abundant and plentiful vintage in Missouri and Illinois, when visiting my sister. The Midwest and Northeast seem to still have such a plentiful and wonderful supply of vintage. I've always wondered why it's better there than other regions of the U.S.

Is there an item you sold that was hard to let go?

I love this dress found HERE.

Honestly, I just don't have a hard time letting go of anything. If I really like it, I just don't sell it. I have about 5 pieces of vintage clothing that I don't think I'll ever get rid of. I'm hoping that one of my daughters may take an interest in it when they get older.


5 words to describe yourself.

free spirited, creative, opinionated, people lover, and highly self critical....oops! more than 5 words ;O)

Is Etsy your job or hobby?

If this was a job in which I had to pay bills, I wouldn't be very successful at paying the bills. I do it because I enjoy the thrill of the hunt and love to collect, design, etc.

Since you’ve been around on Etsy, what advice would you give to sellers, particularly new ones?

Etsy takes a bit of time to figure out if you want to be a successful seller. At least it did for me and I'm still figuring things out. Here's some thoughts on what I think it takes to be successful:

1. You've got to have a product or item that people want. Something that sets you apart and is unique.

2. You've heard it before, but your photos have got to be really good....eye-catching. This is something I'm still working on and photography has become a new interest since I started selling on Etsy.

3. Marketing/Advertising your shop. I knew nothing about this when I first started. I went to the Etsy forums and started asking questions. It was incredibly helpful and the people there are so nice. I also looked at what other successful Etsy shops have done and took inspiration from them.

4. Search Engine Optimazation (SEO). 1/2 of my sales come from people already looking on Etsy but there's another good portion that finds my shop through online searches. Learning about keywords to use in your shop and listings and how SEO works has been interesting and helpful in getting sales as well.

5. Treat your customers well, answer convos as soon as possible and be professional.

Thanks Kim for the great advice!

Here are some more amazing items from Kim's shop!

Vintage 70s BURNT SIENNA Vera Maxwell Ultra Suede Dress SM

Vintage SILK Paisley Bow Tie Blouse SM MED

Vintage MARBLE AGED COPPER Necklace Orange Blue Green

Vintage Guatamalan Tapestry Pillow

You can find Kim's shop HERE and also fan her on Facebook!

Hope you enjoyed the interview!

Vintage Treasures- Funky Fondled and Fresh

Meet Anelia, the owner behind Funky Fondled and Fresh Vintage on Etsy.  This shop offers such a variety of beautiful vintage dresses, among other funky and unique vintage apparel, but the dress selection is divine!  Also, any shopper can see Anelia works hard on the shop by viewing the photographs that she models in herself.  Please take a chance and visit this SHOP and enjoy the interview!

Explain your reasons for starting an Etsy vintage shop.

I started selling vintage at the beginning of this year. I started on Ebay initially but have since switched to Etsy since I feel this outlet lends its to the vintage community a little better. Before I opened my own store I worked for a large online vintage retailer and gained quite a bit of knowledge and experience about selling vintage online. I started buying vintage as a teenager and have become more and more obsessed with it over the years. I've been passionate about fashion in general since I was a kid and I think the way a person dresses can definitely be a form of creative expression. I'm an artist. My educational background is in sculpture but I consider myself an all around creative person.  My store is really a creative outlet for my love of fashion!

What is your most favorite vintage item you own?

My favorite vintage item is a mod mini dress with rainbow stripes. (see below picture)

What is your favorite vintage era and why?

It's really hard to choose just one favorite.  I love the 20s because I strongly identify with the flapper look and lifestyle. I love the mod look of the 60s, mod is short for modern and I have a huge affinity for modernism in art and design. I love disco, so of course I love the 70s! I grew up in the 90s and have had a growing nostalgia for that decade lately.

Is Etsy a job or a hobby?

Even though my shop is new and still growing, I treat it as a job. I put a lot of care into selecting and presenting my items. All of my items are dry cleaned or laundered, some are also repaired if necessary, and some are even altered for a more updated look.

Which item is your favorite in the shop right now?

Vintage 60s Geometric Floral Print Mod Dress

5 words to describe yourself.

passionate, creative, kind, honest, loyal

You have amazing photos, and you've only been on Etsy for 6 months!  Which camera do you use?

My boyfriend, who is a photographer, takes my photos using a Canon EOS Rebel XTi.

What have you learned about selling on Etsy so far?

Etsy is more than just a commerce site, it is a community and the more you take part in that the better.

You can also find Anelia on Facebook, Chictopia, and Twitter!

Thanks for a great interview!

Vintage Treasures~ Hinterland Vintage

After a week break of interviewing great vintage shops, I was excited to interview Diedre of Hinterland Vintage.  Her shop is full of amazing vintage apparel as well as vintage housewares, photographed so sharply and clearly.  She was sweet through the whole process and I know you'll find her answers sweet as well!

Explain your reasons for starting an Etsy vintage shop.
I started my shop about a year ago (exciting!) and it all happened really quickly. I've been a long-time-lover of vintage clothing and accessories and always kind of dreamed about opening up a small retail location in a city or a small town. But the financial reality of actually making that happen just isn't in the cards right now. It really hit me suddenly that an online store was a very tangible thing and that I could figure out a way to work it into my schedule and my life. Now I have a chance to go on hunts through thrift stores and antique shops and share the items I find with the world. It's a wonderful thing!

What is your favorite vintage era and why?
I have to say that I'm really attracted to the 1950s. I love the full-skirt dresses-- mainly because my hips are on the large side and these frocks hide that -- and the feminine detailing. It feels like a completely different time, but there are so many ways to incorporate the style into a modern wardrobe. But I also tend to find myself shopping from the 70s mainly for items like sweaters and accessories.

image via Hinterland's blog

What is your favorite vintage item you own?
One of my favorite pieces is a lovely burnt orange wool coat from the 1960s. I found it in a thrift store for $3. It had a few flaws (light spots and holes in the lining), but I took it to the dry cleaner and tailor and now it's as good as new. It's such a unique color and I know that there won't be another girl walking down the street wearing a similiar coat. I get giddy just thinking about it!

Which item is your favorite in the shop right now?
It is definitely this cobalt blue wool wiggle dress by Shannon Rodgers.

Shannon Rodgers was a respected designer who worked on costuming and then began to do a ready-wear line with Jerry Silverman. The dress is just so stunning when you look at it close up. It has great details such as a sparkly brooch and the original belt with decorative draping. Plus, I can't get over the color! This dress reminds me so much of Joan from Mad Men. It feels like something she would wear and love.

Your pictures are so clear! What camera do you use and do you have any other secrets you would like to share?
I use a Nikon D40 DSLR to take my photos. It was such a great investment because I know I wouldn't be able to make photos look good with a point and shoot camera. It has been really difficult for me to get a hang of the pictures for the shop. My apartment has terrible natural light and I don't have the funds to go out and buy a lighting kit. So I simply wait for a sunny day, set up by a window, reduce my shutter speed and go to town. My tripod is my savior.

Which states have you gone thrifting? Which one was your favorite?

This might be surprising, but I've honestly only been thrifting in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately I don't get a chance to travel all that much, and often, when I do go to a different state, my traveling companions are not really into hitting up thrift stores for entertainment (strange, I know!). But PA has been kind to me for sure!

Is there an item you sold that was hard to let go?
I have to say that selling these oxfords was particularly painful. I had bought them for myself and got a great deal on them. I had been looking for a pair exactly like them for years. But as much as I tried to break them in, they were just the slightest bit too small on me and ended up cutting into my feet and hurting me. I still look at them and sigh once in a while. But I'm thrilled that someone else is enjoying them! However, my search for the perfect pair of vintage oxfords continues.

(very cute and love the color!)

5 words to describe yourself.
Honest, loyal, laid back, bookish, sweet

Is Etsy a job or a hobby?
It is definitely a hobby for right now. I would love more than anything to make this a full-time job and be able to support myself, but I just don't make enough money from sales to pay my student loans, rent and grocery bills. I currently work as a writer and blogger in Philadelphia. Maybe one day I will be able to make this much more than a hobby-- fingers crossed.

Your one year Etsyversary is coming up? What have you learned about selling on Etsy?
Yes! I'm so excited. This year has been one of the most fulfilling and interesting years of my life so far. I've learned that you need to have patience above all else-- things aren't just going to fly off the shelves right away and you'll have weeks where you might not make even one sale. As much as I want to figure out everything, I've learned that it's nearly impossible to try to determine what will sell and won't sell.

But my best piece of advice about selling on Etsy is just to get involved with the community and the other people that are out there doing the same sort of thing you're doing. I've met some amazing, supportive and helpful friends through being on Twitter, making Treasuries, starting a blog, etc. Having a nice group of sellers who are experienced and know what you're going through is a really nice thing. For the most part, the community is wonderful and inclusive, and I'm thrilled ot be a part of it.

Isn't she sweet?

You can find her on twitter, also and she has an amazing blog with her many adventures wearing vintage amongst many other topics.  Finally, you can also subscribe to her newsletter by going to her blog.

Thanks so much Diedre for agreeing to do this interview!  It was definitely a treat and I really enjoyed it!

Vintage Treasures~ lisazain aka vintageshoelove

Out of my vintage collection, shoes outnumber all other apparel.  So, interviewing one of the best Etsy vintage shoe shops proved extremely exciting for me, and you'll love her answers!  Lisa of lisazain scours and finds the best variety of vintage footwear!  Not only does she have incredible taste in shoes, but she seems like such a down to earth mama-to-be and one of the best Twitter buddies!  Hope you enjoy the interview because I loved reading her answers!

Explain your reasons for starting an Etsy vintage shop.

The short answer to this question is that I have always wanted to have some sort of junk/vintage shop ever since I was a little kid. Thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets, etc., have been some of my favorite places on earth for as long as I can remember.

In the summer of ‘08, the restaurant that I work (now part time) at closed down for two weeks for cleaning and to get new floors. A little mechanism went off in my mind. “I need an activity and an income while the diner is closed!” That is when, what i so lovingly refer to, “the shoes” started. The first items in the shop were vintage and thrifted shoes of my own that I decided to let go of. As soon as I started, it just snowballed. I was thrilled with my early sales and even after the diner opened back up, I kept up the buying and listed regularly.

Where do you store all your items for the shop and how do you store all these items?

(see above picture...amazing!)

When I found out that I was pregnant this spring I realized that my “etsy room” was going to be quickly and happily transforming into a baby nursery! My wonderful husband and father-in-law came to the rescue and transformed an entire wall of our front room (which triples as my etsy space, a dining area and our band’s practice/music space) into floor to ceiling shelving for my shoes with my packing desk snug in the middle of them all.

I used this photo of myself with “the shoes” for an ad in N.E.E.T. this September. The packing table is really a changing table that I purchased and it works perfectly because it is at a comfortable height to stand and work at. In the drawers are canvas sneakers and sandals, and in the cupboard portion I keep the purses/wallet/odds and ends that pop up in the shop also.

What is your most favorite pair of vintage shoes you own?
My favorite pair of vintage shoes right now are these beautiful cobalt blue strappy gladiator/ballet style flats that I purchased from the lovely Anja Verdugo of Clever Nettle.

(wow!)

Close runner ups are these from pineapplemint:

image via pineapplemint

and these from OldBaltimoreVintage

image via OldBaltimoreVintage

and last, but not least, these from kenaione:

image via kenaione

What is your favorite vintage era for shoes and why?
For wearability I would have to say 80s. The 80s go back and reproduce and are influenced by every past era before it. I love the amazing flow of leather and wood shoes that came out of Brazil in the late 70s and early 80s. They were sexy, saucy and made to last! As for look and aesthetic, I LOVE the 1930s/40s, especially the shape of the oxford heels from that era.

love these from her shop!

At what age did you start your vintage shoe collection?
Consciously? I’d say about 10 years ago around the time that I got my own car (a super nerdy white Chevy Lumina mini van) and started thrifting for myself. But long before that (middle school?) I can remember my mom giving me the best round toe rust suede “hobo” oxford flats that she had purchased at a yard sale in Canarsie, Brooklyn (where she had a house for about 15 years of my childhood). So, in all reality, thanks to my thrifty parents, my vintage shoe collection probably started in my super early years!

 How many pairs of shoes do you own?
Personally? I would say somewhere in the 80 pairs range. As for the shop inventory, it is at a little over 200 pairs at the moment with 170ish online and 30+ more waiting to be photographed and listed.

 Which item is your favorite in the shop right now?
Honestly I CAN NOT believe these high heels are still around! I love them!

rose printed fabric 60s pumps with oversized pointy bows on each toe

These peep toes:

taupe leather triangle pyramid woven peep toe low heeled pumps

& these comfy moccasin oxfords:

cream nubuck leather woven oxford sneakers

(she couldn't choose just one, and I don't blame her!)

 Which states have you gone thrifting and which was your favorite?

OOh this is going to be a fun list, and in no particular order: NY, NJ, CT, VT, ME, VA, NC, SC, FL, CO, UT, MT, CA, OR, ID, SD, IL, OH… and possibly a few more in between. Favorites have to be in my home state of New York, and also Oregon. The Goodwill bins are the stuff that dreams are made of to someone coming in from NYC and there are tons of other good shops and stores there too!

Is there an item you sold that was hard to let go?

Number one regret:

There were tons more in the size 6 (tiny!) range that were hard to let go of, but for reality based purposes there was no reason to keep them. Now at least I know to keep something for a little while if I love it, to see if I actually work it into my wardrobe, before deciding to sell it off right away.

5 words to describe yourself:

Talkative, patient, cosmic, hilarious, daring.

Since you have a baby on the way, will you be on maternity leave from your Etsy shop? What are your plans?

Phill and mine’s first baby, a girl, is due Dec. 8th. That is a little scary since the before holidays at etsy is often my best times of the year! I will be relying on my husband to help me with all of the packing and shipping up until that point and then afterwards, I will probably close the shop down for a few weeks, allowing customers to continue purchasing shoes, but not promising anything shipping wise. I guess I am just going to see how I feel, play it by ear and keep in contact with all of my wonderful customers the best that I can.

As for right now I am still serving 2 days a week at the restaurant I work at and will keep doing that as long as I can. I look forward to being able to stay home with the baby for as long as possible while still keeping the store up and running. If I didn’t have my own business and my income from Etsy, there would be no way that I could imagine being a stay at home mom realistically- so for that I am very grateful and excited. It has always been my goal to make “the shoes” my full time job, but at the same time have never found the real reason or courage to fully leave my restaurant job (I will probably go back to part time after some quality stay at home time with the baby!) so this will be my chance to see if I can really do it.

(Agh, so excited for you!)

Since you’ve been around on Etsy, what advice would you give to sellers, particularly new ones?

New sellers, welcome! It may seem daunting to open a shop with so many other great shops established, but that is the wonderful part about Etsy! Your listings will be right up there with the big dogs.

I think that the number one piece of advice that I have for new sellers is to pay careful and close attention to the quality of your photos. Good lighting, good thumbnail cropping, and clear/bright/visually descriptive images are the only physical “connection” that your potential customers have with your items. Don’t settle for “just so.” Make your photos pop! Even if you are just getting started, and you don’t have the best camera out there, you can always re-shoot and improve.

Uncluttered backgrounds and natural lighting do wonders for a variety of products, so don’t be afraid to experiment and upgrade your listings as your photos get better.

Start a twitter and network with other sellers and your customers.

Re-list some of your best items every now and again to get them back to the top of the searches.

Consider advertising on blogs! There are a variety of Etsy/vintage/handmade etc. blogs out there that offer very affordable advertising, and even if you do it a month at a time here and there, it still gets the word out.

Lastly, don’t give up!  Remember that sales will ebb and flow.  Nothing is as consistent or “solid” when you work for yourself, but that is the trade off for the freedom and satisfaction you will get from running your own shop.

Hope you enjoyed the interview!  I love how her personality really shines through in the answers. 

You can follow her on Twitter and tumblr also for daily musings and shop updates!