Vintage shopping and thrifting
seems to be all the rage at the moment. There are TV shows about it, a
hit song, and it seems to be the foundation of the hipster movement. But
at its core, there is nothing better than that feeling of accomplishment when
you find a truly unique piece from your favorite era and rub your personal
style all over it by incorporating it into your wardrobe or home.
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| Vintage Swing Dress, Bolero Jacket & Crinoline |
One thing I have learned though,
is not all vintage or thrift stores are created equally…or even play by the
same rules. This was never as evident to me as it was on my most recent
trip to Nashville, TN.
As normal before visiting an area
I researched and mapped all the vintage stores I could find. I read
reviews on yelp and looked at photos, if available, to help me determine if the
store was indeed somewhere I would like to shop. I am partial to
Mid-Century Modern furnishings & décor and 40s, 50s and early 60s style
clothing so a shop specializing “boho or hippie chic” is not going to offer a
lot for me.
My hubby and I were staying in
the newly revived and trendy East Nashville area, so of course that is where I
started. Seeing this area was home to a large concentration of hipsters I
figured the vintage shops would be plentiful, and they were! We were able
to make a couple of days’ worth of shopping out of this trip. We
started by making several stops in smaller “vintage stores” and I have to admit
that, starting out that way, I was just about turned off for the entire
weekend. I have two major pet peeves when shopping and a
handful of these stores hit on them HARD!
First, I take issue with stores
supplementing their inventory with new or “vintage look” items mixed in with
true vintage items, much less being the majority of the inventory in a
so-called vintage store. I personally do not consider anything this side
of 1990 vintage--an opinion, I know, but to me anything newer than that is just
used clothes. Several of the smaller shops I found were just glorified
boutiques with the price tag to indicate so.
I had almost given up on the idea
of this being a prosperous trip when I stumbled across The Hip Zipper.
WOW! These people not only offered a huge selection of clothing, shoes, hats
and accessories, they offered a refreshing method to ensure customer
retention. Upon making a purchase (at a reasonable price) I was offered a
list of vintage shops in the Nashville area AND they were mapped out for my
driving convenience. I spent a little while speaking with the girl at the
counter and she offered me insight into shops I would really like. How
refreshing to find someone interested in their customers not just their own
pocketbook!!! I took the list and followed it around the city marking
my favorites for my next trip. Of course there were couple of shops I
could not make it to in the matter of hours I had left in the city but will
definitely get to them in the near future. Thank you Hip Zipper for your
help and support!
But back to the topic at hand...
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The PERFECT vintage store for me!! I LOVE
all the Mid-Century kitchen goodies. |
Vintage store shoppers are each
as unique as the items their customers are searching for. When entering a
store I like to see the following:
Good selection of vintage items.
Limited retro or reproduction items and they should be labeled as such.
Atmosphere – since my heart is 40s, 50s,& 60s how about some rockabilly swing or jazz music. NEVER hip hop or alternative.
Employees who are not only happy to be there but knowledgeable and passionate
Modern looking girls or guys hiding behind the counter, with their feet kicked up playing with whatever electronic device they have available will sometimes make me do a perimeter sweep and leave. You should be selling me on a lifestyle, not just a new blouse.
Secondly, thrift shops are just
that THRIFT SHOPS. I always thought they were designed
to offer everyday items at reasonable prices. I just want to remind shop
owners if your store sign has the word “thrift” in the title, please do not price
your items like antiques! Occasionally having a pricey item I find
ok, but everything in the store? COME ON!!! I find it really sad when I
find big chain store brand items priced higher than they would have sold for
new. As part of vintage shopping group that frequents thrift stores this
is sure fire way to get your potential customers to walk out without spending a
penny!
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A Vast Array of Goodies found while vintage shopping - Train Case,
This Thing (hanging lamp & table which I LOVE), Mid-Century Glasses in carrying rack,
and of course Wonder Woman glass...anything Wonder Woman makes me happy!) |
A word of caution to all vintage
shoppers, although most if not all vintage shops are independently owned and
operated that does not mean the owner has a sense of ethics when it comes to
dealing with customers.
The ethics of a shop owner and
his or her employees was evident in another Nashville favorite of mine.
Live True Vintage seemed to truly embody my beliefs about the right kind
of people and the right kind of business. The shop was VERY reasonably
priced and offered room after room of clothing and home goods. The air
was filled with music from Elvis, Johnny Cash, and the Stray Cats, and a back
room was set up for live music, something we were truly disappointed we
couldn't be there for. The owner shared his story with us and I realized
the greedy side of vintage we witnessed in other places in Nashville was not
just something I was imagining. He told my husband and I that he had
been working for another shop in town and had watched as the owner bought
thrift store and estate sale items to put in his shop. Nothing wrong
there, it is after all about compiling the inventory for the customer's
convenience. But the guy would buy a $30 sofa and price it at $900 on the
showroom floor. Then he would refuse to work with the customer on the
price no matter how in love with it the customer might be. My favorite
thing the Live True Vintage owner said was "I don't want to run a museum.
If I sell something and make a few bucks then I can buy more stuff to put
in my store." That, dear reader, is the heart of it all.
Vintage life is about love and
preservation of the past. It is remembering the things that made people
happy and enjoying the fruits of a day when things were built to last.
Nobody looks at a couch from 1990 and says, "Man, my grandmother had
one like that and I always loved it." So to all you vintage shop
owners, I offer this bit of advice--If you want to sell something to the
customer standing in front of you and have them return some day for more, make
sure your business practice makes them as happy as the item they are ogling in
your shop.
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| Image from an impromptu pinup shoot at in Nashville |
Case in point, this past weekend I was supposed to be the
subject of an outdoor Steampunk photo-shoot at the historic Ornamental Metal
Museum in downtown Memphis. I was so looking forward to this shoot and I
even spent a week or so prior hand building several new pieces to feature in
it. 
Day One - Hair & make up done and looking good.
Wardrobe, props, and accessories in hand and off I go to meet the photographer
on location. After a half-hour of standing around being gawked at by
visitors I realize, to my horror, that I am A DAY EARLY. Yep, your
calendar is only as accurate as the user. Trying to be optimistic, I
figure, hey, one more day to prep!! Wonderful. I can clean up some last
minute details add a few more bells and whistles!! 
Day Two, Hair & make up done and it looks GREAT!!!
Even better!!! Wardrobe, props and accessories in hand again and I am on
my way. Half way there I notice the sky is starting to cloud over and the
thunder starting to roll…urgh!!! Hand built accessories with a lot of
metal gears, leather and glue do not always work well in the rain. As I
arrive I am on the phone with the photographer who is now huddling under the
gazebo with his equipment and I am stuck in the car. After sitting for a
bit we mutually decide the storm is not going to pass in a timely manner and it
may be best to reschedule. Clearly this one was not meant to be. 
