This week, Amanda talks about being new to selling Vintage. Everybody has to go through it so there’s no shame, but let’s go over a few ways to make being new as painless as possible for you and your customer. The Thrifters podcast is now 100% commercial-free. Your generosity is greatly appreciated though! If this podcast has brought you some value you can "buy a coffee" for Amanda! Head to: buymeacoffee.com/thethrifters -and contribute any amount you feel good about. No subscription necessary. ...
Jan 13, 2023•42 min
This week Amanda takes a moment to talk about the loneliness that is inherent in selling vintage from home. The Thrifters is now commercial free! You can help support the show by contributing at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thethrifters If you haven't already, please Subscribe, rate and review wherever you get podcasts. It really helps, really!!
Jan 04, 2023•28 min
This week, Amanda takes a moment to reflect on some of the biggest challenges in her first year as a full-time vintage clothing reseller and how she plans on improving business in 2023. It's hard to do it all! But with better orgainization and mindfulness we can have a more realistic balance of business, family and "me time". Follow Amanda on Instagram at @irreverentfinery Etsy store: Irreverentfinery The Thrifters is now commercial free! You can help support the podcast by making a donation at ...
Dec 29, 2022•48 min
This week Amanda talks about a topic that is a bit taboo. Competition amongst vintage sellers. The Thrifters podcast is now Commercial Free! If you would like to support the show and Amanda, head over to buymeacoffee.com/thethrifters and chip in any amount you wish. Thanks!
Dec 16, 2022•30 min
In this brief but information-rich episode, Amanda goes into detail about how she keeps records of her expenses and income. There are two business Game-Changers involved, check them out: 1. Google Sheets - https://www.google.com/sheets/about/ 2. Quickbooks Self Employed - https://quickbooks.intuit.com/self-employed/ Good News! The Thrifters podcast is now 100% commercial free! Amanda’s tips on making money reselling vintage are not behind some members only paywall or for sale as expensive course...
Dec 08, 2022•18 min
Vintage sellers all come with their own knowledge base. From the experts to the novices, we can't know everything and we all make mistakes sometimes. So what do we do when it happens? On the buying end or selling, the way we handle our reactions and responses when we are questioned or corrected can make or break our reputation and business. Amanda gets into it all this week. Show is Produced by Ben Walker-Storey Music by Kevin MacLoed
Dec 01, 2022•36 min
Amanda's back! And staying on message after this mysterious gap in episodes, Amanda talks about feeling overwhelmed as a small business owner, mom, wife, and so on. How can we fight off our feelings of being overwhelmed? Amanda gets into how she has improved in her delegation of the jobs that get in the way of business and better times. Can someone else help with things like cooking, cleaning and watching the little ones? * Get Kate Northrop's Do Less on Amazon or listen on Audible - https://amz...
Nov 21, 2022•27 min
Why is having confidence in yourself SO HARD? It's free. You don't have to go to college for it or anything. But not believing in your own ability to be a staunch business owner holds us back. This week Amanda reveals more of her story as a vintage clothing reseller, how she went full-time with it, and what mental blocks she has (generally) gotten over in order to do it.
Nov 03, 2022•34 min
This week Amanda takes a moment to talk about what excites her and how it evolves and may change completely. And when it comes to buying and reselling vintage clothing, the key take-away is to follow your passion and not feel locked in to any one genre or style forever. Show produced by Ben Walker-Storey Music by Kevin MacLeod
Oct 27, 2022•19 min
Amanda goes in depth on the subject of Live vintage clothing sales. She gets into why she loves doing them and goes through the step-by-step of doing them. There are some basic things you'll want to consider when doing your own Live sales, so let's get into it. Amanda also vents about things that have gone wrong when buying from other sellers Live sales. These are the learning moments, folks! Follow Amanda at @irreverentfinery on Instagram Etsy store is Irreverent Finery This podcast is produced...
Oct 20, 2022•37 min
This week Amanda takes a moment to go over three really simple ways to keep your customers happy and coming back for more. (Spoiler) They are: Communicate with your customer Disclose any and all flaws Ship in a timely manor. More on all these points and some venting about a recent, bad experience with a seller who did not do these things. Don't forget to Subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest review wherever you get your podcasts! Produced by Ben Walker-Storey Music by Kevin MacLoed...
Oct 14, 2022•23 min
This week Amanda and Ben take you with them, beat-by-beat as they recount their Saturday, hitting up the Yard Sales. The highs were high and the lows were low but still they came away with some good items that can be flipped at a nice profit. Also Ben tries to break down the successfulness of a Yard Sale experience into some kind of scientific formula. The couple rounds out this episode with a new feature: What are you excited about this week? Follow Amanda at @irreverentfinery on Instagram, Ets...
Oct 06, 2022•39 min
This week Amanda talks about how thinning out her inventory with a big sale allowed her to better define her vintage clothing shop aesthetic. She talks about her niche and the ideal buyer she envisions. There are a few of the key questions, her "mantra" that she asks herself when sourcing at thrift stores and estate sales. If it's "NO" to all the questions it goes back on the rack, even if it's considered valuable.
Sep 28, 2022•22 min
This week Amanda gets into the idea of jealousy and how to make it work for you. What are you seeing others do/have that you want desperately for yourself? Listen to your desires. Write them down. Say them out-loud and make it happen for you! With special guests, puppies!!!
Sep 21, 2022•22 min
It’s officially time to roll up your wizard sleeves and get busy buying up the rare, show-stopper pieces that come out as “costumes” at thrift stores. From the timing of it all to what you should keep an eye out for on each rack, Amanda talks you through how to take advantage of the “Halloween racks” at your local Goodwill and beyond. Amanda and Ben wrap up the episode doing some show and tell with recent vintage finds (Mostly “tell” since its audio only). Tag Instagram pics of your Halloween ha...
Sep 15, 2022•32 min
Amanda made a goof this week and she's here to talk about it and other ways you may be inadvertently violating Etsy's Terms of Service (TOS). Should you be selling children's clothing? Are you infringing on others' Intellectual Property? Plus, a new segment: Vintage in the News! Heinz Ketchup has teamed with thredUP to toss their gloppy hat in the Vintage clothing ring.
Sep 01, 2022•17 min
This week Amanda is joined by husband and co-thrifter, Ben Walker-Storey to talk about how his Etsy shop went from a slump to a...pump? It's doing better. Amanda explores the idea of using what is most "YOU" as your super power, in other words, your specialty that can earn you sales. Podcast produced and edited by Ben Walker-Storey Music by Kevin MacLeod Amanda can be found at: IrreverentFinery on Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/IrreverentFinery?page=2 IrreverentFinery on Instagram - https://ww...
Aug 25, 2022•38 min
Should sellers disclose every bit of damage and flaws on a garment or throw up their hands and say "It's OLD, whataya-want??" Amanda has some thoughts on this and how thoroughly inspecting pieces and disclosing flaws can improve your vintage business and have happy customers.
Aug 18, 2022•29 min
Do you get “The Call of The Wild?” It’s that voice, that urge to go check out the thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, however you source when there are other aspects of your vintage business that are gathering dust. This week Amanda offers you (and herself) a pep-talk on tamping down the impulses to do the “sexy” parts, the fun parts of your reselling business and balance it with the other necessary things on your to do list. Podcast produced and edited by Ben Walker-Storey Music by Kevin M...
Aug 10, 2022•15 min
This week, Amanda goes in-depth on five investments that will level up your vintage fashion business (plus some extras). It's tempting to spend the earnings from your initial Etsy sales on ramen and mai tais but do yourself a favor, give your business a boast by setting up with some of these essentials. Here are links to the products and services mentioned in this episode. These are UNPAID endorsements of Amanda's favorites. However, some of the links below are affiliate links so clicking them h...
Aug 03, 2022•30 min
This week Amanda is joined by guest, Ashton from Radically Rare Vintage. They compare notes on all things vintage life: Instagram Live sales, how a love (or not) of antiques and vintage can affect relationships, and their goals for the future.
Jul 28, 2022•1 hr 20 min
This week Amanda discusses the roadblocks to success that only exist in your mind, our "limiting beliefs." Why try harder when this is "just a hobby?" Does Instagram hate me personally? What is The Algorithm and should I offer it sacrificial goats? Can this customer afford my items? If you hear these questions in your inner monologue, tune in for this very special episode of The Thrifters.
Jul 21, 2022•25 min
It's been 5 months since Amanda was fired from her full-time job. Well they called it "let go" and she called it "Freed to do what she loves". Life is too short to go to a job you hate. Here some of the ups and downs, pros and cons Amanda has experiences since she took Irreverent Finery full-time. Podcast produced by Ben Walker-Storey
Jul 13, 2022•13 min
On this exciting new episode, Amanda chats with her first guest, Simona from Silver Sea Vintage. There's lots of shop-talk like their preferred selling platforms, what it's like sourcing vintage clothing in Southern California vs the Foothills of California, sustainability and the durability of clothes from different eras, and they compare notes on special, favorite finds.
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 5 min
This week Amanda does a short but deep dive, tipping you off on what to keep an eye out for while sourcing vintage at thrift stores, estate sales, etc. You can follow Amanda at @Irreverentfinery on Instagram. Her Etsy shop is IrreverentFinery. Ben's Etsy shop is GreenAppleDirties. You can follow him at @cheapchillsfanclub. Podcast produced by Ben Walker-Storey.
Jun 29, 2022•13 min
Happy Summer Solstice and if you are feeling dread over "the Summer Slump" we feel ya. This week, Amanda and Ben talk about the dip in internet sales that can happen every Summer. Amanda explores and confronts her anxieties that stem from seeing other vintage resellers throw in the (fabulous, 70's era) towel. Ben drops some knowledge from his years of experimenting with "side-hustles". How do you simultaneously stick out the slow periods AND pivot? The Thrifters do their best to help you through...
Jun 22, 2022•40 min
This week Amanda gets into her thoughts and feelings on pricing vintage clothing. Where to find "comps" and how your own expenses, expertise and time should factor into your retail prices. Ben does his best to use elephant poo paper as example of supply and demand in a World market. Resources: https://gem.app (Pricing comps with the Gem App) https://www.flippertools.com/ (What items sold for on Etsy) Follow: https://www.instagram.com/irreverentfinery/ https://www.instagram.com/greenappledirties/...
Jun 14, 2022•58 min
Amanda and Ben are back in action, finishing up their dry run on an Etsy listing for a vintage clothing item. There's discussion on SEO (search engine optimization) What are tags? Do we need tags? Seriously, we're asking. Ben also has some insights on filling out your Etsy shop with digital and Print-on-Demand (P.O.D) products and how it differs from working through Amazon.com. Do you have any questions or ideas for a guest? let us know on Instagram. @irreverentfinery
Jun 01, 2022•1 hr
This week, Amanda and Ben take a moment to discuss balancing family life with a business of vintage reselling. They are joined (briefly) by guest and fellow thrifter, Jet, age 5. The family goes over how they source vintage clothing while taking care of their son. How they manage to work from home with a child who has his own wants and needs. What are the struggles and advantages of having a family while running this entrepreneurial enterprise?
May 18, 2022•33 min
If you have never listed anything on Etsy, it can be intimidating. But not to worry, newcomer, Ben is grilling Amanda on all the basics, best practices and intricacies involved in getting your vintage clothing up on the platform. Well, half of it anyway! It's a lot. They go over how to choose the best photos, thumbnails, categories for your items, what should go into the title and written description, how to disclose flaws and describe the condition of vintage items.
May 11, 2022•44 min
