One of the first vintage markets I did I was so nervous and intimidated by the experienced sellers. They had premade walls, cute checkout stations, nice bags for sales, beautiful booths. I thought mine was so dumb. I had a lot of smalls and made do with furniture and shelving I owned to set up my vignettes. At the end of the show (not a small show) the owners came over and gave me a $100 gift card for BEST BOOTH. You could have knocked me over with a feather. She told me that my booth was cozy, inviting, and such fun small displays with great vintage items, exactly what a vintage booth should be. It gave me the confidence to be myself and trust my instincts. You don’t need a professional looking booth, a commercial trailer or everything perfect to be successful, you just need to be you ❤

You know that feeling when the universe is just working for you? Well this interview hit me on the perfect day! I listened as I put the final touches on a dresser I have been working on for some time. The questions were spot on to what I needed to hear. Thank you for the insight and inspiration. 🤗

My one rule about purchasing vintage for my home is that it must be usable and serve a purpose. Butter churns, scrub boards, etc must be in good enough shape to be used if called upon. Spouse approves of this rule of thumb so it removed many obstacles. 👍👍

I love "Heavenly Egg Plates!" I collect them, Vintage Cake Plates, and Vintage Pie Plates. I use them All for Family Dinners throughout the year when everyone gathers here. I have an old Hoosier Cabinet I treasure, and an old wood stove in my Dining room. Almost everything I have came from a thrift store. I'm 67, so many of these things I remember my Grandma, and Mama using. Brings me comfort. I enjoyed the video.

“We’re all created on purpose, for a purpose.” LOVE that!!! Melanie seems like she would be an amazing friend!!! ❤️

I really enjoyed this video! Iwill watch this video AGAIN for the info and enjoyment! Thank you, ladies! Both of you have sweet souls.

I just do one show-Petoskey Mi has a great venue in July and August (I sell at the July show). My booth is about 98% smalls. I know I do way better than those who sell furniture. The downside is the time it takes to pack, unpack, set up and tear down! When I first started doing antiques I befriended a multi-vendor shop owner. "Smalls pay the rent!" I was a doubter. She was right. I’m also a firm believer of passing on a good deal. People don’t forget the dealers with reasonable prices!

I really enjoyed this video. It reunforced some of what I've learned as well as providing me with great tips. I sell mostly furniture flips on Marketplace, but vary with the other thingsI do. On events, I do a mix of vintage smalls, smaller furniture items & "Farmhouse/Rustic/Primative/Cottage core" things I make myself from reclaimed wood most times. For indoor events, I use my tent minus the canopy, I lace lights through the top & add sheers to the sides & back while doing a slight drapping then on the front. I try to create a warm, homey feel using vines/plants/flowers, doilies/table runners & burlap within my displays to set the mood. I'm older & a solo act, so I get with the event coordinator to see if I can set up a little earlier, even 30 minutes helps. It takes time to set up that aesthetic & it can be hard work alone, but achieving that feel is all worth it.

This interview was also much needed and hit me personally in the best way!! My support system believes in me, more than I do. After listening to this interview I see things so differently now. Great job and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so open! Your shop is gorgeous and if I’m in the area I’m stopping in!! Thanks ladies! ❤😊

Great conversation ladies enjoyed this video. I too am a collector of vintage and antique goodies, they add unique treasures to our homes.❣️

Go Melanie!!! This is such an amazing way to share her story on your platform!

Loved loved loved ear hustling on your conversation with Melanie! Thank you for inviting us in. This was the inspiration I needed!

I loved this conversation. This is not an easy thing to do. And it there is a big learning curve. I’m glad I’m not alone in these struggles. Keep on creating and selling vintage! ❤

Such an engaging interview! Thank you both!

holy COW! 7k at VMD!! I am doing my first one in May (North Texas) booth fee 10x20 + elec $710. I will be bringing a TON of smalls!!!!! Colors theme will be blues and yellows - to the cool spring brights.

This was so enjoyable! Thank you for posting this, and thanks so much to Melanie for sharing her story and her insights! This was informative and inspirational, and her store looks absolutely charming. I love to see people doing what makes them happy. Would love to see Melanie on the channel again some time. Great interview!

Loved this interview! You both are delightful. Lots of good information.

She reminds me so much of myself, with her love of furniture & vintage/antique!! I change the furniture in my house as much as I can. I am currently looking into opening my own store & she helped me believe that I can do it!

Would love a slow walk through video of her displays, each month after she changes them ❤

I really enjoyed this interview you did with Melanie!! It is very inspiring! ❤

This was so inspiring 🤩 Thank you ladies!

We have two big shows a year in my area. I was scared to death the first year I did it but I sold so much I was instantly hooked.

Great video! I love the relaxed conversation and the advice was good! Good luck with your adventure!

Thanks so much for this video! I’m watching your nightstand series and loving it! 😀

You two are definitely my people. I love anything to do with creating. I have refinished my own furniture, made patio furniture out of glass create; and am now creating surface designs and patterns. You got my creative juices flowing to maybe meld all of them somehow.

I absolutely loved this video interview. I am from New Jersey and owned my own business pre-Covid. It was very similar to your store but smaller and I was just starting out. I chose to go back to my nursing career for a while, but I have to say I'm still very passionate about being a creative entrepreneur, thank you so much. I really feel encouraged to continue towards my dream.

Love this interview.

Melanie, that booth is gorgeous, and that's not a word I throw around lightly. Thanks for the great interview, Abby. Scott

Really enjoyed this ladies That you so much for sharing

I jsut found your channel thank you ladies soooo much for sharing your questions & your experience so appreciate the info ❤❤❤❤

I love how encouraging her husband sounds! Go in there and break up that boys club, girl! ❤️‍🔥

what a great interview!

What a beautifully inspiring person. She is incredible. Thanks for sharing her..

This was EXCELLENT! Great interview & information. Thank you! Kristen "Beach House Vintage" Vero Beach Fl 💕

Loved the interview, learned so much! I

I laughed - as you did - at your "best selling" deviled egg plates" answer. I sell every one I put in my booth in an antique mall. I really enjoyed your interview with Melanie.

Trash night,date nights are the best!! Hubby and I love it😂❤

I just stumbled on your channel, instantly subscribed! You both were amazing. You relaxed. You didn’t get caught up in appearances(take off da shoes!) Lol. Let’s gooooo! Thanks so much 😅

thanks ladies, learned a lot, enjoyed your talk.

I just found your channel and I loved this episode!

OMG - I love my vintage deviled egg platter I found at an antique store 20 years ago!

My favorite store in Jacksonville called Vintage Arts recently, sadly closed. I sourced jewelry for them.😢 I was at Southern Crossing in Riverside for many years. I can relate, collecting is my passion…need to visit your store soon😎

Great work gals I’ve been doing this buy selling trading for over 35 years. Home basement and spare bedrooms are all full of goodies . Long tail sales a lot of keepers lol. I have a huge wardrobe omg can change 2 times a day. All dressed up and nowhere to go. Need help 69 years old downsizing finally lol

Domed 🍰 plate idea- I use mine to store my sourdough loaf . It keeps the bread 🍞 fresh.

Thnks for this informative video I live in Nova Scotia Canada and Have been refinishing furniture since I was a teen (62 now) it boggles my mind at how much beautiful antiques are discarded like garbage 😢 I travel to Florida every winter ❄️ and will be shopping vintage instead of Millennia Mall.

Y'all are great!!!

I loved this video. It was very interesting. I need to get out and find more stores like Melanie's. I know they're around, (I live 20 minutes from Franklin, TN), I just need to FIND them. Finding cool things, is so much fun. Her story about the keys she found when she was little is me. I collect keys, but I like the big, thick keys, that look like they could open a castle door. Love your videos Abby. I aspire to do my own furniture one day. Have you ever used Heirloom Traditions Paint?

You two have sweet hearts 💕

Great interview and awesome information! But, at 5:12 in the curtain behind you! (The back room) Is that a ghost?! It looks out util 5:32 and then poof! Oh my! You never know with antiques! Thank you for sharing the retail world is very hard to be successful with and this video is so inspiring!

I love lamp

Abby, stumbled across your channel and love it. I'm from the lowcountry in SC and live in Charleston. My sister lives in Columbia close to Lake Murry, which is near Lexington. What is the name of the places you mentioned there? Also, what is the name of and where is the place you mentioned that's like a Cracker Barrel? You can't throw a stick without hitting an antique store in the Charleston area, but everything is so expensive and caters to the affluent Charleston tourist demographic. But get out on the fringes in some of the little country towns within an hour or so and there are a lot of interesting "junk" stores, thrift stores, etc. There is a flea market in Ladson on the edge of Charleston, but its trashy. You'd thin this area would have a great flea market, but it doesn't. Rural South Carolina, however, is bonkers. So many interesting little, and often not so little, stores and flea markets, farmers markets, etc. on the country back roads and in almost every little country town. There is a big flea market in the middle of nowhere in a little farming community called Neeses. Population around 350 appropriately called Giant Flea Market. And everywhere you go there are small family owned businesses & crafts, homemade products, etc. and SC actually does a great job promoting the natural food products and byproducts with a program called "Certified SC Grown". You seem to be pretty familiar with SC so I'd be shocked if you haven't been to the Jockey Lot flea market near Anderson. It's been called the biggest flea market in the South. When I went to Clemson it was a right of passage to go there since college students, at least back in the day, didn't have a lot of money and needed cheap furniture, but kids today are spoiled and privileged and probably demand everything be new and from Ikea. But I digress. The really bust places around Charleston are all the "re-stores", Goodwill, Habitat, etc. which seem to be everywhere. Probably one of the reasons we don't have a good local flea market. Love your channel, keep up the hard work! I'm sure your parents are proud!

What a great interview! I told my husband I found my people (you and Melanie who like all the things I like) and I feel empowered to pursue my passion for "smalls!" I have a question about theft, label switching, breakage, and such that can happen when you are not at your booth all the time. Do you just handle that with insurance? Also, I assume you keep a detailed inventory, but with smalls that seems very onerous. Would love to hear yours and Melanie's tips/tricks for handling those things. Thanks, Abby!!

I have been bouncing around the idea of opening an upscale shop where I can sell our furniture as well as invite other artists of all sorts to sell their goods. This video was so helpful, and I appreciate the openness of everything! We currently sell out of our home in a small town in Southern Minnesota, but many of our customers come from an hour (or more!) away to purchase our furniture. (Insert my shameless plug for Modern Fox Furniture!) We mostly do MCM dressers, but have other items as well, and we don't have a huge inventory at once because we have a small home. We are about an hour south of Minneapolis, and I've heard from several customers (the non Minneapolis ones) that they are thrilled not to have to go to the cities to find furniture like ours. Do either you have advice about how to find the best location for a stand-alone shop?

Abbey how did you get into restoring and vintage furniture ?

I still find it on the side of the rd stores rehabs n yardsales or free at apt building's lol

I’ve loved “vintage” for the last 40 years and do not ever see myself choosing new anything! Don’t get me started on my love of antiques!

Try a restoration room place .. and sell of the Furniture .

DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND THE $$$ WILL COME!

I love thrift stores, too all.of it.

Are the smalls paying your rent now? I don’t think so it’s crazy BRICK AND MORTER PRICES! I’m selling on facebook marketplace my home is storage lots of clutter I pay no storage fees and no shipping. Very long tail sales

👍🏻

Hopfully you get this, but another great place to get cheaper furniture if online auctions.

My beautiful "smalls" paid my antique booth rent, with so little profit on top, that I had to shut it eventually. Depends on location, I guess.

It’s almost impossible in this day and age not to be close to a Dollar General. They are ubiquitous!

What’s the name of the Melanie’s store?

A tea shop would be easier than a restaurant. Thanks for so much for all the insights!

I see a lot of sidewalk sales around me.

Been buying “vintage” since the 70’s. It’s not a trend and our younger 30 Something generation didn’t invent it. Vintage has been on trend for CENTURIES.

*chirp*

Sounds like the smoke alarm keeps beeping because the battery is low.