The Best Resources for Pursuing a Creative Vintage Business
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Turning your love of vintage into a business can be very intimidating. I opened my Etsy shop in 2017 and I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn’t until I started listening to creative business podcasts that I realized I could pursue my dreams through other platforms too, like Instagram. Whether you’re looking to sell your crafts on Etsy or grow your vintage Instagram account I have a lot of great resources to help. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books, podcasts and websites that have really helped me in my business pursuits. These are resources that I genuinely find to be really beneficial.
Something I want to say right away is whatever outlet you choose for your creative business, get business cards! Adding a business card might seem trivial and unimportant but it’s gotten me tons of orders. A popular TikTok star purchased some of my charm packs and did an unboxing video and she showed my business card. She tagged my Instagram account and all of a sudden I sold out of everything in my shop! If my business card wasn’t in the package she wouldn’t have been able to easily share my shop with her followers and I would have missed out on all those orders. I ordered all my business cards on Vistaprint and I love how they turned out.
The Library
A little PSA about the library: All the books I mention below I got through the library. I can’t believe how many people I’ve met who don’t have a library card or have never even been to the library. It’s your gateway to all the best resources! I’ve read about every Etsy and craft selling book they have at my local branch. If they don’t have what I’m looking for I can always find it in ebook or audiobook form on the free library apps Overdrive or Hoopla.
Starting my Instagram account helped me get my handmade items to a whole new audience. Plus, I’m able to share my interior design with the world which has been a lot of fun.
InstaStyle: Curate Your Life, Create Stunning Photos, and Elevate Your Instagram Influence by Tezza. This book inspired me to start my Instagram account. Tezza taught me how to take and edit photos, how to use hashtags and the importance of having an aesthetic.
The Influencer Podcast hosted by Julie Solomon. Great for if you’re trying to build a brand and become an influencer.
The Goal Digger Podcast hosted by Jenna Kutcher. Motivational and helps you stick to your business goals.
You can start an Instagram account to sell items and get paid through Paypal. I’ve done that this past year and it’s a lot of work, more than Etsy in my opinion. I couldn’t find any resources on how to sell through an Instagram shop when I first started out. I decided to message someone that I followed on Instagram who had successful sales. She was SO helpful and that’s how I got all my info. If you’re not sure how to do something, just ask someone on Instagram. I’ve found people are more than willing to help out a newbie!
Selling on Etsy
Etsy is an amazing platform to start a vintage or craft business. You don’t have to worry about creating your own website and there are tons of built-in tools to help you. I still sell all of my vintage sheet charm packs, fat quarters and pillows in my Etsy shop because it’s so convenient and easy.
Etsy Excellence: The Simple Guide to Creating a Thriving Etsy Business by Tycho Press. This book helped me the most with my Etsy shop.
Etsy-Preneurship by Jason Malinak
I always love reading the emails Etsy sends out to its sellers, especially the Marketplace Insights Trend Report. They predict the upcoming trends in the market and let you know when you should start listing items for upcoming holidays.
Vintage Secondhand and Thrift Resources
Thrift shopping is one of my great passions in life. When I’m working from home but wish I was out thrifting, it’s great to have a secondhand shopping podcast going.
Pre-Loved Podcast hosted by Emily Stochl. Emily has a very soothing and uplifting presence. She has awesome vintage resellers on the podcast which is super inspiring and helpful. You can follow her on Instagram @emilymstochl
Thrift Therapy podcast hosted by La Vee. La Vee is such a joy to listen to! Her thrift commentary makes me laugh out loud. She also has resellers and store owners on as guests and they are a wealth of information. You can follow her on Instagram at @thrifttherapystyle
The True Cost is a documentary that will really open your eyes to the horrors of fast fashion. It’s something every thrifter and reseller should watch. I almost exclusively shop (and sell) secondhand now because of this documentary. I was able to stream the movie for free but you can also rent it cheaply on Amazon.
Interior Design Inspiration
Pinterest is my #1 resource for home decorating ideas. I find inspiration here and it’s also where I save all my ideas. If I’m walking through an antique mall and I like the way they displayed their items, I’ll take a picture and save it to my Pinterest. If I’m reading a magazine and find something I want to save for later, I take a picture and save it to my board. I’m a visual person and seeing a lot of different pins always gets me ready to decorate. You can find my Pinterest account here.
A Beautiful Mess Podcast hosted by Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman. Elsie and Emma are incredible interior designers and love vintage and thrifting. You’ll feel like they’re your best friends by the end of your first episode.
Financial and Productivity Resources
I wouldn’t be able to pursue my business if it wasn’t for our financial stability. We saved up an emergency fund (and then some) because of the resources I have listed below. That savings is what’s been the cushion that kept us afloat while I took a temporary lay off to pursue my vintage business.
How To Money podcast hosted by Joel and Matt. They have episodes about making money through a side hustle, which is how my business started.
The Clark Howard Podcast is my favorite podcast ever. Clark Howard taught me everything I know about finances.
I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi. A great book if you don’t like budgeting. Ramit gives you step by step instructions on how to get your finances in order so you can live the life you want.
The Now Habit by Neil Fiore. If you struggle with procrastination you need to read this book. This book seriously changed my life and how I run my business.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Another great book about stopping procrastination and creating positive habits every day for yourself and your business.
I hope you find this list helpful. Do you have any recommendations? Let me know on Instagram or in the comments below!
