Howdy! Long Time No Read!

Hi Everyone!

It's been awhile since I last blogged. Let's see, well the store is doing great. June was a little slow but things are picking up. The next couple of month's should be good. There is Burning Man coming up in September so August will be busy then there is Halloween. All of October prior to Halloween is a vintage store's dream, sales are phenomenal! wish every month could be Halloween.

New subject: I have met an awsome person; Mike who now consigns in my store. My store manager Kim (rockabilly gal) introduced him to me. This guy is incredible! he used to own a vintage store himself and is passionate about the industry and his business. The stock he brings in has transformed my vintage store into a vintage boutique. In addition he adds his own artistic vision and flair into the stores interior displaying clothing with a knack for the dramatic. Time Zone Vintage is clearly becoming one of the best authentic vintage stores in the Bay Area! Recently, Kim recommended I join facebook... Kim "your awesome!"  Facebook opened alot of doors for me creatively and for my business. If your a facebook member, please join the TiME ZoNE ViNTAGE Group and Fan Pages to see more photos and receive special member perks. I will diligently keep trying to upload more photos on my blog since I just discovered how and I'm having a lot of fun doing it.

Take Care All! Cheers!!

~Joann

Just Gossip

Hi All!

Been busy buying clothing for the store. Met a new person to consign in the store. Great vintage stuff!

Looking around ebay, etsy and craigslist for vintage mannequins. I am so hooked! Almost bought 4 the other day one was already sold (my favorite), 2 were badly damaged and the 4th had some damage. I opted to buy just the 4th mannequin. The guy wanted $385 and would not come down asking me to understand he's a small business and needs to survive. "Hello!" I'm a small business and on a tight budget (I went up to $250 cash). So I drove 1 hour to his place for nothing. He wasn't even there when I arrived and he knew I was on my way because I called him. In addition we were to discuss a business proposition between his and my store. Instead I spoke to his wife who then put me on the phone to try and negotiate a price and told me to leave a business card. He just blew me off. Oh well there's always next time.

The photos in this blog are taken inside my store. This is one of Time Zone Vintage mannequins; a vintage Rootstein ~redone (doesn't she look a little like Alicia Keyes? just sayin..)

That's my latest gossip. Hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!

Cheers!

Love'n It!

Hi All!

New dawn! New day! New me!! Whew! what a difference a day makes. After my last lengthy blog I'll make this one short and sweet... I'm love'n my store again! I stepped back and saw the forest through the trees. I just needed some R&R and that's what I did. I rested and on the 5th day, woke up, saw the light and felt the warmth it brought.

Today I met some awesome people in the store, it was a good day.

Cheers!

 

just a rant...

timid.. 'hello all' 

Having a bit of a problem. The store is doing great, I think that's the problem. It's taking on a life of it's own. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed these days. I have 2 gals who work for me. They both do a fantastic job in contributing to the store's success, but they both do not like each other (drama!). They work on different days... go figure. The more business the store makes, the more responsibility I have to take on. I'm getting busier and busier, staying later and later at the store even working on my days off. Don't get me wrong, I want the store to do good, but in a nutshell I'm getting to old to handle drama or more responsibility in my life, nope don't want it. The store has been open only 9 months and I'm getting burnt out. "Can't everyone just get along?".. famous last words.

Having Fun! Happy New Year! & Mannequin Madness!

Happy New Year! It's been awhile since my last post. I've been a bit busy dealing with the shop expansion. Got sick with that horrible cold everyone was getting, literally was bed ridden. Then dealt with the holidays, cooked my own turkey on Thanksgiving. Went to Los Angeles for 3 days at Christmas to visit with my boyfriends family. Lot's of new babies and toddlers. I don't have children so that was an ear full and then some. Was glad to be back home with my own furry babies.

Shop has expanded and looks fantastic! Lot's of new guys and gals vintage clothing, accessories and jewelry from the 40's and 50's. Great furniture pieces: 1960's turquoise swivel leather bar stools (4), awesome bamboo tiki bar with zebra print and matching bar stools, 1950's wooden hutch with carved glass sliding doors, tiki barware and kitsch collectibles, there is to much to list. Will include photos later. The shop is still evolving and I'm 'Having Fun' putting it all together!

I'm a mannequin fanatic and have just purchased 4 vintage Rootstein mannequins (Barbelles), their absolutely beautiful, drop dead gorgeous! I already have 28 prior vintage mannequins dating from 1940's thru 1980s. I have a friend who hooked me up he's also a mannequin fanatic he has a collection of 23 and growing. In addition he just started buying, restoring and selling them. Honestly neither one of us needs that many, but I've discovered there is a cult club of mannequin collectors out there and my friend is one of them. I think I'm headed in that direction... "Mannequin Madness!" It's addictive and can get expensive. Mannequins are collectible works of art. Check out these older manufactures of mannequins and their history: Rootstein, Greneker Wolfevine, Decter, Hindsgaul, Patina V. It's positively fascinating! Creating window displays in my shop using my mannequins helps feed the need! Helps my friend as well, he did my last two windows with his own mannequins (will show photos later). Hope everyone is well and happy! Until next time...

Cheers!!

jd