In the spotlight this month is My Victorian Cottage. I am pleased to feature a vintage shop for the very first time in the Shop Spotlight segment. Dianne, the shop owner runs her shop out of beautiful Ontario. Her shop specializes in vintage housewares, fabric, buttons, linens, notions, and clothing sourced from local estates.
I fell in love with all of her vintage treasures and I know you will too. Vintage has a very huge place on Etsy and I am proud to bring a part of all that vintage goodness to the Shop Spotlight.
Oh Canada: Of all the things that you sell, which item or style is your favorite?
Dianne: Vintage fabrics and textiles are my favourite. I think it's genetic. I learned to sew when I was very young and I remember my father feeling all the fabrics in stores. When I got involved with vintage I just gravitated to that.
Oh Canada: When did you develop an interest in vintage items?
Dianne: I went to an auction over 20 years ago and got hooked right away. Then like many dealers I started selling so I could keep buying. The buying is the best part.
Oh Canada: Why do you have such a love for vintage wares?
Dianne: I rarely buy anything retail, even then it has to be some kind of deal. I love that vintage is different. It's not what everybody else has. It's very inexpensive compared to new. It's my lifestyle now.
Oh Canada: How do you select which vintage items to add to your shop? Where do you find your vintage treasures?
Dianne: I select a lot of my items to sell because they fit through "the slot". Postage is the bane of my internet selling existence. That said, I also list things that I really don't expect to sell. I buy for shows and rather than have things just waiting I list them for the exposure, like vintage metal tackle boxes. Anything metal is so current and whenever I list or renew a tackle box they get immediate hearts and are chosen for treasuries. I have sold a few on etsy but they are more for the exposure value.
I shop at auctions, thrift stores, the outdoor antique markets. Aberfoyle is the best locally, and twice a year I go to Brimfield, Massachusettes for the biggest outdoor shows ever. First show is in May and I absolutely can't wait. When the team was talking about vacations on beaches I was thinking about my upcoming road trip. For me, that's the best vacation.
Oh Canada: Any plans to incorporate a new product into your shop this year?
Dianne: This business is a lot about reinventing yourself to stay current, always trying new things. I did recently start selling the pillows and bags I sew in a new etsy shop.
Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?
Dianne: I still love that total surprise when I check in and I have a sale. I love the new Activity Feed. I also love that buyers aren't afraid to spend money here because they recognize the value of Etsy.
Dianne: Of course, you need good pictures. I think you need to be offering something that people want to buy. I don't know exactly. Etsy is still a lot of mystery to me, why some people get so popular and others don't. I like being on the Oh Canada Team. Etsy is a huge place and this makes for some sense of community. List and relist too for exposure in the searches. I know not everybody agrees with the relist thing.
Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing to buy on Etsy?
Dianne: I'm too practical. I think the best things to buy are supplies, zippers, findings, fabric, etc. So much choice and really good prices.
Oh Canada: What is the number one best item in your shop right now?
Dianne: The buttons are my best sellers. I just have to keep focused and list more.
Visit My Victorian Cottage to see her lovely selection of vintage wares. You can also keep up with Dianne in her two other shops. In From The Workroom you will find beautiful sewn items from mostly vintage fabrics, linens, lace, and trims. In Button Lane you will discover unique vintage button charm bracelets. So head on over and have a look. Dianne will be glad to have you stop by.
Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team
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