Notes from A Cottage Industry

February 2018 Junk Queen of the Month: Michelle Robinson.

Junk Queen doesn't begin to describe Michelle Robinson, who works under the name of My Shabby Passion here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She maintains not one, but two booth spaces at Camas Antiques, and still manages to work full time, work out regularly, and spend time with her husband.

(See what I mean? She is possibly a step above a Junk Queen...more like a Junk Ninja, if you ask me.)

I had the opportunity to spend a couple of completely delightful hours at Michelle's home, where I am pretty sure we spent more time laughing than we did talking.

Michelle's home is filled to the brim with shabby vignettes, and vintage treasures, and once I had a tour of her main floor, we settled in for our interview:

How did you first get into junking? I’ve always done it! Forever! Probably when my kids were little...how many times did your kid leave his coat on the playground? And then you go to a yard sale or shift store for another...!(Laughing)

How long have you had your booth? Oh gosh, I don’t know!! I started at Uncovered Ruby in Battleground- When they closed I called JoAnn at Camas Antiques, and she knew who I was, and gave me a good spot. I later moved to a bigger booth in the annex portion of the store, and finally the main aisle. I have done the best on the main aisle of the store.

Before becoming a vintage dealer, what all did you do?  You mean besides being a dealer? My real job is...not as exciting as this job! I love the thrill of the hunt! You’re afraid you’re gonna miss out! (She gave a big laugh.) Ohhh yes!!!!!

I'm at Horizon Air...I've been here for 28 years...full time...Oh, and I like to lift weights..I have always been very athletic. I’m slacking these days. I do just enough to maintain.

(Let me say here that Michelle's version of "slacking" is more than most of us do when we are working hard at fitness!)

My junk biz is full time. I am off from my day job by 2:00 so I still have some daylight to do my junk.

What does a typical week look like for you? I work 4:00 am until 2:00 pm, and then...then it depends. It depends on my car....sometimes my car takes me to a thrift store. (We both start laughing. I think all Junkers can agree with this phenomenon.) or...my car may take me to a sale. I did have Thursdays and Fridays off and so I was always able to be there way early for sales. Right now I work four tens, and so I have weekends and Wednesdays off.

If I have a flea market coming up, I am like...oh!!!! I am busy painting furniture, and getting things ready. I shop for stuff all year long.  My cargo trailer is like my own storage unit.

What gave you the idea to get the cargo trailer?  When you do a flea market and you don’t want to do a million trips...you get a cargo trailer! (Laughing.) It’s fairly big...maybe 20 feet? I am not sure. It acts as my storage unit, and for flea markets...and it's great! It takes up a big spot in the driveway...

What do think your hot ticket items are that customers just can't get enough of?  Workbenches! (We both laughed again, because Michelle truly cannot seem to keep rustic workbenches in stock in her booth space!) Thats really hard. I don’t know...I buy what I really like and what I would buy for myself...I love the industrial, and old architectural stuff...vintage barware...I'm eclectic. I think people are ironstone'd out. I still look for it, but you know...it has to speak to me for me to buy it...Old farm stuff..anything farm related I love.

What are your non selling items? I can tell you I do not buy teacups any longer...or teapots...no more, no matter how cute they are! I pass on things I think won’t sell...decanters and wine glasses sell.

How would you describe your style? Hmmm...eclectic...I'm a little bit of country, a little bit rock and roll! That’s how I would describe it!(We both busted up laughing again here!) One thing I really probably don’t love, but I have to admit it is growing on me is mid-century modern. 

Do you think the shabby look is still in or are you seeing less of it now? It’s in in my life! (Big laugh!) I think yes, to a point...mixed with other stuff.

Do you utilize social media? If so, which ones work best for you?  I really don’t do social media..I post a few pictures when I have a flea market coming up, or the Mothers Day plant sale...I suppose I should, but I don’t. I used to have a blog, but making yourself sit down...it's too much! (I checked, and sure enough, Michelle's blog is still up, so if you'd like to read some old posts, you will find it here: myshabbypassionblogspot.com ) 

How many days a week do you work your booth? What is your system?? It all depends...supply and demand..most of the time I work on stuff every day...during Christmas I was going in to my booth every single day. I was nonstop. Go to work, come home, work on my other job...you want your furniture to sell, but you want a back up...Sure, I have stuff, but is it ready???? 

Oh! And Tracey, you have to put in here somewhere just how wonderful and helpful my husband is. He is my handy man...he helps me lift, fix, transport...I couldn’t do it without him.

I don't want to take in smalls, I want to take in bigs! It doesn’t matter how perfect a thing looks when you buy it, you get it home and...shoot! Something needs fixing on it!

Why do you think your booth has been so successful? I think because my booth is eclectic...some old, some new.I always try to have stuff in there that appeals to men too, and really everybody...it’s all stuff I like, but I try to appeal to people...I try to by cheap and sell higher... but, sometimes with a one of a kind thing, you have to pay a higher price. I am always trying to buy different stuff no one else has...stuff with history.

What advice would you have for someone going into business for themselves? Be prepared to work very hard, and spend a lot of time on working this, and if you have a booth, go in at least a couple times a week. You get out what you put in...and you have to spend money to make money... treat it like a real job. you have to love it...of course!

What do you think the biggest mistakes are that vendors make?  (Laughing!)  Oh gosh... what would you say, Tracey? Not having enough inventory, and not having interesting things in your booth...where people say, "Wow! I have never seen one of these before! This is cool."

Things have to be staged! It can’t be grandma's antique mall...You have to grab attention...have an attention getter...One guy said he always tries to have a weiner in his booth… that weiner that grabs your attention...LOL! Yes, a guy at the Rose Bowl Flea Market said that...

I know you do any barn sales and Vintage Markets. How many a year do you do? I really only do two. The Camas Street Fair and Rag Tag Revival.  I also do two sales at Camas Antiques; the sidewalk sale in June and the Mothers Day Sale in May.

If you could change one thing about your booth what that be and why?  Thats easy! (Laughing!) Make it bigger!!!! Expand! Add on! Knock some walls down! You have 2 booths at Camas Antiques, one upstairs, and one down...is that why? Some people have a spot in more than one store...in my opinion, just do two spots in one store!I swap things around, make it work...having two spots works for me! I don’t want to pay for storage in a place people can't see (Some vendors rent storage units to hold their inventory)...when, in a booth space it could sell. It takes time, but it works. 

How do you stay motivated?  Doing displays inspires me...umm...is that an issue for you? (Laughing loudly!) Hmmmmmm, okay, well, I would say it is very fun to buy and to hunt, and that gets you motivated...to go shopping...then I get it home, and...it just has to go. The shopping motivates me. You want to keep it, but you don’t...plus you just want to get crap outta your house! Ha!!! Just getting stuff out...that motivates me. My paycheck keeps me motivated too. The store keeps me motivated too! So many people in there do an amazing job. They motivate me to do well too. I don’t want to be in granny antique mall. (Laughing!) You have to stay motivated.

A huge thank you to Michelle, for sharing all of her insights and perspective on being successful in this fun and fabulous industry of junk!

Up close and personal with A Girl in Pink.

It's no secret that I love old, chippy, vintage treasures, as well as using those kinds of things in unique ways, staging them creatively in my home, and in my booth. Because of my passion for junk, I have had the idea brewing in my head to share a closer look into some of the amazing junkers I come across. I figured if I was curious to know their techniques, likes, and dislikes, you all might too, whether you are junker yourself, an aspiring antique booth vendor, or simply a human who appreciates a good behind the scenes interview.

Anyway.

A while back I put my idea into action. I interviewed one of my most favorite fellow junk vendors at Camas Antiques, the incredibly talented and creative, Amanda Bachelder (aka Girl in Pink) and I'm sharing it at long last with you here today....

 

How long have you had your booth at Camas Antiques? Eleven years! I've been there since the shop was two years old. I grew up in Camas and loved it. I always thought to myself, "I’d love to have a store here."

After I got married, I was painting furniture and putting it on consignment at the Daisy Patch, and I also did bazaars. People would ask if I had a store, and it got me thinking about a store. I started at Camas Antiques by selling there on consignment, and then I got a booth downstairs. JoAnne moved me upstairs, and I spent five years in a room there, and then I moved to another booth for six years.

Ever feel burned out on it? Hmmm, no....I don’t know...when I go to an estate sale, and I have fun...I think I’m going to do this forever!!!

How large is your booth? It's a 10x10 space.

What do think your hot ticket items are that customers just can't get enough of? It always changes, but I'd say that consistently, painted dressers sell really well for me. Also, light fixtures...they are hard to keep around! I am always in the hunt for them.

What are your slow-selling, or hard to sell items? Nothing specific, but I know I have tried to bring in things that are not my style and trendy and might sell. I would then have a hard time displaying them, and sometimes they wouldn’t sell. It has to do with the things other vendors sell, and they look good with their stuff, but they don’t blend in with my things…really rusty, crusty…..I can sell it better sometimes at street fairs.

How would you describe your style? Romantic vintage...there is a quote I have on my inspiration board. It says, "Inspired by the patina of age and romance of history."  

I use movies for inspiration. I will watch Jane Austin. I like that time period. I try not to get too carried away with it though. I can go too lacy...I try to have some rustic to compliment the feminine.

Speaking of vision boards...tell me about yours. I have done it for a long time...next to my computer...little odds and ends at estate sales...I stick up there, and pictures from a magazine of a display I love...when I feel like I am losing my style in my booth I look at this to bring me back.

Oh! I love that idea! Do you think the shabby look is still in or are you seeing less of it now? I think it is popular, but it has shifted more to shabby farmhouse as far as trends go.

Do you utilize social media? If so, which ones work best for you? I have had the best success with Facebook...instagram I am a little bit newer at. I have gained sales from Facebook both in the store and shipping items...I have regular shoppers that keep an eye on the store posts and I will ship. A lot of my blog traffic comes from Pinterest...You need to pin your own things.

How many days a week do you work your booth? What is your system?? It changes...I definitely put in a good 40 hours, working in things in between cooking meals and driving kids around...it fluctuates for sure. Some weeks are busier than others. I try to paint at least one substantial or 2-3 smaller pieces each week...Anyway, that is kind of my goal.

Why do you think your booth has been successful? Ha! Probably the first eight years I made just enough to shop to replace what sold and a few things for our own home...the last four years I feel I do contribute to our family income to some degree.  I think it is a standard knowledge among junkers that you only buy something that will fit in your own home. Buying what you love, and can barely stand to part with, are the things that sell.

What advice would you have for someone going into business for themselves? Hmmmm...Be purposeful in your shopping...that is the most important thing. Be thoughtful in your purchases...but what you love, and you know people can use in their home. Consider your style, and make sure you combine a couple of favorite styles. Don’t want to have too much of a mix...narrow down your style to what works together..think about how you are going to display the item. If the item is great, but hard to display, it probably won’t sell...think of how they will perceive your display.

What do you think the biggest mistakes are that vendors make? Probably...hmmm...being desperate for inventory...buying things sometimes that are not really their style (out of desperation to fill a space) or paying too much for something because they love it and then cannot make a profit. It’s ok if it make s great display or something but you’ve tied up funds in things…I am guilty of all of these things!

Do you do any barn sales or Vintage Markets? If so, how many a year? I have only done the Camas Street Fair, and one other. I always plan on the Camas Street Fair. With three kids at home I feel like I can’t commit to any other shows, but I hope to do more in the future. I don’t want my booth to suffer, and if I commit to more shows, I might not have enough. My booth is my priority. I will do Annie Sloan Paint demonstrations at the sidewalk sales.

I once did a blog post about doing ten projects using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I was painting with latex and didn’t enjoy it. It took weeks to finish a piece, but I loved the look. I started reading about Annie Sloan Paint and I checked it out. No odor! Dried fast! I could paint in my house and finish things quickly! My husband said, "It's expensive. Are you gonna make a profit?"

I did a blog post with one quart of her paint, and Annie Sloan commented on my post!

That had to be exciting! Yes! This gives people a visual of how far the paint goes. I was then sold on it. I went to sf and met Annie Sloan, at a workshop. They said we should sell chalk paint in Camas…and I suggested it to Jo Anne, and I offered to teach workshops each month. Now I do two workshops a month with a color of the month paint sale to coordinate. I try to use that color on pieces in my booth with tags to show it is the color of the month.

If you could change one thing about your booth what that be and why? I’d like to come up with something more unique for the walls. Burlap is practical and cheap but, I am always looking for unique fun backdrop. Someday I will find something!

How do you stay motivated? Doing displays inspires me. I look at my vision board, and go back to my blog to old display pictures…the display part is probably my favorite of all. I actually set up displays in my dining room. I accessorize them and all...we eat in our kitchen nook! I look at it all day and get ideas...thinking about my display, what I need to shop for, and all that. Making a good sale motivates me too! If I go a day without a sale, I lose my motivation a bit...

Do you carry seasonal items for the holidays or seasons? Yes, I do to a point. I love to bring in Christmas and Easter stuff...they work with my style and colors. Fall is harder for me, but I am getting more into it. I do think our customs are shopping for seasonal things. I am planning on doing more of a real theme for the street fair..incorporating fall into my booth doesn’t mean just using a lot of orange, but I have found some rustic elements I am planning to bring in! More burlap and rustic things. I didn't in the past, you know, because of not wanting to store it, but now I have started buying Christmas at summer sales and am putting it away for this year.

Thank you so much for sharing a peek into your style! To learn more about A Girl in Pink, and to follow Amanda, you can find her online here:

 

www.onegirlinpink.blogspot.com

 

https://www.facebook.com/onegirlinpink/ 

 

https://www.pinterest.com/girlinpink/

 

https://www.instagram.com/onegirlinpink

 

 

 

Save