S9 Ep28 CHEERIO COLLECTIVE: vintage market & event space - Lureena Thompson on what it really takes to sustainably bring a small business to life, one stone at a time.

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On today’s show, we’re chatting with Lureena Thompson, a comedian, actor and artist in Los Angeles, who opened the Cheerio Collective in Highland Park this spring. It’s a vintage store by day – utilizing a curated “rent-a-rack” collective concept, and a live event space by night – and Lureena self-admits she’s doing SO MUCH, and that you should stop by to tell her in-person to stop and drink some water.

This is a really honest and authentic chat about what it takes to bring a store and event venue to life. A major highlight of the Cheerio Collective is a breathtaking 1,200 square foot mosaic floor that Lureena designed and installed herself utilizing remnant offcuts of natural stones such as marble, granite, quartz and travertine. Creating it was a labor of love, that underscored Lureena’s commitment to using sustainable practices and recycled materials in her business.

The creation of the mosaic floor created a significant buzz, both within the Highland Park neighborhood, and online. The documentation of the entire renovation captivated a wide audience and amassed millions of social media views that created a huge anticipation for Cheerio to open.

I’ll let Lureena tell you the rest! –  let’s dive right in!

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

• [4:19] Lureena has thrifted her whole life, and has noticed how much more popular secondhand has become in recent years.
• [8:39] How Lureena got into selling vintage.
• [10:43] Things really got started when they found the studio space that would become the Cheerio Collective.
• [14:19] First, she took on a major renovation and designed and installed a 1,200 square foot mosaic floor utilizing remnant offcuts of natural stones.
• [18:11] Sharing the 3-month renovation journey on social media.
• [23:20] An honest and authentic chat about opening a small business vs. expectations
• [26:39] Why they’ve landed on a rent-a-rack, vintage collective, and market model.
• [32:35] Advice about pricing and running a sustainable business
• [38:29] Lureena’s personal style and favorite pieces.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

• @cheeriocollective
• Cheerio Collective
• Mosaic floor work-in-progress
• Dresscue
• Dresscue on Pre-Loved Podcast
• The Crowd Went Wild 
• Cheerio Collective events calendar
• Juju of ANJU and Luca Essentials

LET’S CONNECT: 

• 📸Instagram: @emilymstochl
• 🐦Threads: @emilymstochl
• 🎥TikTok: @emilymstochl
• 📧 Substack: https://prelovedpod.substack.com/ 
• 🎧Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/prelovedpod 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

• Patty Weber
• Kathy Brand
• Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
• KT 
• Lydia Welp
• Michael A.
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• Jerrica Yasumura