Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl S9 Ep29 ELECTRICAL BANANA VINTAGE: Desirée Fors, founder and vintage curator - on knowing when to pivot in your business, and building community through Instagram Live sales.
On today’s show, we’re chatting with Desiree, founder of Electrical Banana Vintage. Her obsession with vintage started at a very young age, growing up in NYC where she kept herself occupied by playing 'store' while her mom attended college classes. Eventually, she got a job working at Nashville's oldest vintage shop, The Hip Zipper, and after three years learning the ropes and getting encouragement from the owner to follow her dreams, Desiree decided to take the leap and start her own vintage business.
She has great advice to share about pivoting in your business, and has taken Electrical Banana Vintage through several iterations, now finding she enjoys to sell and build community on Instagram live shows. I’ll let her tell you all about it – let’s dive right in!
DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:
- [3:19] Desiree grew up playing dress-up and store as a child
- [6:21] What thrifting was like in 1990s New York City
- [10:36] She managed several small businesses in Nashville
- [15:16] Lessons learned about running a business while working at the Hip Zipper
- [20:24] Why Desiree opened a brick-and-mortar, but pivoted and closed it
- [26:05] Staying open-minded and pivoting when you need to
- [26:34] How to make social media work for you and your business
- [34:53] How to define your brand as a reflection of your personal style
- [40:59] Nashville's vintage scene has exploded to nearly 100 shops
- [43:38] Favorites from Desiree's personal vintage collection
EPISODE MENTIONS:
- Electrical Banana Vintage
- @electricalbananavintage
- Etsy page
- Hip Zipper
- Mellow Yellow
- Payton Dale
- Ellie Monster
- Black Shag Vintage
- Screaming Mimi’s
- How to navigate vintage wholesale on Pre-Loved
- My Best Vintage Life
- Live True Vintage
- Sonic Wave Vintage
- Irreverent Finery
- Leelee Roos Vintage
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.
- Megan Morris
- Jennifer
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- Jerrica Yasumura