Business of Vintage Podcast

Sam Lopez, founder of @samspantsandplants and co-founder of the Houston Clothing Swap and Conscious Consumer Collective, joins the podcast to share how a passion for vintage fashion, thrifting, and conscious consumerism grew into one of Houston's largest community-driven sustainability movements. What began as a small clothing swap under a 10x10 tent has evolved into a nonprofit organization hosting large-scale clothing swap events that have welcomed thousands of attendees, diverted thousands of pounds of clothing from landfills, and made secondhand fashion more accessible to the Houston community. Alongside co-founders Raquel Sondate and Diana Swick, Sam is redefining what clothing swaps can look like—and proving that community is one of the most powerful tools for building a circular fashion economy. In this episode, Sam shares how she scaled the Houston Clothing Swap from a grassroots idea into a thriving nonprofit, why listening to your community is essential when building something new, and how clothing swaps can empower vintage sellers, resellers, and everyday consumers alike. She also opens up about the deeply personal journey that inspired her colorful style, her work in sustainability, and why fashion can be a powerful source of healing, creativity, and connection. Today's Guest: Sam Lopez (@samspantsandplants) Co-Founder of Houston Clothing Swap & Conscious Consumer Collective Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Katie Porter, founder of Porter Vintage, joins the podcast to share how she built one of San Francisco's most beloved vintage businesses by trusting her instincts, embracing community, and never waiting for the "perfect" moment to start. What began as a driveway pop-up outside Katie's apartment has grown into a thriving vintage brand with a permanent weekly presence in the Mission, a shop inside 710 Collective on Haight Street, a dedicated showroom and event space, and regular vintage shows in New York City. Over the past decade, Katie has built Porter Vintage one opportunity at a time, proving that meaningful businesses are often created by simply showing up consistently. In this episode, Katie reflects on the moment she nearly walked away from vintage, the power of listening to your intuition, and letting your freak flag fly. She shares practical lessons on hiring a team, managing multiple selling locations, creating systems that support growth, and building authentic community around your business. Katie Porter (@portervintage) Founder of Porter Vintage  Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Liisa Jokinen, co-founder of Gem, joins the podcast to share her journey from pioneering street style photography in the early 2000s to building one of the most influential technology platforms in the vintage and secondhand fashion space. Long before Instagram existed, Liisa was documenting personal style on the streets of Helsinki and New York, capturing the creativity, individuality, and stories behind what people wear. Those experiences eventually led her to co-found Gem, a search engine that helps shoppers discover vintage and secondhand pieces across marketplaces and independent stores all in one place. In this episode, Liisa shares the story behind building Gem with her husband, what she's learned from six years of growing a fashion tech company, and why she believes the future of fashion is rooted in resale. She also offers practical advice for vintage sellers on improving discoverability, writing stronger listings, creating memorable brands, sourcing inventory strategically, and standing out in an increasingly competitive market.   Liisa Jokinen (@liisajokinen) Co-Founder of Gem (@gem.app) Use Gem: https://gem.app/ Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Lindsay Brown, founder of A Day in June and newly opened sister store St. Taylor Studio, joins the podcast to share the real story behind building a vintage business from the ground up. What started with coffee shifts, warehouse spaces, weekend markets, and years of bootstrapping eventually became two beloved community-centered concept stores in Baltimore. In this episode, Lindsay opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship: surviving a painful business partnership fallout, building a business without investors or loans, learning to trust her instincts, and why vulnerability on social media unexpectedly transformed her connection with customers. She also shares the inspiration behind creating spaces rooted in joy, intention, and human connection — and why she believes vintage stores are really in the business of people. This conversation is an honest look at the emotional side of entrepreneurship, reclaiming your story, and what it truly takes to build a meaningful business in the vintage world.   Lindsay Brown (@adayinjunevintage)  Founder of A Day In June and St. Taylor Studio  Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Vintage Store Day is one month away: May 16th, 2026. The new retail holiday is in it's 2nd year, and it celebrates how small vintage businesses are so often pillars of their communities. It also has the potential to be your best day of sales yet - if you know how to build up the buzz for it.    The team behind Vintage Store Day (Kyla Embrey & Sarah Azzouzi of Lost Girls Vintage, Emma Louis of Rare Form Chicago, Emily Stochl of Pre-Loved, and me - Sloane Middleton Mann of Business of Vintage) are here to help. We've organized an educational webinar that will equip sellers with the tools to pitch themselves for press & create social media buzz. Don't miss the Vintage Visibility Webinar on April 22nd: https://itsvintagestoreday.com/pages/vintage-visibility-webinar   Guests:  Kyla Embrey, Sarah Azzouzi, Emma Lewis Co-Founders of Vintage Store Day, IG @vintage_store_day   Emily Stochl (@emilymstochl) Resale Journalist & Host of the Pre-Loved Podcast Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

What if the biggest opportunity for vintage sellers isn’t sourcing better inventory, but understanding technology better? In this episode, I’m joined by Charis Marquez, a retail and resale leader with 20+ years of experience shaping some of the biggest names in fashion. She’s led Global Fashion at eBay, scaled Levi’s and Dockers’ e-commerce businesses, and now advises brands at the intersection of technology, resale, and storytelling via her new consultancy, Seen + Known. Small vintage sellers can learn so much from big retail. Charis and I discuss how vintage sellers don't need to compete with major brands, but should position themselves in a way those brands can’t replicate. From why “you can’t be for everyone” to how clean data and strong listings can directly impact your sales, this episode breaks down the real strategies that separate growing shops from stagnant ones. If you’ve ever felt behind on technology, unsure how to stand out, or worried about big brands entering the vintage space… this episode will completely shift your perspective.   Chariz Marquez (@seenandknown.io)  Founder of Seen + Known / former VP Fashion at eBay  Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

What makes a customer choose your shop over The RealReal? Nik Pollina, who recently shared on social media that her vintage designer handbag brand reached $1M in 2025, is the perfect person to ask. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, host Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with Nik Pollina, founder of Seven Moods, to talk about how she grew an online following of over 300k, leveraged her online community to host lucrative brand-owned pop-up events, and scaled her revenue to seven figures.    Nik Pollina (@nikpollina_)  Founder of Seven Moods  Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Personal stylists and vintage sellers have so much in common, and so much to gain by partnering with one another. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, host Sloane Middleton Mann chats with Jamie Lewis, personal stylist & founder of JBL Styles, about how vintage sellers should approach working with personal stylists and interior designers (AKA dream clients!) Jamie shares how opening up about her life on Instagram allowed her to expand her business, how her shoppers are thinking about vintage purchases, and how vintage sellers can style themselves as a way to market their business.    Guest: Jamie Lewis (@jbl.styles)  Founder of JBL Styles   Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage) Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

"If you can't dance in it, why wear it?" This is the mantra that built Kiko's Kloset into the beloved brand it is today. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, host Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with Kayla Dickie, the creative force behind the brand bringing dance-worthy vintage to the spotlight: Kiko’s Kloset. Kayla talks about how a core belief and a background in art direction helped her build a cult-favorite vintage brand on social media. Kayla opens up about her biggest challenge as a business owner to date: maintaining momentum after virality. Plus, they chat about Kayla’s philosophy of getting dressed for joy, why a hybrid in-person model allows her to grow, and how her art direction background shaped an unmistakable aesthetic.  Guest:  Kayla Dickie Owner of Kiko's Kloset Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

Headlines read that resale is booming. Meanwhile, many vintage sellers are reporting record lows. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with resale journalist and Pre-Loved Podcast host Emily Stochl to unpack the biggest contradictions shaping the secondhand industry today. Emily Stochl is known for digesting world news through the lens of the resale economy in her podcast, social media pages, and Substack newsletter, Pre-Loved. Emily shares insights from her reporting on vintage seller income, explains why industry growth isn’t trickling down to small businesses, and reflects on how the resale landscape has changed more in the last five years than ever before. Thoughtful, honest, and grounded in real data, this episode is a must-listen for vintage sellers navigating a rapidly evolving resale economy. Plus, we reflect on 2025 business trends and what we can expect from consumers and sellers alike in 2026.   Guest: Emily Stochl (@emilymstochl)  Resale Journalist & Host of the Pre-Loved Podcast Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage (@business.of.vintage) Learn more: businessofvintage.com

She's your favorite vintage dealer's favorite vintage dealer for a reason. In this episode of Business of Vintage Podcast, Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with Karyn Dethrow of Dethrose Vintage, a Chicago-based shop known for its timeless aesthetic and commitment to preserving vintage fashion through meticulous care. From sourcing a grandmother’s entire 1930s–40s wardrobe by chance, to selling pieces that now appear in major film and TV productions, Karyn shares the journey of discovering her niche, building her brand’s unmistakable style, and the reality of what it’s like to run a vintage business in today’s market. We also chat about her experience at the inaugural Pickwick Vintage Show in Chicago, the emotional connection behind mending every piece by hand, and how alignment in your business can be a true turning point. For the vintage shoppers listening, Karyn's advice on how to gift vintage items and make sure they fit every time is pure gold. Guest: ✨ Karyn Dethrow Founder of Dethrose Vintage Hosted by: 🌟 Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

What began as a single antique booth has grown into a seven-figure brand. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with Melanie Alexander of Lost & Found Decor: vintage seller, content creator, and genius behind the Think Like a Business Owner course. Melanie shares how she transformed a side hustle into a scalable, profitable business. She opens up about the power of mindset shifts, building systems for real revenue, and why creative entrepreneurs need to stop treating their business like a hobby. Plus, she breaks down the story behind her best-selling Booth Seller Bootcamp and the Budget-Tracking Spreadsheet that went unexpectedly viral. This episode is packed with shop talk, candid takeaways, and a reminder that running a creative business means doing more than just the fun stuff. Guest: ✨ Melanie Alexander Founder of Lost & Found Decor Creator of Think Like a Business Owner Course Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com

What was once a mobile boutique operating out of a retro RV is now a Chicago institution. In this episode of Business of Vintage Podcast, Sloane Middleton Mann chats with Kyla Embrey, co-founder of the iconic Chicago brand Lost Girls Vintage.  From a 1976 van, to two beloved brick-and-mortar shops, to Vintage Chicago Bus Tours, Lost Girls Vintage deserves it's own Eras Tour. Kyla dives into growing a brand that's rooted in personality and purpose, ever-guided by their guiding principle since Day 1: “no risk, no reward”. Lost Girls Vintage is also passionate about supporting Chicago’s communities through both collaborations and activism. Oh — and Kyla tells the wild story of how she and her co-founder Sarah Azzouzi decided to start a business together within six months of first meeting. Guest: ✨ Kyla Embrey  Co-Founder of Lost Girls Vintage Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

You know when you *try* to sink into a vintage sofa, but it just isn't as comfortable as a new one? HiLo Brooklyn is on a mission to change that. In this episode of Business of Vintage, Sloane chats with Laura Deutch of HiLo Brooklyn, the design genius turning forgotten vintage sofas into custom (& comfortable) statement pieces. She can turn your Milo Baughman into a sectional that fits your exact space, all while repurposing the original bones & maintaining the perfect design. Oh, and she's not afraid to finish it in a patterned fabric either.  Guest: ✨ Laura Deutch Founder & Design Principal of HiLo Brooklyn Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

We’re in Barcelona, so we naturally had to stop into the stunning new RetroPickers Barcelona storefront. Maria Santos, co-founder of RetroPickers, shares why restoration is central to everything they do. This now-iconic shop started during the pandemic, fueled by social media growth. From salvaged lamps to Spanish design icons, this episode explores what it takes to build a vintage brand that truly stands out.  Guest: ✨ Maria Santos Co-Founder & Co-Curator of Retropickers Barcelona Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

Few dealers could pull of running their vintage shop inside a tattoo parlor, but it's a perfect fit for Brook-Lynne Vezer of Old Moon Vintage. Vezer joins Business of Vintage to chat about her 15-year journey from teenage seamstress to vintage icon. She spills on seeing her pieces on TV, being a part of iconic markets like A Current Affair & Pickwick, and redefining her brand through motherhood. It’s a joyful, real talk about evolving as a person while keeping the sparkle alive. Guest: ✨ Brook-Lynne Vezer Founder & Curator of Old Moon Vintage Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

In this inaugural episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with vintage trailblazer Marvin Benjamin of Benjamin Vintage & Design. The two just happen to be longtime confidants as well. One of the eclectic personalities at Chicago vintage collective Design at 329, Marvin shares how his roots, grit, and eye for the spectacular shape his thriving business. They talk shop, strategy, and the irreplaceable power of human connection in an industry too cool for algorithms. Spoiler: if you love Business of Vintage, Marvin might be the reason why. Tune in to hear how friendship, funky furniture, and a fierce belief in the vintage community helped spark it all. Guest: ✨ Marvin Benjamin Founder & Curator of Benjamin Vintage & Design Member of Design at 329, Chicago’s iconic vintage collective Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann Founder of Business of Vintage Learn more: businessofvintage.com About Business of Vintage Podcast: Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.