How to let it all go.

Recently, a high school friend, Michelle Kohel, announced on Facebook that she was opening her own trucking and brokering company, Southport Trucking Services, LLC in Wisconsin. I was so incredibly encouraged to hear this news for her. What an endeavor! After working years in the field, she shared that she was taking a leap of faith and going out on her own. I love when entrepreneurs follow passions and go do the damn thing.

I can join their ranks. Drumroll: I have a booth at a vintage mart!!

I introduce you to The Brown Betties Lounge at Call It New, Call It Antique in Mesa, Arizona (there is a second location in Superior, WI!). Some of this is a dream come true because I’ve always envisioned having a Brown Betties Lounge — but one that was a sultry speakeasy performance space by night and a cafe by day. This ain’t it! But getting closer; manifestation is still in progress!

Mom and I curate the booth. At this stage, she is purging things from her personal collection — things she hands to me that I recognize from my childhood and promptly say, “Nooooo you can’t sell that!” It has been slow going, to say the least. I have to tell you that I had no idea that having the gift of a space to sell things would also bring up so much emotion!

I mean, every-freaking-thing has a story. In the photo above, the black patent stilettos on the left strutted me through many a party in Los Angeles and were kicked off during plenty of dance circles. I bought them new (circa 2010?), same as the taupe pair on the right. They completed many 1940s vintage looks for me. Made me feel sexy and tall. And amazing. But after I broke my ankle in 2018, wearing these shoes are harder to pull off. And now that I live in Chandler where there are less dazzling red carpet events and more cornhole tossing turn-ups, I’m in Birkenstocks far more often than stilettos. Circumstances or not, you can see that I hold onto things for a very long time. I still have clothes from high school that I wear! I believe in ‘saving’. I may as well be living in 1930s Depression Era the way I don’t throw things away, ’cause you know, “It’s still good!!”.

This booth business has been a good lesson in understanding the art of letting goooo! (Letting go of vintage items is a little different because some of these things truly are one of a kind and once you let it go, it’s gone for evah.) Yet, I ask you, does this behavior, the act of wanting to hold on so darn tight — is that healthy or is it unhealthy? A conversation this week with my smart and funny friend Belinda claims both things can be true. And they are. In conversations with my fashionably mystical friend Tina, who gave me that gorgeous art-deco striped dress in the far back and the creme-colored feather plumed hat in the front, she talks of moving energy — releasing old things to move currents so new things can swirl in. I like that.

I also didn’t realize how much work this would be! Yowza! Even though I loooove going to Goodwill and thrifting elsewhere, doing it as a business is a whole ‘notha ball game. Thankfully, there’s folks on YouTube who share knowledge (like Lost and Found Decor on why its important to brand your booth). I even found an inventory tracking spreadsheet from this lady, Laura at Oak Street Exchange. It comes with “cost of goods” formulas so you can analyze at what price you need to sell in order to make a profit after booth fees and the like.

In my last post, I spoke about celebrating your wins to help you get through overwhelm. I’m excited that I’m using my bookkeeping skills again, and calling on what I learned in micro economics in college. I’m excited to contribute to the movement of buying used rather than buying new. I’m super duper excited that my vision for the booth is that it reflects all the themes in Harlem’s Awakening and Harlem’s Last Dance….Like these beautiful tea cups. They make me think of when Magdalena drugs Harlem with the special tea laced with arsenic and opium. Dreadfully beautiful, right??

I also have books for sale in the space! No one has bought one yet and I’m not sure why (need to understand who my customer is and what they want), but I sure do love seeing the book cover in the space each time I visit to rearrange and restock items. Le Sigh.

This booth is a major work in progress and a constant reminder that perfection ain’t the goal. Consistency is. I have to take my time with this to make it a success; gotta be consistent and not give up or cave in due to stress. You know me; my brain has been anxious every step of the way. SO MANY DECISIONS to make! It also forces me deal with the clutter I have – decide to sell, keep or donate — then find a way to organize, inventory, and categorize it all in a way that is appealing to a buyer. I’m curious, when you’re dealing with your own clutter, how does it make you feel? Are you overwhelmed by it or do you see it as an unemotional sort of entity that simply needs dealing with? I recently found a lady on YouTube who connects clutter to childhood trauma (whoa!). Alternatively, my friend Tanya says to examine your relationship with your stuff, listen to the messages and act accordingly. You can get more of her worldly wisdom here.

Either way, I want this business to be a successful venture that at a minimum covers the booth fees. The first month, we made $77.00. Expenses were near $300. That, my friends, is a loss. Ha! But mom and I were happy with our earnings because it was better than $0.00! While this month might be about the same, I’m looking forward to keep going. It feels good to see something sell.

If you have any type of a vendor booth or are into selling your own DIY products, please share any tips or advice below. I’d love to hear from you!