Catwalk Creative is a unique vintage shop on Etsy, who’s stock includes a stylish range of hand-picked clothes and accessories from the 1930′s to 1980′s. Each piece is one-of-a-kind so you can feel confident in your unique style. Merchandise includes vintage suits, dresses, separates, outerwear and accessories.

Briefly describe yourself and how you found out about Etsy:

My name’s Louise and I own Catwalk Creative Vintage, selling exclusively online through my website http://catwalkcreative.co.uk since 2006 and from my Etsy boutique, http://catwalkcreative.esty.com since 2008.  I came across Etsy by pure accident whilst searching the web for vintage clothing.  I was instantly drawn to the unique layout of the site.  Despite sellers having to limit the number of images they use and having a uniform font and so on, I think it’s made sellers think carefully about how to present their wares and so attract more customers to their shops.

I thought initially that Etsy was limited US sellers only, but the site kept coming up in my Google searches and eventually I found a couple of UK and European sellers.  I also realized that a few of my friends at the Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) were also selling on Etsy.  After reading up on how to set up a shop, I decided to go for it and have never looked back.  I think it’s a marvelous selling venue which hopefully will improve and gain in popularity as time goes by.

Why do you sell Vintage goods?:

Because I love it and I’m passionate about it.  Everything from the thrill of the find to preserving the history of a piece and then hopefully selling it to someone that will love it and care for it as much as I do.  That might sound a little OTT to someone that doesn’t understand the importance of vintage clothing but to a true vintage connoisseur, it’s the truth.  I don’t see what I ‘do’ as just selling, I’m passing on a little piece of history and helping the world to be a little ‘greener’ at the same time.  I’m spreading the love!

From my involvement with the Vintage Fashion Guild, I know that most sellers of vintage have no choice in the matter; it’s in their blood and they couldn’t think of doing anything else.  It’s a real passion, something to look forward to and gain great enjoyment from.  And for the majority, it’s certainly not about money!  Far from it. There’s lots of sellers I know that have to take part-time jobs in order to pay the bills. I think there’s a general misconception that we make heaps of money from selling ‘old clothes’.  What people don’t realise is that not only do sellers have to go out and source the merchandise AND pay for it, but they often have to mend it, clean it, press it, photograph it, measure it and list it.  All this takes considerable time and effort and it actually costs money to do so.  Any profit made is usually put back into the business by way of purchasing more vintage.  It’s a hard life but someone’s got to do it!

Did you start off selling personal vintage items and then expand to reselling?:

I do have my own personal vintage collection but I’d never sell it.  No, I did my research and homework and purchased stock to re-sell.

What are your favorite places to shop for vintage goods? Without a doubt, my favorite places to shop on Etsy are with Vintage Fashion Guild members.  You can find VFG members by searching for ‘Vintage’ and the keyword ‘vfg’.  All VFG trade members have to abide by a strict code of conduct which includes providing clear photographs along with a full description of the merchandise, the decade it was manufactured, measurements and details of any flaws.  There are of course, many other fabulous vintage sellers on Etsy but these are the things you really should be looking for when shopping for vintage online and I guarantee VFG members will provide all this and more!  I also spend lots of time looking around the websites of VFG members.  Just go to http://www.vintagefashionguild.org/ and click on the ‘vfg members’ link in the top right-hand corner.

When I’m not buying buying online, I love to visit vintage fashion fairs.  There’s an excellent one held twice a year in Fallowfield, Manchester which has over 100 stalls with everything from vintage buttons and beads to Victorian capes and fabrics.  It’s a vintage lovers paradise!  There’s lots of vintage fairs popping up all over the place and especially in the Manchester area where I live.  Some are better than others but it’s always great to get out there and meet people with the same interests and I’ve met some really interesting people that way.

What is the best profit you made off one sale?:

Probably a 1950’s dress that I picked up in a charity shop for £12 last year.  It was black velvet with chiffon sleeves and had the most amazing kick-pleats at the back.  I sold it to a collector in London for £150.  Not a bad return!  Shame there’s not too many of those finds these days!

What is the worst profit you made off one sale?:

Not too many of those thankfully!  Probably breaking-even on a sale item.

Do you sell handmade goods?:

No I don’t.  I do make soft furnishings for my home and I’m quite handy with needle and thread.  Most people that sell vintage clothes are quite good with a sewing machine.  It’s a very practical had useful tool when you sell vintage clothing for obvious reasons.

Some sellers think Etsy should be handmade goods only, what would you say to them?:

I wouldn’t say anything.  I didn’t realize there were Etsy sellers who felt like that although I don’t spend any time on the forums so perhaps there is a wave of negativity towards vintage sellers.  I guess everyone’s entitled to their opinion but I prefer to remain optimistic and don’t understand that kind of mentality at all.  There’s room enough for everyone as far as I can see.  Anyway, vintage and handmade goods go hand-in-hand and that’s surely good for business. I’ve got friends on Etsy that sell both vintage and handmade goods and it’s never been an issue.

I have purchased handmade goods on Etsy because I’ve specifically searched for handmade goods.  If I’m looking for vintage, I change my search option to ‘vintage’.  Sellers with handmade goods have the benefit of the search option automatically reverting back to ‘handmade’ after every search.  I really don’t see what the issue is.  Lots of sellers of handmade goods use recycled and vintage fabrics and I’m happy to promote those sellers in my blog, Catwalk Threads.  Like I say, there’s room enough for everyone so I recommend turning the negative energy into something more positive and just get on with doing (and being) the best you can.

What are your sales goals for the near future?:

I would love to expand my business but as I work from home I’m limited to the amount of stock I can carry and it suits me to work online.  I have a young daughter so I need to be around for her.  Also, I’ve established myself to a worldwide market through my website and Etsy so I have the best of both worlds and now get repeat customers which is always great.

I’ve recently been in talks with a local business owner who’s opening a fabulous shop, just around the corner from where I live.  The shop is stunning, with three huge windows and lots of passing traffic.  He’s selling vintage and retro furniture, glassware and lighting.  There are lots of smaller rooms within the premises and he wants to incorporate some local artists and crafts businesses. I called by to say a friendly ‘hello’ yesterday and the owner was extremely interested to hear about my vintage business.  So much so, that he’s offered to display one of my mannequins in his window along with some of my business cards – no payment required!  Just goes to show how being friendly can pay off!  It’s a start and will certainly get my name known locally.  I live a small leafy suburb just south of Manchester city centre.  It has quite a bohemian, village feel with lots and lots of cafe bars and independent shops so this business will do well here I’m sure of it.  Onwards and upwards!

You may find Cat Walk Creative on Etsy, Facebook and the Catwalk Creative blog.

I always love hearing about handmade seller’s day jobs because it’s really interesting to find out what crafters do for their 9-5 jobs. Before I sold jewelry at Plume Adore, I was an office manager of a dating service! CHEESY.

Liz Cleek of the fantastic shop remixstudio took some time out to answer my questions on her day job for Handmade Spark.

Tell us about yourself:

I’m a twenty-something from Des Moines, Iowa with an inability to focus and a love of things re-purposed. I live in an 1880’s house with two roommates and a large passel of squirrels in the yard. I studied Graphic Design and English in college, but if I could go back a few years in time, I think I would have done something different.

Where do you work and what do you do?

By day, I’m a graphic designer for a small study here in town. Because we are on the small side, I take care of designing things such as emails and updating websites, but I also take care of answering the phone and sorting mail.

What do you sell on Etsy?

I started with selling purses made from old t-shirts. I’ve expanded to include other things like sleeves and cozies and some art.

Do you have dreams of quitting your day job?

Yes, but not to solely sell on Etsy. In my spare time, I do Etsy stuff, but I also am working on starting my own photography business. I think in an ideal world, I would craft part time, because I love the tangibility of making stuff, and then do wedding photography part time, because I love capturing memories for people.

How do you juggle the stress of both?

Luckily for me, I’m a very mellow person. I’m also a bit of a home-body, so I have plenty of free time. Especially since I don’t depend on my Etsy income as my main source of income, it’s very relaxed for me. If I’m feeling stressed, I can take a break, though I’ve recently reached the point where I’d like to run my shop more seriously, so I suspect the stress will increase a bit.

What’s your family life like?

Well, I’m a single adult who lives with roommates, but three hours away from the bulk of my family (minus my sister who goes to college nearby) so I don’t have many concerns family wise. Now dating wise….

Do your coworkers know about your Etsy life?

I think I mentioned when I started working there about Etsy, as I introduced my boss to it, but other than that I’ve never mentioned it.

What are your future shop goals?

I just recently applied for my state tax id, and have sent in my “Doing Business As” form, so that is really helping me feel legitimate and giving me a bit of “umpf” to make this thing a real, profit making business. I’d like to within the next year do some of the great craft shows we have in the area.

Be sure to check Liz out on Twitter, her blog and of course, Etsy!

Anna Attard’s incredible children’s apparel line Amelie Jo features organic onesies, hats, shirts and pants with a unique, whimsical twist. Anna ‘sat down’ with me to share her story of being an Etsy Mom for Handmade Spark.

Tell us about yourself and how you found Etsy:

I am a stay at home mother of a 17 month old, my sweet Amelie Jo and a 13 year old step daughter, Taylor.  I have always been interested in crafting and purchasing organic in all aspects of my life.  I found Etsy after a friend told me about an adorable organic baby hat that a shop owner had listed and I was hooked!

What’s your family life like?

My husband is the bread winner of our family and works 10 hour days with a 2 hour commute.  We spend weekends together, but there is simply not enough time during the week. Saturday is family day and Sunday we spend at home.

Does Etsy help contribute to your family’s income?

I would love for my Etsy shop to generate enough revenue to contribute to the family’s income, but I haven’t built a large enough clientele yet. I just opened my shop in December of 2009, but it seems to be getting a lot of exposure, due to the fact that I am constantly blogging and on Facebook.  I am a member of Lollishops, which seems to be a good source of cheap advertising in a community setting.

How do you find time to work with kids around?

It is very difficult to work at a craft when children are around. I do most of my work at night or during naptime.  I have learned to be very efficient and careful with my time.  I answer and send emails from my phone and jot down ideas periodically throughout the day.  I do a lot of my sewing by hand when my daughter is busy watching Sesame Street or looking at books.  It all seems to get done and I am happy with the results, so I must be managing!

What are your Etsy goals for the future?

My Etsy goals for the future are to run a successful shop and produce my shirts and onesies on a larger scale.  Ultimately, I would like to have a small clothing line that customers can purchase from a website or independently owned boutiques.

Please be sure to check out Anna’s shop Amelie Jo for beautiful handmade organic apparel plus follow her on Twitter. I bought my daughter an Amelie Jo original tee for her 2nd birthday (which she loved) and it is SOOOOOO soft!