A Wicked Wash-ashore…

I’m what Cape-born people call a “wash-ashore”.  I’m a transplant.  A stranger who washed ashore on Cape Cod from a far away land,  in my case, that place is Connecticut.  Usually, “wash-ashore” is tossed-around in a light-hearted way, but the underlying point is always made…you are not one of us.

I’m not crazy about this word, but being a thick-skinned Italian from the New York line, I let it roll.  Now that I own a great little business on Cape Cod, Wicked Thrift, I’d like to clear the air about being dubbed a wash-ashore.  How did Wicked end-up here?

In the early 1970′s, my hard-working blue collar parents bought a dilapidated little Cape Cod ranch. Our best friends from Connecticut had moved to the Cape and it had been our favorite vacation destination for many years prior. So, my parents dug deep and bought a little fixer-upper. I was 5-years-old at the time.

Every weekend, winter/spring/summer/fall,  we loaded into my father’s cleaning van on Friday night with the snack bag in tow. We drove four hours in the dark in the rain/sleet/snow/hail to “check the house”.  Of course, I didn’t realize at the time that my parents were escaping their grueling cleaning business and their 60hr work week cleaning the great estates of Greenwich, CT. I thought we were really going to “check the house”, and if we didn’t something truly catastrophic might happen!

For me, Cape Cod was not a summer destination, but my home away from home. I had clothes in the drawers and shoes under the bed, and my best friend from CT now lived there, Jeanie, who remains my soul sister to this day.

I had my first kiss on Cape Cod, drank my first beer as a teenager, and listened to my first heavy metal song with Jeanie, who blazed a trail for me always. Countless other firsts happened on Cape Cod for me.  Out of college, I wrote the best songs of my life while on the Cape. I got married on West Dennis Beach in 1995… and the magic lasted, because I am still married to and deeply in love with my man.  Although I was on hiatus in Nashville and New York City for several years, a voice called me back to the Cape in 2007, when I bought my house in Yarmouth.

So, it was a surprise to me when I opened my dream shop, Wicked Thrift,  that some of my customers called me a “wash-ashore”. Of course, they did not know my history, they did not know how hard my parents worked all those years to keep the little house in Yarmouth, and they did not know about all of my “firsts”… but why does any of this matter, anyway??

The point is,  they need to GET OVER IT!  If a small business contributes to your local economy, takes a leap of faith to offer a new service during a time of great historical economic risk, keeps its doors open during the brutally slow off-season months and remains committed to offering a consistently exceptional experience to its local patrons, then I think the word “wash-ashore” can be thrown overboard.

My home is Cape Cod and I love everything the Cape has to offer. Opening Wicked Thrift is my way of giving back to this magical place.

Tags: Cape Cod, slang, small business, thrift shops, travel, Vintage Clothing, Wicked Thrift

What’s in a name? “Wicked”…

416 Main St, circa 1892

What’s in a name? After an incident this week, “Wicked Thrift” feels the need to explain itself…

The property I rent for Wicked Thrift used to be a farm, which was built in the 1800′s. It consisted of three buildings: the main house, the barn and a windmill.

Last April, I rented “the barn” space, which was an office at the time, but it had great potential for funky factor! It  has old cargo-ship wood on the walls and exposed ceilings, as well as the original barn doors that are propped open at my shop’s entryway.

Wicked Thrift 2011, 416 Main St.

In the mean time, the main house, had been rented for the 2010 season by a tarot card reader, named Sabrina.  As coincidence would have it, two businesses with names that implied witchy-poo things, opened in the plaza at the same time.

Sabrina's sign, last summer...but now this is my vintage shop.

Sabrina’s sign said “Psychic”,  my sign says “Wicked Thrift”.

Why the need to blog about it? This week, a customer came into the shop, fearful that Wicked Thrift was an occult shop. She was concerned for me, that potential customers may be scared away by the possibility that I was the psychic. I’m guilty by association!

So, why did I name the shop Wicked Thrift?
-  Easy to remember.
-  It tells people what type of shop it is.
-  Cool logo options!
-  Fun to play-up the Boston lexicon.
-  Yay! Striped socks and ruby slippers!

As I’ve told customers in the past, those who have asked, “are you the psychic?”… I can try to predict your future, but I doubt I’ll be very accurate!

 

Tags: Cape Cod, Religion, small business, Vintage, Wicked Thrift

Winter fashion sensibility…

If you must... at least try to dress up those sweats!

Okay, I know we’re all under snow and ice right now. SOOoo, when we’re bound for sweats and the trusty “comfort” clothing in the middle of winter, the least we can do is leave the slippers at home!

Winter fashion, when there are mile-high mounds of snow and ice on the streets, it can be hard on our fashion sensibility! Be careful out there and dress warm…but don’t leave your fashion sense at home.

At Wicked Thrift, my customers have been coming in and out of the shop looking toasty and they definitely get an A+ for effort! It’s great to see sweats being “dressed-up” to the best of everyone’s ability when it’s 25ºf outside!

So ladies, if you’re going to do it, at least try to pull it together with a tailored coat, a cool pair of boots, maybe go retro with your old Docs or Converse high-tops, and then add a cool funneled scarf or snood.  YOUKENDOOOIIIIT!!!!

ROCK ON…BIG-ASS 80′S EARRINGS!!

Me, front right...sad but true, my 80's rock star days.

While doing a little bit of reading on 2011′s fashion trends, I came across a little snippet about “changing it up” with a big pair of 1980‘s-inspired earrings.

Two things immediately came to mind:
1. Been there! I can now officially take out my huge bin of high school baubles, collected when I was a teenager from my favorite Indian market in Banksville, NY (wonder if it’s still there?).

2. I KNEW it! Back in December, I purchased a HUGE lot of crazy-big retro earrings for Wicked Thrift, from a hip local customer. My mother thought I was nuts, but I hoped everyone would catch-on to how cool they are.

We love the 70s at Wicked Thrift! get inspired with big hoops...

So, why will big earrings work for you this season? The 1970s long and lean look is back, with longer hems and higher waists…so a shoulder-grazing hoop could really finish-off the look.

Also, there’s a big trend toward minimalist easy style, so a statement earring could be a groovy way to swap-out your statement necklace from the last few seasons. Keep the clothing simple and you’re good to go.

At this year’s Golden Globes, the shoulder-sweepers were everywhere:

Nice earrings! Kim Kardashian at the 2011 Golden Globes. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America)

“…the cool, modern look of a super large teardrop in bling-bright colors.  Giuliana Rancic wore them in coral (stunning with a black gown) while Kyra Sedgewyk did them in turquoise paired with a bright orange gown for a WOW color combo.   Nicole Kidman wore a stunning black crystal chandelier, and  who could forget scene stopping “Bollywood” style earrings worn by Jane Krakowsky – beaded and dangly and oversized.  Making a statement for the edgy earring, Elizabeth Moss, with a mound of dangly chains from a chandelier top!…What made the look work for all these women:  Keeping the dress simple and leaving the  neckline free.”

Customer Service 101

Happiness is a friendly smile and warm welcome… um…isn’t it?

Greetings in my shop aren’t scripted and might range from the basic “Hello! How are you today?” to “BRrrr…come on in from the cold!”.

Last summer (I’ll never forget this story), a woman entered my shop with a friend and, as I do with all of my customers, I smiled and welcomed them.   On this particlular occassion, I actually said, “Welcome!”. Her response was the weirdest I had ever heard.  She raised her eyebrows and somewhat snidely replied, “Am I supposed to respond to that?  I mean, does it require me to say something back to you?”.   What the- ??? I blinked my eyes and asked her if she had ever been welcomed into a store before?

Queen of Mean, Leona Helmsley (Keith Bedford/AFP/Getty Images)

It was the first time I realized how jaded people have become due to lack of genuine friendliness in small shops like mine.  I hear stories over and over, how shopkeepers and employees are rude, snobby, impatient, condescending, and how they sometimes never even look up when a customer enters their shop!  Aren’t they grateful for their patrons?  These stories  blow me away.

Right hand raised,  I do solemnly swear, that I cannot recall a single time in the history of Wicked Thrift,  when I did not greet a customer and welcome them into my shop.  If I happen to be caught-up at the cash register or miss them on the way in, I actually seek them out and apologize for not saying hello, and then I proceed to tell them about any ongoing sales.

As a small business owner, particularly one that has direct constant contact with their customers, it mystifies me how some shopkeepers don’t seem to care about the pay-off, which is not measured by whether or not a customer makes a purchase. The pay-off is knowing you made their day a little brighter and that their experience was a good one. The motherload jackpot is when they return your smile and they leave saying “I’ll be back! I can’t wait to tell my friends about this place”.

I may be a “newbie” in business on Cape Cod, but there’s one thing that every business owner should know without being reminded: A little bit of gratitude goes a long way…the dollars and cents will follow.

Ebay saves the season…

Thank you, ebay...

Admittedly, ebay is not what it was a few years back, not with their new rules in 2010 and the economic climate to deal with. I was making a whole lotta loot,  not too long ago, auctioning everyday clothing and funky vintage, and it was a big motivator to finally take the leap to open a brick n’ mortar on Cape Cod.

Ebay was a great stomping ground for me to learn the price-points for the items I currently sell at Wicked Thrift and hone the skill of online customer service, which really does matter.

Ironically, since opening Wicked Thrift last April, I have not posted a single  item for sale on ebay…until this past month. The reality of Cape Cod’s seasonal economics is glaring me in the face and, unfortunately, my Jackie-O sunglasses aren’t helping much.  I said early on,  if needed, I’ll supplement Wicked Thrift’s cash-flow with online ebay auctions throughout the winter… and it has added-up. Thank goodness its in my bag of tricks!

I guess the moral here is, as a small business trying to survive the off-season on Cape Cod,  I have two choices: FIGHT or  FLIGHT. Today I find myself fighting and thankful for ebay’s virtual world of opportunity, even if the numbers are smaller than they used to be.  After all, Nonny taught me long ago, that “something is better than nothing”.

Tags: Cape Cod, ebay, small business

Small business competitors…unite to help one another!

What a surprise! Today, Wicked Thrift was visited by a local shop-keeper from Chatham, MA.  Janice from In My Travels Consignment was nice enough to introduce herself while browsing my racks today. In the past, spies from other local shops similar to mine did not come forward, even though I knew who they were!

A long time ago, while working with brilliant business people from my past, I was taught the importance and relevance of strong competitor relationships, especially regarding a small business community.

Instead of undercutting and bad-mouthing, it makes much more sense to play nice in the sandbox. If your concept works and your business model is sound, then there’s just no reason to be insecure.

Reasons to unite:

• Referrals…Good ones, especially from other business owners are credible and taken seriously.
• Slander… Healthy business relationships reduce the risk of made-up nonsense, the last thing a small business needs.
• Differentiators…You can send customers to other shops for services or products you don’t offer.
• Options…In a tourist community like Cape Cod, visitors want to shop-hop. Tell them about the other guys! They’ll love you for it!

Here are a few of Wicked Thrift’s favorite “similar” shops in the area, which are consignment shops (remember, Wicked Thrift is not consignment, but trades cash on the spot or offers store credit for your cool duds.)
Shawl Boutique & Consignment, 66 Upper County Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639, 508-394-3185
In My Travels, 1223 Main St, Chatham, MA 02633, 508-348-0100

Tags: Cape Cod, Shopping, small business, Thrift, Vintage

Vintage 1980′s Fashion…Resnicoff!!

You can never have enough 1980′s… Fashion was fun back then! So, here I am going through some new items for my Cape Cod store and out of a pile of not-so-special skirts comes a real gem.  A serious throw-back from the 80s, inspired by Crockett & Tubbs and their Miami Vice vibe… ESPRIT was huge back then and ran an art line by Joel Resnicoff.

AND GUESS WHAT???  THIS ONE IS FOR SALE!! … it is a rare vintage print skirt from 1980′s Joel Resnicoff ESPRIT line.   I’m putting it on the floor in my vintage shop for $45 this week or you can buy it online  at Wicked Thrift’s website for less…$30 plus shipping (I should probably list it for more, but what the hay. Keep it fun for those in the know)… For more about Joel Resnicoff and to see a few more of those vintage desgns, check out Zone7Style’s blog post…

Vintage Pleasures and Thrift Shop Treasures…

 

And so it  begins… Here I am with my bowl of vintage cherries and trendy thrift shop treats to satisfy my local Cape Cod customers and seasonal tourist fashionistas, as I move into my second year in business at Wicked Thrift, Cape Cod’s first “clothing exchange” thrift shop.

My romance with thrift likely began at the Greenwich & New Canaan, CT rummage sales my mom used to drag us to,  only to be bolstered in the early 1980′s by my affair with John Rambo and Culture Club…if you can even put the two in the same sentence…

…and then later, when I was way cooler,  influenced by the long-haired rockers on Headbanger’s Ball.

As the funky music kid in my grade, I can’t deny the common thread between music and fashion. Having spent my professional career behind the scenes of the music and entertainment industry (those stories to be told later…), many of my friends and family members perceived my departure from the music biz as just plain crazy- I mean, I had a title and everything!!! At the end of the day, friends closest to me knew it was inevitable that I would eventually follow my entrepreneurial spirit, and marry music and fashion together in my life, once and for all.“

I suspect Wicked Thrift will have much to share about its growth and experiences. I have only come this far because of the amazing mentors I’ve had throughout my career and the influences of music that are reflected in my shop’s aesthetic.  After all… Dokken rules!

Tags: Cape Cod, fashion, small business, Thrift, Vintage Clothing