Member Interview & Giveaway: B.Inspired Vintage

VKC: Tell us a bit about yourself, Krissy, and your shop, B.Inspired Vintage.

Krissy: I'm a former art teacher turned stay at home mom to two (*awesome*) little ones, Sawyer (age 4) and Priscilla (age 2).  And I haven't announced it yet, even on my own blog, but my fiance, Cliff, and I are now expecting another little one, too!  Which wasn't planned but is definitely a welcome surprise!  While I sometimes miss my professional life, I am SO happy to be able to be home with my kiddos.  I fulfill my creative and professional desires through my blog, B.Inspired Mama, and my Etsy shop, B.Inspired Vintage.

 

VKC: Why are you drawn to vintage?

Krissy: I started selling handmade photobooks on Etsy after my son was born and a relocation (for my ex-husband's work) resulted in me leaving my career as an art teacher.  But I had such a hard time, with a little one at my feet, finding time to create, market, and list items.  So I started selling vintage.  It was great because I could take my little guy right to the thrifts and flea markets with me and involve him in the process.  After the birth of my daughter (a divorce, another relocation, and finding my love, Cliff), I've narrowed my niche to fun vintage kids clothing, toys, and decor.

VKC: Where do you find your treasures?

Krissy: I find most of my goodies at thrift stores, like Goodwill and The Salvation Army.  But sometimes I get lucky at a yard sale, too. 

VKC: What is your process when working?

Krissy: My process has gotten a lot more streamlined since narrowing my focus to kids stuff in the shop.  When I'm in a hurry I can just stick to the kids sections in the thrifts.  Then when I get home, I have a spot in the corner of my dining room to hide my treasures that need to be photographed.  After photographing a batch, they get moved into the living room near my laptop to list.  Finally, after being listed, they go upstairs into storage bins until they are sold.  I ship on Saturdays when I can get to the post without the kiddos in tow.  So on Saturday mornings, I print my sales receipts, go gather the goods, package them up, and head to the post office. 

VKC: How do you promote your business?

Krissy: Here's my blog post about my top 3 favorite ways to market my Etsy shop.  I LOVE social networking, so I love Etsy's new circles feature.  And I utilize Facebook and Twitter.  I utilize my blog, B.Inspired Mama, to journal my fun and preschool homeschooling with my kids as well as updates in my shop.  I've just started advertising on great blogs like Modern Kiddo, Mama Loves Papa, and So Fawned.  And last but not least, I've had great sales (and made awesome friends) since starting the Vintage Kiddo Collective!

VKC: What do you do when you are not working?

Krissy: Hang out with my kiddos, my love, family and friends.  During my marriage to my kiddos' father, we lived over 3 hours away from my hometown, my family and friends.  My kiddos and I are so happy to be back "home."  So we spend lots of time with my parents, my brother and his family, and my friends. 

VKC: What is your favorite item in your shop or that you have sold and why?

Krissy: Honestly, I love EVERYTHING!  I wouldn't put something in my shop that I don't totally love.  It our home were bigger and we had kids of every size running around, I'd keep it all!  (We're working on the kids of every size part!  haha!)  But really, my favorite thing in the shop right now is this Striped Pinwheel Toddler Dress that my daughter wore when she was little.  If we find out that we're having a girl, it will NOT be in the shop long!

VKC: How do you juggle your business, your personal life, and motherhood?

Krissy: This is a constant battle for me.  I never really feel in balance.  I'm always just swaying back and forth between focusing on my business, my kids, my love, and myself.  It helps that Cliff is totally supportive and interested in my business.  He loves to go treasure hunting with me.  And it also helps that I've made my kids a part of my business by focusing on them on the blog.  Spending time with them, playing and doing creative things, and helping them learn is my first priority, but also gives me blog content!

GIVEAWAY

I would LOVE to offer a GIVEAWAY for...

 TWO ITEMS of CHOICE from B.Inspired Vintage!

Enter to win by visiting B.Inspired Vintage and leaving a comment on this post letting us know your favorite item.

OTHER WAYS TO ENTER:

(Leave a separate comment for each one!)

1. Become a follower of the VKC blog (along the right sidebar).
2. Blog about this giveaway and comment with the link. 
3. Become a follower of the B.Inspired Mama blog. 
4. Follow B.Inspired Mama on Twitter.
5. Follow B.Inspired on Facebook.
6. Follow VKC on Facebook.
7. Subscribe to the VKC via RSS or email (along the right sidebar). 
8. Visit another member shop and let us know your favorite item (one comment per shop visited).

Giveaway end Thursday, June 2nd at midnight (EST). 

GOOD LUCK!