Member Interview & Giveaway: Baby Binks Vintage

Shop: Baby Binks Vintage
Twitter:  @DHH0927

VKC:  Tell us a bit about yourself and your shop.

Baby Binks Vintage:  I am a mother of a beautiful 11 year old boy and he is the center of my world. My Etsy shop, Baby Bink Vintage, is named after him. Baby Binks is a silly little name I would call him as a toddler (and sometimes still do although he doesn't like it as much these days). BBV sells anything vintage that is centered around children. When browsing my shop, you will find goodies from clothing to toys and everything in between. Baby Binks Vintage is my second and newest Etsy shop. I started selling vintage with Oma's Basement on Etsy and found that so many of my great items were for children. I decided to take on an extra shop dedicated to vintage children's items to give these goodies special attention.

VKC:  Why are you drawn to vintage?

Baby Binks Vintage:  I found an appreciation for vintage the first time I shopped at a thrift store. Finding treasures that were discarded and giving them a second chance was exciting. Etsy allows me to hunt for these vintage goodies and care for them until they are ready to continue their story. I love the idea of giving an item a new home so it can be valued and appreciated all over again. 

VKC :  Where do you find your treasures?

Baby Binks Vintage:  I mostly find my treasures at my local thrift shops. When I have  chance, I venture to estate sales and yard sales. I love to check out the thrift stores while I am on vacation as well. There is something so satisfying about the search for vintage at a shop in another town or state. You really never know what you'll find.

VKC:  What is your process when creating/working?

Baby Binks Vintage:   The most important thing for me is to stay focused. I usually make a large cup of coffee, sit at my crafting desk with my laptop and tackle my to-do list. I also tend to buy in excess, so photographing the items can be a challenge. The prep alone can take a good amount of time, so I have started to appoint certain tasks for certain days. Monday is half price day at the thrift store closest to me, so I try to shop Monday, organize and prep Tuesday, photograph Wednesday and list and ship through the end of the week and into the weekend. Of course, that schedule changes regularly due to my busy life outside of Etsy.

VKC:  How do you promote your business?

Baby Binks Vintage:   I utilize Etsy as much as possible in regards to promoting. I have used their promotional tools, joined teams and regularly participate in group promoting such as Treasuries and Circles. I have linked my other shop, Oma's Basement, to Twitter and plan to use social networking to my BBV's advantage as soon as I create my new Facebook account.

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

Baby Binks Vintage:   Most of my free time is spent with my son. He also loves shopping second hand, so we thrift hunt together. I am an avid crafter as well and it's not unusual to find me knee deep in scrapbooking supplies. I am getting married next October, so planning our wedding takes up a good amount of my extra time as well. I am giggling a little while writing "extra time" because I feel like that is really just wishful thinking for a busy mom.

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

Baby Binks Vintage:   So far, my favorite item that I have sold through BBV is a pair of saddle shoes. I was contacted by the woman who purchased them and she explained why she wanted them and that she needed express delivery. Her story was great and I knew that the shoes would be used for something important to her and her daughter. I felt honored to be able to help and she was so appreciative. That sale warmed my heart.

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

Baby Binks Vintage:   I remind myself all the time that I sell Etsy to make extra money for my family and it's not intended to interfere with my family life. Sometimes, when I am in the middle of a listing description or editing photos, I have to make an effort to put everything down and redirect my attention to the things that are most important. I run two vintage shops, so this can be challenging at times. It's all a matter of putting things in perspective.

VKC:  What giveaway or discount would you like to offer our readers?

Baby Binks Vintage:  I am giving away a vintage Cabbage Patch Toddler Collection Doll.  Please click here for more details about the doll.  I will cover domestic shipping but the winner will need to pay for international shipping.

If you'd like to enter to win this giveaway, please leave a comment below.
There are a few other ways to enter - please leave a separate comment for each.
1. Favorite Baby Binks Vintage on etsy!  
2. Tweet or blog about this giveaway. (Please include a link.)
 
This giveaway will be open until Sunday November 25th, and a winner will be selected randomly.
Good luck!