stores we love
Restoration Emporium West Bottoms Fr om the rustic to the redone, we’re thor oughly inspired every time we step foot in fabulous RE.
VKC: How long have you been into vintage? Chrysy: My husband and I have been interested in antiques/vintage/repurposing for 20+ years. VKC: What got you started? Chrysy: My parents used to pick old farms, and I always thought it was interesting to see what mom would do with an old piece of furniture. As I got older it seemed to be a way Jeff and I could spend time together doing something we both loved. We are very into history and so it just another way of studying. VKC: Why did you decide to open a business? Chrysy: We made the decision last fall. It is something we talked about doing when we re- tired someday. The timing for us, the location, was all just something we could not pass up. It was really kind of a miracle how it all fell together. We just knew we had it in us to do it and that it would be amazing! VKC: What advice do you have for new pickers? Chrysy: This is not something you do because you think you can “get rich” or jump into be- cause the trend is maybe higher than normal. This is hard work. You need to love it because it’s not a pretty business. It’s down and dirty, nasty, stinky, sweaty, hard work everyday. VKC: What are your favorite pieces to buy? Chrysy: Jeff and I really both love architectur- al pieces. We recently brought back an entire duffle bag full of porch pieces from old homes
Jeff combined the trough with some uncut timbers that we picked from a horse barn and completed the piece. It is something we show to anyone who will look at it! VKC: What is your business philosophy? Chrysy: At our store we are focused on our internal and external customers. Early in our business discussions we wanted to make sure that we were a vendor (partner) friendly store. We had been at a few stores and learned from each what we would and would not do if we had our own. Simple things like access to electricity, providing meals for our partners, extended work hours during the month. These things add up to happy internal customers, which help us make our buying customers feel the difference when they walk in our door. VKC: What experience do you hope your customers have in your store? Chrysy: This is summed up in a comment we had from one of our customers. They said, “I feel like I just walked into Pinterest.” We want them to be inspired by our partners’ work, buy a piece and then work on a project of their own. Our store is not a destination but a journey. New ideas and pieces can be experi- enced every time you walk into the store. VKC: What other vendors/stores do you love. Chrysy: Sentimental Journey, Good Company, Pappys Antiques in Bolivar, MO, Anthropologie.
in Pennsylvania. The more rusty and chippy it is the more I love. VKC: How do you choose vendors for your store? Chrysy: We are very picky. Chemistry is number one. We have an amazing group of “partners,” and so our chemistry is the most important thing. We are very close and take care of each other. If someone doesn’t gel it can throw the whole store off. Second is your product. I want to see that your product is the best in the Bottoms. A one of a kind or wonderfully restored piece is a must. We want the best designers at RE. VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your shop? Chrysy: We call it “Farmhouse to Urban Chic.” We feel that we have a very eclectic style. You can find just about anything in our store. However, the way I describe it the most is “that it just makes you feel better.” The pieces seem to speak to you and your own history or past so you’re able to combine our style with anything old or new thus, the first description. VKC: What item(s) in your house could you not bear to sell? Chrysy: One is our feed trough entertainment center. When we saw the wood and metal trough at an auction we knew we had to have it. At the time it was not clear what it would be used for. At one point we actually tried to sell it “as is” at a show. Luckily it did not get purchased.
VintageKC / Fall 2012 44
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