stores we love
Arizona Trading Co. You’l l find the best mix of vintage and used at this clothing and accessories mecca with two locations and lots of fun! Lawrence/Westport
VKC: How long have you been into fashion? Jennifer: My whole life. My mom used to make matching outfits for my sister and I, and I would customize mine with scarves or rolled-down socks, anything to give my outfit some dazzle. We never had money for clothes, so I saved up and bought my own clothes and altered them. I lived in my own version of “Pretty in Pink.” VKC: When did you decide to open your own business and why? Jennifer: I went to school in Tucson, AZ, and the buy/sell/trade concept was already in full swing there. I fell in love with the idea, and when I moved to Lawrence to go to KU, there was nothing like that here, and I hadn’t realized how dependent I’d grown on used clothing stores! I found myself at an uninspired point in school, and my mom offered to invest in a store—appar- ently I hadn’t been able to shut up about it—and what do you know, a month later I had a store. It was pretty bare bones in the beginning, but I paid the first month’s rent with the opening day’s sales! VKC: What advice do you have for amateur fashion hunters? Jennifer: That there are no rules! If you love
worry about what other businesses are doing. Concentrate on making your business a place your customers love, and enjoy what you do. VKC: What is the most unique item you’ve sold? Jennifer: That’s a tall order; we’ve been around for 21 years and have seen many unique things. A woman sold a pair of boots from the Civil War to us in 1993 or so—that was really some- thing. More recently, a vintage Betsey Johnson bodysuit with Marilyn Monroe’s face woven into it, never worn. We see so much amazing stuff! VKC: Why do you continue to do what you do? Jennifer: I feel born to do it, it fulfills me and supports my family. I also really enjoy giving my employees a fun place to work. The fact of hav- ing Venus as a business partner makes me feel incredibly lucky. Working with her and Corey, (the Lawrence store manager), is the most fun I could ever hope to have at work. My employees are free to express themselves creatively and re- ally make a contribution to the business. VKC: What other vendors do you adore? Jennifer: River Market Antiques, Wild Man Vintage (Lawrence), Hobbs (Lawrence), El Corazon winery, and eBay.
it, wear it. Be imaginative—sometimes a piece can look terrible on the hanger, and amazing once it’s on a body. Try new styles and colors and accessories, sometimes even the smallest change can transform an outfit. VKC: How would you describe the style of the items in your shop? Jennifer: Generally, I would say basic and casual, but then we find really dazzling pieces, too. We try to have a good mix of every- thing—our customer base is as diverse as you could ever hope for. VKC: Describe your favorite pieces of cloth- ing, the ones you couldn’t bear to sell. Jennifer: You clearly understand how attached one can get to certain pieces of clothing. I think of them as pieces of art, and even if I don’t wear some of them, I keep them because I just like how they look. My favorite of all time is an original “Yo! MTV Raps!” jacket, probably from about 1989 or so. It’s all oversized and leather. Also, I’m obsessed with cowboy boots, not quite sure howmany pairs I have at this point. VKC: What is your business philosophy? Jennifer: Focus on what you do best and don’t
VintageKC / Spring 2013 45
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