We recently connected with Heather VanderMeulen and Madison Alderink and have shared our conversation below.
Heather and Madison, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
We are a mother daughter duo who has always loved to find the hidden gems and one of a kind pieces. We love the thrill of the chase and the feeling of finding “the” piece. We have a knack for curating pieces that you can visualize in your home. For years we had been told we should be in business and help others create a beautiful space unique to them. We both have full time jobs, full plates and little time so this seemed like a pipe dream of sorts. A new antique market opened near one of our homes and we were able to secure a space. We had never done anything like this. We had no idea what people would want, how much they would be willing to spend, how much space we could reasonably afford or fill, yet we jumped in feet first. We started with the mind set that we would present our product they way we decorate our own home. Most of the inventory we started with was in fact items pulled from our personal spaces. We love unique pieces blended with some new and heirloom pieces. We brain stormed a name, set some ground rules for stocking our space and opened Babe Cave Vintage. In a saturated market it felt uncertain and scary. We are having so much fun. It has been a joy to spend time together as mother and daughter growing our business and sharing things we love.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
We started Babe Cave Vintage in late summer of 2024 when we were able to get space at Home and Heritage Antique Market. We specialize in curating an eclectic mix of vintage décor, art, pottery, small furniture and clothing. We pride ourselves on providing affordable pieces that make your home unique. We love it when our customers message us and send us photos of the cherished pieces they have purchased from us. Knowing that we can bring joy to your home makes all the time and energy to be successful worth every single minute! We have plans to open in additional space in March of 2025 at Changing Thymes in Grandville. We are also planning to participate in some local shows throughout the year.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
It is so rewarding to see the smile on peoples face, hear the excitement in their voices and to see what they have done with the treasures they purchase. We love to see the joy items bring to our customers. It has also been so rewarding spending time together growing our business as mother and daughter. We are making so many great memories and spending so much quality time it is AMAZING!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Our goal and mission is to keep things affordable while having a variety of items. We want everyone to be able to afford that special piece. We want to be able to carry an array of items that will appeal to all tastes and styles. We want you to walk into our booth and immediately be able to visual that piece that catches your eye in your home.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: BabeCaveVintage
- Facebook: Babe Cave Vintage
