two brick and mortar locations
Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amanda Hale. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Amanda, appreciate you joining us today. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
Figuring out the name of my business came to me very easily. My last name happens to be Hale, which growing up caused a lot of heads to turn or questions to be asked but I would always get a good giggle from it. My parents would joke around with family and friends that my first name should’ve been Raisin instead of Amanda, because I was quite the bold and adventurous child despite being so shy. While daydreaming for years about the thought of creating my business I always knew Raisin’ Hale Vintage was THE name and it gives me so much happiness to also display my family name everywhere I go.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
My name is Amanda Hale! I’m the sole owner and operator of Raisin’ Hale Vintage, an in person and online vintage store.
Growing up, I was lucky enough to have parents that exposed me to nostalgic music, movies, furniture and everything in between. Being intrigued by older and secondhand items, I acquired my first job at a local thrift store at the age of 15. I enjoyed every single minute of sorting and discovering different treasures you can find that others simply give away. Meanwhile, in the back of my mind, I envisioned an inclusive vintage shopping experience for my community, although the dream felt too big and unattainable. Feeling as if higher education was the only path to success, I tried the college route for a year and a half while working at a different local second hand shop while still dreaming big. During this time, I took a chance and started an Instagram account to share and sell some of my finds and things I had collected over the years. Then the pandemic hit and turned the world completely upside down. Within a few weeks, my full time retail job had closed down, leaving me unemployed. In one of the scariest and most stressful times of my life, I took the opportunity to put all of my time and energy into making my dream come true and started Raisin’ Hale Vintage. I focused on sharing affordable unisex vintage pieces and miscellaneous items that took you back to your childhood. My community supported me so much that I then created my own website, www.raisinhalevintage.com offering local drop offs and pickups. With the pandemic improving, I started to set up at local markets with a tent full of vintage clothing, furniture and home decor. It truly sank in that I was living my dream that I thought was unattainable.
In February of this year, I received an amazing opportunity to have an in person shopping space in Retrospect Vintage, the store I had my very first event with. Most recently, I have expanded to a new vintage store in south Knoxville, Mood Ring Vintage. In my both of my store front locations you can find items including unisex clothing, home decor, toys, furniture and so much more! I also still setup at local vintage markets 1-2 times each month. This is only the beginning of Raisin’ Hale Vintage!
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building authentic relationships with your peers and community on social media is the most important thing, in my opinion. I’m beyond thankful that my community has always rallied around supporting me and my dream. When it comes to my audience on Instagram, every single person and interaction has always felt like a friend even if they were a complete stranger.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
My main goal for my business and reputation is to create a comfortable and safe space for my friends and customers to find unique vintage pieces with inclusive sizing and affordable pricing. There’s nothing better than finding a piece that takes you back to a nostalgic time from the past while also not being too expensive!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.raisnhalevintage.com
- Instagram: @raisinhalevintage and @themandershow
- Other: Business email: raisinhalevintage@gmail.com
Two locations of brick and mortar:
Retrospect Vintage is 1121 N Central Street and
Mood Ring Vintage is 906 Sevier Ave Unit 112. Thank you so much!