Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Pardine. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Andrea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

The latest trends I have noticed in the world of vintage is the increase in younger individuals appreciating it. Thrifting and vintage is in style all the way, and social media(especially tiktok and instagram) has exponentially spread the hype. Sharing “thrift hauls” to your friends and followers is a whole thing. 5-10 years ago if you walked into a thrift store you would rarely see someone younger than 30 shopping there. Now, any given goodwill you can find a wide variety of people including much more younger generations, including teenagers with great style.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in Florida and would occasionally go to thrift shops and garage sales with my family but didn’t think much of it until I was in college looking for an affordable way to furnish my apartment. I quickly realized how much quality furniture gets thrown away and the plethora of unique vintage pieces that are out there. The more I “thrifted” pieces the more platforms I realized were out there(facebook marketplace, craigslist, estate sales, antique shops, etc.) and how it was a slippery slope to an obsession. That’s also how I quickly learned how much I appreciated and enjoyed it.

I have an instagram shop where I sell vintage and secondhand pieces that I pick with intention for creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for my buyers as well as serving a practical purpose. I am proud of the community I have built through instagram. Little did I know I would have >30k followers and have had the privilege of helping/inspiring others to start their own pages as well. I pride myself in bringing people together by sharing a love for the old, with new information on the benefits of shopping secondhand and sustainably.

I am currently working on my own website and have some pieces that I sell through a local vintage and art co-op shop of sorts. You can find me on Instagram @tysoncurates

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The most important way you can grow an audience may sound cliche but just be your authentic self. You have something specific to offer that no one else can. Show up as you, don’t try to mimic someone else because you see their success. Be patient and consistent. There are all kinds of apps and even social media consultants that can assist with helping plan your content. The more consistent you are with showing yourself and your product, the more people will trust you and also feel connected to you. Stay up to date with trends and app specifics, which are constantly changes and updating. Know your strong suits as well as you weaknesses, sharing both can help you connect with people. Remember just like you are a human behind the screen so are your followers so do polls and have conversations with them often to find what they are looking for so you can give them just that.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I am extremely particular with my content that I post. I have always wanted to be completely original in the way that I do things, and never wanted to be a “follower”. I think this makes my brand stand out. Over time as people have come to me either in person or sending me a message asking for advice I do my best to always share what I know. I am no professional consultant but I feel being open and willing to share what I have learned along the way has given my an authentic community who then share with others and keeps my platform growing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tysoncurates