Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claire Nobles. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Claire, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission behind The Cary Vintage Market is simple: bring vintage to everybody. I realized a little over a year ago, that there seem to be a huge gap in the vintage market world. As I was trying to figure out what markets worked best for my business, I quickly noticed that most markets appealed to the younger, Y2K and “streetwear” crowds. Additionally, most vintage shops appealed to the “true vintage” (50+ year old vintage items). There wasn’t anything that seemed to blend everything together. Additionally, most markets only seem to have clothing and lacked housewares, decor, collectibles etc. My mission was to blend all of these together to create a market that was extremely diverse both in the variety of vintage items as well as the vendors selling them. While the vintage market is small, it boasts an amazing collection of vendors including those who sell true vintage, T-shirts/streetwear, Y2K items, vintage capsule-wardrobe basics, records & cassettes, vintage jewelry & other accessories. Over the last 11 months, it’s been incredible to see this market bring together, not only generations of shoppers, but the most diverse shopping crowd I’ve personally ever seen. Every market, we can expect to find teenagers, young adults, middle-aged, and even elderly folks shopping (and reminiscing). Most excitingly, it has brought together the vintage community in a way that I could’ve never expected or dreamed of.
Claire, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started my vintage business, Hummingbird Collective, while I was in Physician Assistant school in Florida as a way to not only fill my free time, but also as a healthy way to distract myself from the stress of my studies. I’ve always been an avid thrifter, but while living in Florida, I found a new love for vintage due to the astounding amount available compared to any other place I’ve ever lived. Over the last several years, it’s become pretty apparent that the quality of modern textiles has been dropping. Items are made quickly in order to keep up with the trends, but in the process, quality and craftsmanship have been sacrificed. I’ve realized that vintage clothing on the other hand, was made differently and made to last. By giving a vintage item a new life, you’re not only saving it from ending up in a landfill, but you’re also truly getting a better quality product that will likely hold up the most brand new items today. I focus primarily on natural fibers, including cotton, silk, linen and wool. These fibers are not only sustainable, but they are simply made better. I also have a passion for restoring vintage Coach bags. Just like modern clothing, modern accessories don’t have the same craftsmanship that vintage ones generally did. Vintage Coach bags, have made a huge leap in the trends over the last few years, mostly due to their supreme quality and timeless styles. By restoring the bags, I’m not only getting them a whole new life, but I’m also able to give somebody access to a quality piece, comparable to most luxury designer items today but at a much more adorable price.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
For me, the most effective way to grow clientele is definitely been through social media. I’ve learned that advertising through combination of both Facebook and Instagram has allowed me to reach a much broader population than Instagram or Facebook alone. Facebook seems to reach the 30 and up Crowd, while Instagram targets more of the younger, Gen Z and young millennial crowd. By putting ads on both platforms, I’ve been able to really diversify my clientele.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I’d like to think that that number one thing that’s helped me build a reputation within the vintage market scene (within North Carolina) has been kindness towards my vendors. I’ve always been a social person, but I think it’s really important to constantly work to get to know every single one of my vendors, make sure they are always well taken care of, answer any questions they might have etc. It sounds like such a basic thing, however, I think it’s one thing that is often missed or undervalued. I’m picky about the vendors that I accept because I want to make sure that we constantly create an environment that is warm, welcoming, and friendly for each other but also for our patrons.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thelocalmarketcollective.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @hummingbirdcollective_ / @caryvintagemarket / @apexartandvtg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12BZBs8hnet/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: Cary Vintage Market FB page: https://www.facebook.com/share/16x8jMfGbk/?mibextid=LQQJ4d Apex Art & Vintage FB page: https://www.facebook.com/share/15Z7pAiBQn/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Malizee @prodxmalizee