We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jelena Vucak Radicic. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jelena below.

Jelena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

I chose Raada in honor of my mother but added an extra ‘a’ so it would be pronounced correctly. My mom, Rada, was an incredible woman who always supported my dreams and I wanted to pay homage to her.

Jelena, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started Raada Vintage in the Fall of 2019, after leaving a 40-year career in accounting. I always loved vintage shopping and finding diamonds in the rough. I knew I wanted to do something creative, something that fueled me. I was also obsessed with repurposing old jewelry and clothing, so it really came naturally to me when I decided to start my own vintage business. It’s now been 2+ years in the making, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the experiences I’ve had building Raada.

I love seeing how excited my customers get when they find a unique vintage piece from my collection. It really puts a smile on my face. I meet so many sweet (and stylish!) customers in my vintage booths and it’s just so cool to be able to share my love of vintage with others around me.

Vintage is so special to me because not only are you lowering your carbon footprint, but you’re also preserving pieces from the past that have memories and a history of their own. I love that when I buy and sell vintage, I’m giving the clothing a second life.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I mainly sell my pieces at The Hill Antique Market, but I also have a vintage outlet booth at the South County Antique Mall. I love selling in-person because it allows me to express my creativity when I organize my vintage booths and it lets me meet new customers!

I also sell online via Etsy and Poshmark as well, but I’m currently working on developing my own website. I think selling through my own site will allow me to reach a wider audience that shares the same love of vintage as me, and will create new opportunities for my business.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Actually, I started my business right before the COVID-19 pandemic hit St. Louis. I was in the process of touring standalone brick-and-mortar stores but soon realized my plans needed to change due to the local shutdowns. I had to pivot and make some tough decisions. Ultimately, I decided to go with my gut and rent out a small booth at The Hill Antique Market. I realized later that selling at vintage markets, rather than owning my own dedicated store, allowed me so much more time to source vintage goods. I’m really grateful that everything worked out the way it did, even if it felt challenging at the time. Always go with your gut feeling!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oneshop.com/shop/refashion22
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raadavintage/

Image Credits
Images by Jelena Vucak Radicic