We recently connected with Morgan Aceves and have shared our conversation below.
Morgan, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?
I came up with my shop’s name almost instantly as it was meant to be connected to my primary instagram, @itshiltonhottie. After posting thrift hauls on there, I had numerous messages asking me to list the items that I had shown for sale and soon after, i created @shophiltonhottie. The original idea behind @itshiltonhottie was basically showing my love and appreciation for Paris Hilton and the early 2000’s which is exactly what my shop is all about! I tried to make the two as cohesive as possible when coming up with a shop theme/name and they definitely go hand in hand.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Morgan, creator and owner of Shop Hilton Hottie, which is a sustainably sourced and curated collection of all things 90’s and y2k! While I do specialize in toys and collectibles, I also offer clothing, shoes, accessories, media and everything in between. I began my reselling journey in January of 2021 on Instagram and it was just two months later that I would open my first in-person shopping experience at King Richard’s Antique Center in Whittier, CA. After having a very successful grand opening and consistent online sales, I decided to pursue my new passion full-time and dedicate all that I had to building a business. I’ve now had that space for a little over 2 years and it’s become a hot spot for local nostalgia lovers. I have since expanded and now have a second location at Antique Alley in Portland, OR. I’ve made great friends who started out as regulars shopping my booth in person and online and it’s because of them that I get to do what I love. I have a huge appreciation for ALL of my customers! A simple like, follow, or sweet comment means just as much to me and I’m very grateful for anyone who’s shown my shop any kind of love and support. What sets both of my locations apart from others is my theme. My spaces are almost exclusively catered to millennials and gen z. Of course anyone and everyone is welcome to shop with me but very rarely do you see spaces that younger generations can truly connect with and rediscover pieces from their childhood. It makes me so happy that more young people are visiting antique malls and finding treasures of their own. The vintage world is always evolving and I can’t wait to see what more vendors bring to the industry in the future! One day I hope to turn Shop Hilton Hottie into its own freestanding store and create the ultimate nostalgic shopping experience.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
My business actually started on social media by total accident! It was peak pandemic when I began posting my thrift hauls or “thrift with me” videos on Instagram stories and they quickly blew up. I was getting dozens of DM’s about loving the hauls, asking where I was shopping, if items were for sale, etc. and soon after, @shophiltonhottie was created on Instagram! I think the reason that my audience grew quickly and continues to grow is simply because I try to be as organic as possible. I’m all about transparency and posting genuine content on both of my Instagram profiles as well as TikTok. On TikTok my thrift hauls, vlogs, restock videos, and vintage/thrift related videos do very well as that is what my following was built on. Staying consistent and true to yourself will get you further than pushing out content that you THINK will appeal to others. Post what appeals to YOU and the right people will see it. You’ll grow an organic following which in the long run, will continue to engage with your content. I cannot stress this enough, be yourself!
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Lately, it’s been TikTok. When a video of my booth goes viral the orders start to pour in. I’ve gotten numerous DM’s from potential customers all over the country interested in my items. Moments like that really solidify that I am going in the right direction and reaching the right people. Social media really makes a difference and having a strong presence, wether it be Instagram or TikTok, can have a huge impact on your business. It’s free advertisement and you have complete creative control. Take advantage!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/shophiltonhottie