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

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

At Blue Velvet Bunny we offer customers a chance to express themselves through vintage fashion that differs from the standard. We specialize in eccentric and unique pieces that can’t be found elsewhere. We have also created an environment in the shop that is fun, colorful and inspiring. We love to support local artists and makers, as well as vintage vendors. The shop is all inclusive of size and gender. Plus, our prices won’t break the bank.

Sarah, 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 have been an avid thrifter my entire life. Growing up low income with a single mom meant that thrift stores and garage sales were where we got everything, so I became very skilled in finding the very best things. Later in life I received my BFA in fine art at the California College of Art in San Francisco. My art education has directly influenced the aesthetic of my shop and the curation of items I put on the racks. The shop is also very reminiscent of my childhood during the 80’s, 90’s and early 2000’s. All of these eras are very sought after in the world of vintage at the moment which gives the shop great relevance.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2022, the recession caused the business to suffer. I ended up losing thousands of dollars due to low sales and foot traffic. In 2023, I had to figure out how to pay the bills. I decided to bring in other local vintage vendors to sell their collections in the shop for a monthly fee and small commission. Not only did this change bring more revenue to the shop but it also brought in more foot traffic as these vendors had their own followers that were now being directed to the shop. This change also took some weight off my shoulders by creating more of a community in the shop as well as diversified the selections available on the racks. It was the best business decision I have made and I’m so happy I did.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Before I opened my brick and mortar location, I sold clothes exclusively online and at local markets. Additionally, I was creating unique, screen printed articles of clothing with my own original designs. My hand made clothes had a solid following and brought in quite a bit of recenue. Through these two outlets, I was able to save enough to start the brick and mortar store. Additionally, my money saving savvy, frugality from growing up poor plus my artistic skills allowed me to be creative with the build out of the shop. I did everything myself. From sourcing inventory to painting signage to building racks. I never hired out for any labor during the process of opening the shop.

Contact Info:

• Website: Bluevelvetbunny.com
• Instagram: @bluevelvetbunny

Image Credits
Sarah Daya