Holiday Lowcountry Artist Market is coming soon!

Appreciation pic

Thank you, Emily Everett for sending in this amazing appreciation pic. Emily's rocking a Runaround Sue sleeveless shirt covered with a pattern of retro glasses that she bought at the Lowcountry Artist Market recently!

Article for Shortbread: www.shortbreadstories.co.uk

It took me years to decide that I would make my dream business a reality. I remember conversations with friends from as far back as 2003 when I spoke of owning a vintage clothing business. I knew every detail of how I would run it from where to source products (my hometown) to how to package them (wrapped in tissue paper, vintage ribbons and fabric) to the little extras, like giving customers a compilation CD full of vintage songs. I also spoke of somehow creatively integrating local artists and businesses. I just didn’t know where ‘local’ would be, for I left home (South Carolina) for Scotland in 2004 and didn’t come back until last year. In Scotland, my passion for all things old only grew. I danced at every retro club night in Edinburgh, became a northern soul connoisseur, and honed my vintage knowledge with not only a full-fledged collection, but also through a job I got at local vintage institution, Armstrong’s. I was one of their Ebay girls and learned all the dynamics of and tricks to selling vintage online. A little over a year ago, I had barely been home long enough to have a couple of home-cooked, southern meals when I learned of several different people who had or wanted to open up a vintage shop. I got a little angry, and realized I was only jealous. I decided there was no point in being bitter about something I was fully equipped to do on my own. So I did it. Instead of wallowing in unemployment depression, I started up Runaround Sue Vintage Boutique on Etsy and treated it like a full-time job, because at the time, it was. When I had at least 60 items listed, many derived from my own collection, I went public with a Facebook and Twitter page. I guess that’s when it felt official! Both of these social networks have been instrumental in getting the word out. So was Etsy. Instead of creating my own website, I chose to do work through Etsy since it’s like a social network in its own right. With its own newsfeed, it’s easy to see what fellow members are up to if you’ve added them to your ‘circle’ or ‘favourited’ their shop. My base following has been through Etsy and I love it because you can also check your ‘shop stats’ to see exactly which websites, listings and keywords generate the most or least traffic to your shop. Etsy listing pages enable you to easily post a new listing to Facebook and Twitter (and now, Pinterest too, another welcome and lucrative addition to my social media world), which is a huge help. They must know how daunting and time-consuming the wide web of social media has become, so Etsy has made it easy for sellers to quickly spread our gospel. Customers can also ‘like’ a listing, which gets the domino effect going on Facebook. The more impressions made through friends of friends, the more friends Runaround Sue Vintage has indeed. Another essential tool is Twitter, and the Twitter/Facebook teams have made this a time-saver as well. I have my Facebook page linked to Twitter so all posts and updates I make on Facebook are automatically posted on Twitter. Many times I’ll list an item and post it to Facebook and Twitter, then wait and refresh the item to see how many views it’s getting. A lot of times, that number multiplies several times in the span of five seconds. The more eyes I can reach, the better, and it would be a shame to sit on these completely free and totally useful tools at my disposal. I also use Facebook and Twitter to hold secret sales. This gives Etsy customers and an incentive to click off Etsy and take an interest in Runaround Sue on a different medium, which can attract their friends who may not be on Etsy yet. I also like to use social media to indicate when I’ve sold an item and where in the world it’s off to. Since my favorite thing about vintage clothing is the many stories a dress or a pair of shoes can tell, I think it’s important to indicate any known stories in the listing, as well as let everyone know where an item is going in order to make more memories, and more stories. One of my favorite stories lies in an item that holds so many memories for me, let alone the ones it must have made back in the 60s. It’s a pink, orange and white psychedelic top with sheer, pink sleeves. Not only is this the very first of many vintage threads that I would buy at Armstrong’s (the place I would work at five years later), it is also the shirt I wore to my very first of many nights of dancing at The GO-GO club night in Edinburgh. As nonsensical as it sounds that I would sell this, I believe, as I presume the previous owners did, that these memories will stay with me long after the shirt is not. I simply haven’t worn it in years (a vintage-buying addition will replace last night’s GO-GO blouse with next weekend’s 60s mini dress) and I love it too much to greedily hold it back from becoming a part of someone else’s nostalgia. This shirt will be one of over 60 items modeled in my first vintage fashion show I’m organizing to take place in one week. It’s for a special charity, and many artists and local businesses are contributing themselves, their time and their products (I’m doing goody bags) for the occasion. I hope there are people out there somewhere dancing to the tune of Runaround Sue by Dion & the Belmonts, clad in their Runaround Sue Vintage attire, creating their own stories to tell of that garment and making their own dreams come true, too.

June Lowcountry Artist Market

Join me and lotsa other vendors June 16, 2012 at the next Lowcountry Artist Market!

Gypsy Lady Sale

Runaround Sue is vending this backyard sale in Charleston this weekend:

Don't step on my...

Press: Runaround Sue Charity Vintage Fashion Show in Charleston City Paper

Read the article online here!

Runaround Sue Vintage presents a charity fashion show

Charity vintage fashion show @ Tin Roof Feb 19th 8pm

 

Runaround Sue Vintage presents a charity event of vintage fashion and music

Polka dots recommended but not required!

Runaround Sue Vintage is hosting a charity vintage fashion show with live music at Tin Roof on the evening of Sunday, February 19, 2012. The occasion will mark the first anniversary of the online boutique as well as celebrate a great friend of mine who will win a battle she’s fighting right now against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The event will kick off at 8 p.m., and goodie bags will be given to the first 40 hepcats and kittens through the door, so early bird activity is encouraged. The catwalk will light up at 9 p.m. sharp and the fashion show will commence soon after. Live music from the V-Tones of Charleston will keep everything swinging after the models have done their thing!

A minimum of $10 will be charged at the door, but more donations are welcome. All door sales will go to benefit the Charleston chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Expect 50s sex kittens, 60s mod, 70s grunge, retro secretaries, indie Western, and more. Expect loud vintage tunes to complement every step.

Vintage threads provided by Runaround Sue Vintage Boutique. Vintage jewels by Gypsy Lady Antiques. Goodie bag contents provided by the Charleston creative community and independent local businesses, including Social Wine Bar and Kool Kat Designz.

Have a complimentary sweet, dress in style, and go hog wild!

More event updates will be made often on our Facebook event page, here: https://www.facebook.com/events/320907851265885/

Causes.com donation page is here: http://www.causes.com/causes/647154-runaround-sue-vintage-presents-a-charity-event-of-vintage-fashion-and-music/about

The Tin Roof is located at 1117 Magnolia Road, Charleston, SC 29407

The V-Tones of Charleston is a local outfit comprised of ukulele, kazoo, whistle, violin, guitar, and bass antics to produce a “vaudeville pop” kind of party. Stalk them a little more here. https://www.facebook.com/TheVTonesofCharleston?sk=info

Contact Kelly Rae Smith on shopatrunaroundsue@gmail.com for a plethora of real fancy press images.

My grandmother's buttons converted to earrings!

Check out these great earrings Kool Kat Designz

was able to help me create. I found some stunning buttons in my grandmother's sewing box, which also contained more pretty buttons belonging to her mother. I asked Kayla to convert them to earrings for Christmas gifts to my mother, sister and myself! Very happy with the result and I highly recommend y'all try this out too. It is such a great way to honor a loved one and keep their spirit alive. Thank you Kayla, those earrings were even more special to them than I could have imagined:)

Thanks Coramantic!

I had my eye on this ACEO for literally months. It says 'Oh the rain, the rain. And sometimes I can bear it very well." It reminded me of my love for my other home, Scotland, which coincidentally is where it was created! Thanks girl, I just love it and proudly display it on my nightstand. I'm such a sentimental sap!

New arrivals!

Stay tuned to www.runaroundsuevintage.com or friend me on Facebook to be up-to-date on these awesome new arrivals. I'm also going to do a blowout sale for it is out with the old and in with the new!

Photos by Jake Simp Photos

Congrats to Stephanie and Athena!

Mrs Amber Apple readers Stephanie and Athena have won a $25 Christmas giveaway for Runaround Sue Vintage! Thanks for all who played along and look out for more chances to win in 2012:)

A few shots from the photo shoot with Jake Simp Photos!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're having a dress sale!

All dresses are now 20% off until Friday! Don't miss this chance to get dolled up at an extra low cost! Peruse through the dresselection here.

Runaround Sue Vintage Newsletter Sign-Up

Get in on all the vintage goss!

Sign up for the Runaround Sue newsletter right here:

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Christmas gift card: it's sooo pretty!

Gift cards now available!

Grab yourself one here

This is what they want for Christmas! Give the gift of vintage, y'all

I am happy to change the dollar amount to more or less if you PM me. Postage is applied if you want me to send a gift-wrapped card to the recipient. If it's an e-gift card, I am happy to refund your postage via paypal after purchase.

When purchasing please let me know the address or email address of the recipient and I'll send a gift card along with redemption instructions.

Gift card is good for one year from date of purchase

Remember all orders come with a CD full of vintage tunes so this will be sent with the order once the recipient redeems the gift card. I'll also include a personalized, hand-written note with the gift card.

Appreciation Pic from Marta

Big thanks to Marta for posting this amazing pic of her runaround sue vintage lemon 60s nightgown that I purchased in Scotland. She wore it to her rehearsal dinner. Love it!

Appreciation pic!

Thanks again to Kate in Sheffield, UK for posting a great appreciation pic! Glad you are loving your new sonnets and flowers top!

Pics from the November Lowcountry Artist Market

Full album here on Facebook but here's a few highlights! It was a great day and we can't wait to do it again.