Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Jones.
Maria, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It’s the funniest thing how this all began. A friend and I use to watch the show Storage Wars Texas when it first came out and we decided that we could do that. So we did just that, we went to storage sales and had guys that would go through all the things and bring me all the best stuff. I would photograph them and put them online for sale. After a while, I began to notice people were driving a long distance to buy these things. I suggested we open a shop in town but my friend was tired of the whole thing and wanted to quit.
So I rented a space in Lula B’s in the Dallas Design District and started selling my things there. I started advertising my own things and people would come in and say they had seen them online and purchase them. After a while it seemed logical to me that other people would want to do the same thing, advertise and have customers come into the store and purchase from them. I then put together all the pieces and came up with the concept for Dallas Vintage Marketing. Lula B’s was my first client and I still work with them today.
Going on my sixth year, I now have a wonderful group of clients that range from antique shops like Clutter Antiques, Ballard and Blakely and Country Garden Antiques, to antique malls such as Forestwood Antique Mall, Top Drawer Antiques, and Lucas Street Antiques. I also have a number of individual dealers in these malls as well as in the White Elephant Antique Mall.
My clients sell everything from shabby chic home decor to mid-century furniture to fine antiques and I get the pleasure of seeing, photographing and promoting their items each and every week! It’s a dream job for me since I just love to not only see all the wonderful items but have become friends with all the dealers. Dallas is very fortunate to have such an experienced number of antique and vintage dealers that are very knowledgeable and have a great deal of experience in their area of expertise.
What Dallas Vintage Marketing does is bridge the gap from consumer to dealer. I simply let the customer know where the goods are so they know where to go and get them. If they happen to purchase other items while they’re in the store that’s okay too. I always enjoy hearing my clients tell me their customer came in from a Facebook post or how much their clients love their Instagram accounts. I know what I do works and it makes me happy to be apart of the process of putting it all together for both the consumer and the seller.
You can find a list of my clients with links to their pages and ads on my website at www.dallasvintagemarketing.com
Here you will also see my program and what it’s about and may even ask yourself why you haven’t already signed up!
Has it been a smooth road?
I truly enjoy everything I do from going out to the shops each week and taking photographs to posting on all the various websites. I post five items a week to four or five websites including Craigslist, Google+, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram, depending on the client’s preference. I manage all the websites, forward emails to my clients and return them to their customers. It’s a lot for one person to do but I’m very organized.
The only real challenges are when the websites make changes or are acting up which happens from time to time but keeps me on my toes.
I was a travel agent for twenty years and have excellent computer skills as well the ability to adapt to changes. Just think of all the changes travel agencies went through over a twenty year period! Remember when you always had a printed boarding pass versus just scanning your phone like travelers can do today.
I mentioned that I had my own booth when I started six years ago and I still have one today in Forestwood Antique Mall. I do find it hard sometimes to find time to shop for my own booth and time to paint furniture. My booth is shabby chic and I call it Dallas Vintage Market. Painting is my release I guess, I really enjoy it. For me to take an older forgotten, timeworn piece of furniture and bring it back into the light just makes me feel good. Then when someone purchases it I think that’s really great to think they like it well enough to take it home. It’s a good feeling!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dallas Vintage Marketing – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Here’s the program:
Service Includes Post on Craigslist, Google+, Facebook & Pinterest :
▪ 5 craigslist post per week
▪ 5 Facebook post per week
▪ 5 Pinterest post per week
▪ 5 Google+ post per week
For a total of 20 posts a week!
That’s 80 posts a month!
▪ Multiple Weekly Photos Of Your Items
▪ Description Of Your Item For The Website
▪ Daily Monitoring, All Inquiries Are Directed To You
▪ Items Sold Will Be Removed Upon Notice
▪ Unsold Items Automatically Renew For No Additional Fee
▪ No Commission
All This For Only $100 Per Month
*Add five items a week to Instagram for just $40 a month.
I think I do this because I love to shop and it’s just almost like shopping. I could never nor would I want to buy everything I see each week but boy is it great to see it! I’m also a bit of a computer geek if that’s still even a word these days, but I love being on the computer and I’m good at it. So I have bought my worlds together into my own business which I enjoy but it’s also about offering a service. I think I not only bridge a gap between sellers and consumers but for those who may not love being on the computer. I offer an inexpensive alternative to high priced marketing companies along with a more personal touch.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Dallas is wonderful! I grew up here and what’s not to love for someone that loves to shop! We have it all from small vintage and antique stores in the Dallas Design District and beyond to Market Hall, the fabulous high fashion boutique shops in Highland Park Village and Northpark Mall. I love that we have Neiman Marcus downtown but having antique stores in downtown Dallas where I live and would be able to walk to would be a plus.
Contact Info:
- Address: 300 N. Akard Street #2704 Dallas, TX 75201
- Website: https://dallasvintagemarketing.com
- Phone: 972-989-7227
- Email: dallasvintagemarketing@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dallas-Vintage-Marketing-266015260174355/
Dallas Vintage Market
Clutter Antiques
Forestwood Antique Mall
Ballard and Blakely
Mid Century Dallas inside of Lula B’s
Country Garden Antiques
Lucas Street Antiques
Top Drawer Antiques
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
