Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Jacobs.
Hi Amanda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started vintage shopping in middle school because I was sick of the other kids at my school having the same clothes that I did since we all shopped at the same mall in my hometown. Fast forward 10 years and I was still looking for ways to express myself creatively which is how I eventually wound up doing freelance production design in the film industry. I loved hunting for the coolest decor pieces to make whatever set I was working on more intriguing. It was during these set-buying escapades that I would often accumulate other unique treasures from antique and thrift stores that I simply could not leave behind. I eventually started selling these finds online and quickly realized after receiving notes and photos from happy customers that re-homing vintage pieces with people who appreciate them is my passion. After moving to Texas roughly 4 years after starting the reselling portion of my business the personal styling side has taken off! I have met so many talented local musicians here in the DFW area and have had the pleasure of working closely with them to create outfits for their gigs, photoshoots, and music videos.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’d say one struggle I didn’t see coming is the mysterious algorithm. Be it on Instagram or other selling platforms -you’re only rewarded if the consistency you can achieve aligns with what the algorithm wants. I’ll be honest, the only consistency I have is consistently loving vintage clothing and making people look and feel cool in what they’re wearing. I might execute a curated drop one day but it would be better (gain a broader reach) if I did mini drops every day and for me, that is unrealistic with my schedule at this time… In that regard, I guess my actual struggle is being a one-woman team. Haha
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Candy From A Stranger?
I sell vintage clothing online and at pop-up markets. I also offer personal styling and shopping services. I love styling everyone but typically I am approached by musicians who want to wear something special for an upcoming photoshoot, show, or music video shoot. It’s not really a “one size fits all” kind of deal – people can benefit from personal styling in different ways and I am happy to be flexible. For some people they already know what they like, they just don’t have a ton of time to hunt down the cool pieces that will fit into their wardrobe – that’s where I come in. I take the stress out of the time-consuming hunt and narrow the scope down to 1-2 curated racks of potential for a private shopping appointment. Some clients only need one outfit for an upcoming show and are open to suggestions. In this case, I find out what they absolutely DO NOT want and then I take the wheel. I’ll pull some classic options, some wild cards, and anything else that I can see them in and we do a try-on session. It is important to me that once I start working with someone they immediately feel more relaxed about their stylish future.
The name ‘Candy From A Stranger’ suggests the vintage pieces I acquire and sell (“Candy”) come with an unknown past (“From A Stranger”). I love that vintage clothing comes with character and a story, occasionally we get to learn that story but the excitement really comes from adding to it.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As people learn more about the importance of sustainability in fashion, I think secondhand shopping, in general, will increase in addition to the demand for secondhand/vintage sellers to have an online store of some kind. It makes me wonder if people will ever prefer virtual personal styling sessions over in-person ones, and if so, will that detract from the overall experience? I mean, I have my essential oil diffuser on and play good tunes during styling appointments, so the answer is yes. Haha Fortunately for me, I genuinely love what I do so I am ready to go with the flow and make adjustments when necessary.
Contact Info:
- Email: candyfromastrangershop@gmail.com
- Website: www.candyfromastranger.com
- Instagram: candyfromastrangershop
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