Today we’d like to introduce you to Mercy Call.
Hi Mercy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After years of hearing “I wish you could Thrift for me!” from friends and family, I decided to pursue becoming a personal stylist and thrift shopper! I have a deep passion for helping women feel beautiful in their bodies and clothing, it’s something I’ve always had and is the foundation and driving force behind Third Sister Thrift! I also care greatly about keeping clothing out of our landfills and shopping ethically, this is the reason I choose to source ONLY secondhand pieces for my clients!
When I launched TST in March of 2021, I opened up a waitlist and within 3 weeks I had filled every client slot available through the rest of the year!
I had no idea what I was pursuing was so needed and wanted, but over the course of the last 10 months, I have learned that there are countless women who feel like they are lost when it comes to dressing themselves. Whether it’s money, time, a changing body, or a fashion disconnect, my clients are from all stages and walks of life and they all just need a little bit of help with their wardrobes!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Prior to Third Sister Thrift, I did run a successful photography business, so I do have some experience as an entrepreneur, that said, creating a novel business model has had some pretty huge challenges!
The hardest thing has also been the thing that has made me so successful this far: what I’m doing is new and different!
Making personal styling available to everyone, not just the rich and famous is a pretty unexpected move and in a lot of ways, I am paving the way in this new industry. On one hand, the lack of competition has made huge growth in my business possible in a very small amount of time, on the other hand, I don’t have the luxury of collaborating with other industry leaders or following a successful model, I’ve really had to make my way as I go, and that has been a challenge for sure.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Third Sister Thrift is built on two foundational beliefs: “wear what makes you happy” and “secondhand ≠ second best”
At the beginning of each month, I take on a limited number of Wardrobe Box clients to work with (right now I take on 18 per month, but it varies based on my availability).
Each client fills out an extensive questionnaire, detailing their lifestyle, wardrobe needs, budget, and body measurements, and a Pinterest board that serves like a mood board for their Personal Style. Once I have these two essential pieces, I take their portfolio to the thrift store and begin putting a collection together for them.
The questionnaire I have created for my Wardrobe Box clients is about much more than what clothing they want to receive. It is a carefully curated series of questions that help my clients really dive deep into what they like to wear and why. It assists them in pinpointing personal preferences and dislikes they may not even know that they have, as well as opening their eyes to new perspectives on clothing and styles they already know they love. My questionnaire helps each client prioritize their wardrobe needs and define their personal style, even if they couldn’t have done either before!
Part of my service is curating a perfectly personal Collection of clothing for each client based on that questionnaire and mood board, but part of the value of my service is in the education and knowledge gained by working through the questionnaire I’ve created, and the practice of curating a mood board. These are tools that will help clients shop for themselves in the future and even assist them in decluttering their existing wardrobes!
I want getting dressed in the morning to be at joy not a stressor for my clients, knowing what makes each client feel like the best version of themselves is essential to that process!
People don’t fit into boxes, but clothing does! Helping a client define and embrace her Personal Style and then sending her pieces that reflect that style and fit her body perfectly is my goal every time!
Each client receives a perfectly curated box of clothing within 4 weeks! Every item is handpicked by me and matches the vision of their mood board and all of the details in their questionnaire! I am able to send new and like-new thrifted items by Brands like Anthropologie, Loft, Free People, Banana Republic, Gap, Madewell, and others, for up to 90% off retail prices!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I don’t believe in luck; I believe in a God who loves His children and wants good and beautiful things for us! Every bit of success, joy, or fulfillment I have gotten from doing what I do is a gift!
Pricing:
- Wardrobe Boxes start at $200
Contact Info:
- Email: thirdsisterthrift@gmail.com
- Website: www.thirdsisterthrift.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thirdsisterthrift
- Facebook: Facebook.com/thirdsisterthrift
Image Credits
Daley Kappenman
