Vintage Finds Magazine
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      • Wildwood Antique Mall of Eustis
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      • Renninger's Antique Center >
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      • The Coop Antiques Gifts & Collectibles
      • The Old Red Barn
      • Wirewood Market
      • Apple Core Antiques
      • Sister's Junktiques
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THE BEGINNING

3/1/2012

0 Comments

 
I thought I should start this blog by telling you how I started Vintage Finds Magazine.  Like so many of you I am a wife and mother with a strong desire to have my own business. 

When I was my in my early 30's with my children in just elementary school, my husband was diagnosed with a blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma.  The diagnosis was devastating to us all as a family.   His diagnosis rocked me to core and for the first time in our marriage I thought I may be alone and raising two children by myself.  I thought if only I had my own business.  One that I could do virtually, while my husband was in treatment and my children in school.  I read every "start your own business" book you could think of from our local library.  But nothing seemed for me.  I was certainly discouraged.  

Time passed and my husband underwent a stem cell transplant...by the way he did wonderful and I'm happy to say is still here with us today.  The kids were getting older and life was moving on but I still had the desire and need for my own business.  I loved everything to do with computers from research, graphic design to browsing craigslist. 


Then one day my mother suggested I visit a new vintage shop in our town.  The owner, was so sweet and we struck up a conversation.  I suggested that she take a few photos of her shop and advertise her business on Craigslist.  Well she had no idea how to upload the pictures, so I told her I would stop by that next week and do it for her.  I'm sure she thought she would never see me again.  After visiting her again and listing her shop on Craigslist .... I thought wow... it would be great to have a place online that listed these kind of shops.  

With lots of online research I started a website called Thrift Happy, an online directory for RESALE stores.  As I visited local shops throughout Florida, it was very clear that there was a huge difference in these shops.  Although they were all technically reselling previously owned items...they were definitely not all thrift.  There were antique, consignment, upscale resale,  and vintage shops.  I was driven in the direction of the Vintage Shops.  I was amazed by the owners of these shops.  They were so talented at merchandising and had a real love for vintage items.  And so...Vintage Finds Magazine, Florida's guide for the best vintage and antique shops was born.

If you're looking to start your own business, I would advise to just follow your heart, do what you love, continue to gain knowledge and never give up.


P.S.  Although I have this magazine...I am not a writer just a compiler/researcher...so please excuse my grammar. ​
0 Comments

    AUTHOR

    ​​Hi I'm Kathy, the publisher of Vintage Finds Magazine.  I hope you enjoy this page of our travels around Florida seeking the best vintage shops and markets.  I'll also share articles from our contributing authors.  Enjoy and thank you for visiting!

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Vintage Finds Magazine
407-394-6620    flvintagefinds@gmail.com

brought to you by Kathy Gonzalez.
  • HOME
  • Our Favorite Shops
    • PRINTABLE SHOP GUIDE
    • EAST COAST >
      • Diamond in the Rust Vintage Market
      • Marketplace at Rivertown
      • Dusty Rose Antique Mall
      • Five Katz Antiques
      • The Vintage Thistle
      • Titusville Antique Mall
      • Parrots Cove Mall
      • Indian River Antique Mall
      • America's Antique Mall
      • Antiques & Uniques Vintage Market
      • Betty's Antiques
      • Dramatiques
      • Wildwood Antique Mall
      • Vintage Vibes
      • Ruffles & Overalls
    • NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA >
      • The Old Farmhouse
      • Hardwood and Honey
      • Historic Palatka
      • Mossy Oaks Antique Mall
      • Two Sisters Vintage
      • Wildwood Antique Mall of Wildwood
      • Main Street Antiques & Paradise Orchids
      • Wildwood Antique Mall of Eustis
      • Through the Years Vintage Market
      • Renninger's Antique Center >
        • Vintage Junkie
      • Sweet Nothings Marketplace
    • CENTRAL FLORIDA >
      • The Coop Antiques Gifts & Collectibles
      • The Old Red Barn
      • Wirewood Market
      • Apple Core Antiques
      • Sister's Junktiques
      • Bless this Mess
      • The Southern Gentlemen
      • Vintage Warehouse Lakeland
      • Lakeland Antique Mall
      • Dixieland Relics
      • The Chippy Barn & Poppies DIY Studio
      • Arcadia
    • TAMPA BAY & WEST COAST >
      • Airport Farmers & Flea Market
      • Rust to Roses
      • The Corner Shoppes
      • The Blooming House Junk Shop
      • Paradise Vintage Market
      • Rustic Elegance
      • Vintage Chix
      • The Rustic Door Decor & More
      • Antique Marketplace at Bay Area Auction
      • Blessed and Distressed
      • The Cat's Meow
      • The Sea Hagg
  • OUR ISSUES
    • 2022 >
      • APR- MAY 2022
      • FEB-MAR 2022
    • 2021 >
      • DEC 2021-JAN 2022
      • OCT-NOV 2021
      • AUG-SEP 2021
      • JUNE-JULY 2021
      • APR-MAY 2021
      • FEB-MAR 2021
    • 2020 >
      • DEC 2020-JAN 2021
      • OCT-NOV 2020
      • AUG-SEP 2020
      • JUNE-JULY 2020
      • ONLINE EDITION
      • MAR-APR 2020
      • JAN-FEB 2020
    • 2019 >
      • NOV-DEC 2019
      • SEPT-OCT 2019
      • JULY-AUG 2019
      • MAY-JUNE 2019
      • MAR-APR 2019
      • JAN-FEB 2019
    • 2018 >
      • NOV-DEC 2018
      • SEPT-OCT 2018
      • JULY-AUG 2018
      • MAY-JUNE 2018
      • MAR-APR 2018
      • JAN-FEB 2018
    • 2017 >
      • NOV-DEC 2017
      • SEPT-OCT 2017
      • JULY-AUG 2017
      • MAY-JUNE 2017
      • MAR-APR 2017
      • JAN-FEB 2017
    • 2016 >
      • NOV-DEC 2016
      • SEPT-OCT 2016
      • JULY-AUG 2016
      • MAY-JUNE 2016
      • MAR/APR 2016
      • JAN-FEB 2016
    • 2015 >
      • HOLIDAY 2015
      • OCT-NOV 2015
      • AUG-SEPT 2015
      • JUNE-JULY 2015
      • APR-MAY 2015
      • FEB-MAR 2015
    • 2014 >
      • DEC 2014-JAN 2015
      • OCT-NOV 2014
      • AUG-SEPT 2014
      • JUNE-JULY 2014
      • APR-MAY 2014
      • FEB-MAR 2014
    • 2012 >
      • ISSUE 4
      • ISSUE 3
      • ISSUE 2
      • ISSUE 1
  • UPCOMING EVENTS
    • Printable Event Guide
    • PAST EVENTS >
      • Fancy Flea >
        • Fancy Flea Plant City
        • La Petit Fancy Flea Lakeland
        • FANCY FLEA LAKELAND 2013
        • Fancy Flea Madison
      • Madison Holiday Show
      • POLKA DOT FLEA
      • RUSTAPALOOZA
      • Southern Cove Vintage Market
      • Sweet South Cottage
      • Vintage Market Days of South Gulf Coast
      • Vintage Market Days of Jacksonville
      • Vintage Market of Fort Myers
      • Vintage Market Days of Palm Beach
      • Friends & Flea
  • BLOG
  • ADVERTISE