Business of Vintage Podcast

Emily Stochl, resale fashion journalist, creator of Pre-Loved Podcast, and vintage industry expert, shares how vintage sellers can use press, influencers, creators, and affiliate partnerships to grow their visibility, build credibility, and reach new customers beyond social media.
In this episode, Emily and Sloane break down why external channels like local press and niche creators can be so powerful for vintage businesses. They discuss the long-term value of earned media, how a single press mention can build credibility with customers, journalists, lenders, grant organizations, and community partners, and why getting featured in the right publication can continue driving discovery long after the original story is published.
Whether you're trying to get your first press mention, expand beyond Instagram, attract new customers, or build your vintage shop into a recognized community business, this episode offers practical strategies for turning your story into visibility.
Today's Guest: Emily Stochl (@emilymstochl)
Resale Fashion Journalist, Creator of Pre-Loved & Vintage Industry Expert
Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more: businessofvintage.com
Book Business of Vintage's PR Services for Vintage Sellers: businessofvintage.com/pr-services

Kido The One, vintage entrepreneur, curator, content creator, and educator, joins the podcast to share how a curiosity for thrift shopping in Australia grew into a multi-layered vintage business built around sourcing, wholesale, eBay, live selling, and community.
What started with selling a few thrifted pieces from local “op shops” has evolved into a business that moves thousands of vintage items, supplies sellers around the world, and helps shape conversations around modern vintage entrepreneurship. Through years of experimentation, building relationships, and understanding the resale market, Kido has created a unique approach to vintage that goes beyond finding great pieces—it’s about building systems, adapting to change, and creating a business designed to last.
In this episode, Kido shares how he transitioned from individual sales into wholesale, why vintage sellers need to understand their numbers and build strong operational foundations, and how relationships—not just inventory—create long-term success. He also discusses the role of social media in building a personal brand, the power of putting yourself out there, how live selling is changing the future of vintage commerce, and why testing new ideas while staying focused on what already works is the key to sustainable growth.
Today's Guest: Kido The One (@kidotheone)
Vintage Entrepreneur, Curator, Content Creator & Educator
Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com
 

Sam Lopez, founder of @samspantsandplants and co-founder of the Houston Clothing Swap and Conscious Consumer Collective, joins the podcast to share how a passion for vintage fashion, thrifting, and conscious consumerism grew into one of Houston's largest community-driven sustainability movements.
What began as a small clothing swap under a 10x10 tent has evolved into a nonprofit organization hosting large-scale clothing swap events that have welcomed thousands of attendees, diverted thousands of pounds of clothing from landfills, and made secondhand fashion more accessible to the Houston community. Alongside co-founders Raquel Sondate and Diana Swick, Sam is redefining what clothing swaps can look like—and proving that community is one of the most powerful tools for building a circular fashion economy.
In this episode, Sam shares how she scaled the Houston Clothing Swap from a grassroots idea into a thriving nonprofit, why listening to your community is essential when building something new, and how clothing swaps can empower vintage sellers, resellers, and everyday consumers alike. She also opens up about the deeply personal journey that inspired her colorful style, her work in sustainability, and why fashion can be a powerful source of healing, creativity, and connection.
Today's Guest: Sam Lopez (@samspantsandplants)
Co-Founder of Houston Clothing Swap & Conscious Consumer Collective
Hosted by: Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

Katie Porter, founder of Porter Vintage, joins the podcast to share how she built one of San Francisco's most beloved vintage businesses by trusting her instincts, embracing community, and never waiting for the "perfect" moment to start.
What began as a driveway pop-up outside Katie's apartment has grown into a thriving vintage brand with a permanent weekly presence in the Mission, a shop inside 710 Collective on Haight Street, a dedicated showroom and event space, and regular vintage shows in New York City. Over the past decade, Katie has built Porter Vintage one opportunity at a time, proving that meaningful businesses are often created by simply showing up consistently.
In this episode, Katie reflects on the moment she nearly walked away from vintage, the power of listening to your intuition, and letting your freak flag fly. She shares practical lessons on hiring a team, managing multiple selling locations, creating systems that support growth, and building authentic community around your business.
Katie Porter (@portervintage)
Founder of Porter Vintage 
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

Liisa Jokinen, co-founder of Gem, joins the podcast to share her journey from pioneering street style photography in the early 2000s to building one of the most influential technology platforms in the vintage and secondhand fashion space.
Long before Instagram existed, Liisa was documenting personal style on the streets of Helsinki and New York, capturing the creativity, individuality, and stories behind what people wear. Those experiences eventually led her to co-found Gem, a search engine that helps shoppers discover vintage and secondhand pieces across marketplaces and independent stores all in one place.
In this episode, Liisa shares the story behind building Gem with her husband, what she's learned from six years of growing a fashion tech company, and why she believes the future of fashion is rooted in resale. She also offers practical advice for vintage sellers on improving discoverability, writing stronger listings, creating memorable brands, sourcing inventory strategically, and standing out in an increasingly competitive market.
 
Liisa Jokinen (@liisajokinen)
Co-Founder of Gem (@gem.app)
Use Gem: https://gem.app/
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

Lindsay Brown, founder of A Day in June and newly opened sister store St. Taylor Studio, joins the podcast to share the real story behind building a vintage business from the ground up. What started with coffee shifts, warehouse spaces, weekend markets, and years of bootstrapping eventually became two beloved community-centered concept stores in Baltimore.In this episode, Lindsay opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship: surviving a painful business partnership fallout, building a business without investors or loans, learning to trust her instincts, and why vulnerability on social media unexpectedly transformed her connection with customers. She also shares the inspiration behind creating spaces rooted in joy, intention, and human connection — and why she believes vintage stores are really in the business of people.This conversation is an honest look at the emotional side of entrepreneurship, reclaiming your story, and what it truly takes to build a meaningful business in the vintage world.
 
Lindsay Brown (@adayinjunevintage) 
Founder of A Day In June and St. Taylor Studio 
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

Vintage Store Day is one month away: May 16th, 2026. The new retail holiday is in it's 2nd year, and it celebrates how small vintage businesses are so often pillars of their communities. It also has the potential to be your best day of sales yet - if you know how to build up the buzz for it. 
 
The team behind Vintage Store Day (Kyla Embrey & Sarah Azzouzi of Lost Girls Vintage, Emma Louis of Rare Form Chicago, Emily Stochl of Pre-Loved, and me - Sloane Middleton Mann of Business of Vintage) are here to help. We've organized an educational webinar that will equip sellers with the tools to pitch themselves for press & create social media buzz. Don't miss the Vintage Visibility Webinar on April 22nd: https://itsvintagestoreday.com/pages/vintage-visibility-webinar
 
Guests: Kyla Embrey, Sarah Azzouzi, Emma LewisCo-Founders of Vintage Store Day, IG @vintage_store_day
  Emily Stochl (@emilymstochl)Resale Journalist & Host of the Pre-Loved Podcast
Hosted by:Sloane Middleton MannFounder of Business of Vintage
Learn more: businessofvintage.com
About Business of Vintage Podcast:
Every vintage item has a story, and every vintage shop does too. Celebrate the past, while thriving today, on the Business of Vintage Podcast. Hosted by Sloane Middleton Mann, founder of Business of Vintage: the world’s only marketing agency built specifically for vintage shops.

What if the biggest opportunity for vintage sellers isn’t sourcing better inventory, but understanding technology better? In this episode, I’m joined by Charis Marquez, a retail and resale leader with 20+ years of experience shaping some of the biggest names in fashion. She’s led Global Fashion at eBay, scaled Levi’s and Dockers’ e-commerce businesses, and now advises brands at the intersection of technology, resale, and storytelling via her new consultancy, Seen + Known.Small vintage sellers can learn so much from big retail. Charis and I discuss how vintage sellers don't need to compete with major brands, but should position themselves in a way those brands can’t replicate. From why “you can’t be for everyone” to how clean data and strong listings can directly impact your sales, this episode breaks down the real strategies that separate growing shops from stagnant ones.If you’ve ever felt behind on technology, unsure how to stand out, or worried about big brands entering the vintage space… this episode will completely shift your perspective.
 
Chariz Marquez (@seenandknown.io) 
Founder of Seen + Known / former VP Fashion at eBay 
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

What makes a customer choose your shop over The RealReal? Nik Pollina, who recently shared on social media that her vintage designer handbag brand reached $1M in 2025, is the perfect person to ask. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, host Sloane Middleton Mann sits down with Nik Pollina, founder of Seven Moods, to talk about how she grew an online following of over 300k, leveraged her online community to host lucrative brand-owned pop-up events, and scaled her revenue to seven figures. 
 
Nik Pollina (@nikpollina_) 
Founder of Seven Moods 
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com

Personal stylists and vintage sellers have so much in common, and so much to gain by partnering with one another. In this episode of the Business of Vintage Podcast, host Sloane Middleton Mann chats with Jamie Lewis, personal stylist & founder of JBL Styles, about how vintage sellers should approach working with personal stylists and interior designers (AKA dream clients!) Jamie shares how opening up about her life on Instagram allowed her to expand her business, how her shoppers are thinking about vintage purchases, and how vintage sellers can style themselves as a way to market their business. 
 
Guest:
Jamie Lewis (@jbl.styles) 
Founder of JBL Styles
 
Hosted by:
Sloane Middleton Mann (@business.of.vintage)
Founder of Business of Vintage
Learn more:
businessofvintage.com