A dozen resale and consignment shopkeepers getting silly at Flamingoville, an informal gathering of resalers on Siesta Key FL
I remember a spouse at one of the NARTS Conferences marveling over the openness and friendliness of the 250-300+ shopkeepers happily gabbing away.
“I’ve never seen an industry so happy to share, so open with one another.”
And I am so proud to agree. At Sharing on TGtbT.com, via NARTS meetings, and on HowToConsign.com where we pre-educate your potential clients to
ReSell * RePlace * ReJoice
we do love to meet up, to give and get advice, to commiserate (hey, resale ain’t always a bowl of cherries, just usually!) and to celebrate together.
Glenda, Deb and Carolyn at a NARTS Conference
Last evening I had the great honor of attending the beach wedding of a resale shopkeeper friend. When I mentioned how gorgeous Kenna’s wedding gown was, mom Patty of Wandering Wardrobe in Utah mentioned that much of the lace in the gown came from the collection of Kate B who owns HollyGoLightly in California.
And I got to see again more resale friends: Julie of Repeat Street in Illinois, and resale retirees Kim, Nicky, and Cathy.
The one more time crew plus Gail of the NARTS office (in stripes) and Kate (grinning sillily in the center.)
Meanwhile, we’re all following another NARTS/TGtbT.com/HowToConsign.com buddy on her epic road trip across America. Read Deb of Revente SC writing about visiting Molly’s Once Again in New Mexico.
Auntie Kate The Resale Expert 
When I opened my store over 7 years ago, I didn’t think I would make such great friends with other shop oweners all over the country. But that is exactly what has happened. I love that we have shop stuff in common, but that is not the only basis to our friendships. I love how open, generous, and giving a community this is. I cherish every email, card, and visit I have with everyone. I have been lucky enough to have gone to 5 conferences as well as visited several shop owners on their home turf. I wil continue to keep doing my best at my shop so I can keep doing that.
I am selfishly saddened when I learn a friend isn’t able to come to conference, but I urge those of you who haven’t been to one to just do it. Don’t worry about the money (I know – easy for me to say), but the experience is priceless.
((Hugs)) to all my friends out there!
Julie
The very first resalers I met ‘in real life’ were Glenda of Caprice West and Carolyn of Baja Rosie’s.
When Kenny and I went to the Liberace bar in Boston, we felt right at home, because I’d been reading the tgtbt posts of Carolyn and Glenda for a long time. We also met Kate Holmes at that conference.
At the Narts conference in Atlanta, I asked Cathy of Smarty Pants if she was “Cathy with a ‘C’.” on the tgtbt sharing board, and we found on the bus tour that we admired exactly the same vintage items.
The first post of Kate Buck’s on tgtbt that I remember was about some huge roosters she bought wholesale, and I knew I liked this lady a lot. She and I have the very same taste, and as it turns out, we are twins separated at birth (just kidding). Thank you for the lace, Kate b.
I met Julie, Kim and Nicky at Narts conferences, but got to know and love them better at Flamingoville, along with Tanya of Tags, Becky of Frankly Scarlett, Marriette of Not just for Kids, Janis Jones of Play it Again Sam, and Tracy of Karma Resale. Since Flamingoville was the brainchild of Kate Holmes, I also owe these friendships to Kate.
I met others, including Colleen of Echo Trends, Vickie of Little Specialty Shop, Nancy of Second Glance, Shirley Innes, Melissa Baxter, Deb of DesignsbyDeb, Sybil, Deb McD, mollyb!, and Stephanie of Prima Donna’s Closet, at Narts conferences, but I first heard of them or read their posts on tgtbt. All of these women are among the best of resale, and I have great respect for them all.
Almost all of our friendships with resalers, maybe with the exception of Kenny’s and my friendship with Joe and Chris Haines, has begun on the tgtbt board. Thank you, Kate. And thank you for coming to Kenna’s wedding.
Like Carolyn, I love my resale buddies.
There is no doubt that my closest friends are my resale friends, near and far.
Glenda was the first, and we continue to this day to share a friendship that transcends the miles between us. We have been to each other’s homes, stores, and shared many a trip together!
If I began to list all the friends I would for sure leave someone out, so I’ll have to be very careful, but the fact that I have flown to visit Kate in her home, Kate B in Calistoga’s home, travelled to Nancy K.’s store, Deb McD’s, and so many more has begun an almost crazy desire to visit as many resalers as I can!
The friendships continue on tgtbt., as well as facebook and msn, and the miles are inconsequential. The memories include so much more than ‘shop talk’, although some of the most valuable things I have implemented in my business have come from my ‘sharing friends’.
I love my resale buddies, near and far.
Kate, you look like you are having SO MUCH fun….wish I was there, too! Hugs!
Michelle, you’re allowed to come to Conference. http://narts.org Your company would be the first seasonal consignment company to participate… and just THINK of the cross-fertilization possibilities. It makes my head spin!