New Listing, Vintage Disney Ring!

I've had this Mickey Mouse ring for years and I finally have decided to sell it. I'm not sure which vintage shop I found it when I was in High School, but I've kept it for way too long and I've never worn it. I tried to do research on the ring, but I found nothing. So this is truly a one of a kind unique ring. It would be perfect for any Disney fan. You can click here or the image to see the listing.

Pop Up Shop Wrap Up

This was my second pop up shop, my last was 2014. Well, it was very busy, I never had any quiet time, which was very different from my first pop up. In fact, although I created a check list, I was running late in the morning and I didn't look it over before I left. And in doing so, I didn't bring any water or food. Yes, on the hottest day of the year, I didn't bring any water or food, from 6:30am to 1pm, I was starving and so thirsty I was going to pass out. I also didn't have an umbrella, or a tent. And I was alone, so one one could get me some water or food. This was a massive mistake on my part! The photo above was my booth, set up and ready for sales at 6:45am.

 

This is my booth around noon. Happily, I sold my carpet, a Heinz tin, clothes, a beach chair, a few planters, a weight scale, a guitar stand and the pieces that are below. They are marked "inactive" because I had to remove them from seasand.etsy.com after they sold. I will be making a video on my Youtube channel, http://www.youtube.com/c/ClaudiaSandoval83 talking about my experience in depth, there was a lot to go over and it may be too long for just a blog post.

 Though I will say that next time I do a pop up shop, I will be packing a lunch, a lot of water and asking someone to stop by to help me pack up, because people try to steal your merchandise when you're getting your car. And asking the event attendant to "watch your stuff" may not work out, granted he did "watch" as a woman was trying to take my suitcase that I used to keep and move my merchandise and I had to jump out of my car, as it was moving, to stop her. Granted financially, I did make a profit and I got rid of many items that I no longer needed. I think that the next pop up shop that I do will be in an actual vintage flea marketplace (like my first pop up) and not a community yard sale.

Vintage Pop Up Shop in June!

Guess what! I'm doing a pop-up shop in June at the Sierra Madre Community Yard Sale. Mostly, because it's near the town where I live and It's a date that is perfect for me. If you'd like something from my shop, seasand.etsy.com you should buy it now, before it's too late. I have many new items and plenty to sell. If you're in the area, please stop by Booth 10 and say hi, I'd love to meet some of my followers, customers and readers! I'm very excited, my first pop-up was in 2014, you can read about it here and be sure to join my event page here.

Date: June 4, 2016
Time: 8AM - 12PM
Booth: #10
Location: Sierra Vista Park
Address: 611 E Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Join the Etsy Event Page: https://www.etsy.com/local/event/46352793511/sea-sand-vintage-pop-up-at-the-sierra-june-4

New Vintage Items in the Shop

 These are some items that I bought at the Junk Vintage show in Long Beach, California two months ago. I finally added them to my shop, Sea Sand Vintage on Etsy. You can also click on the images to go tot heir direct item listing to purchase the item. I have also re-shot some of my old listings, because my photography skills have improved since I opened my shop in 2011. 

Etsy Packaging

One of my favorite parts about selling on Etsy is getting to wrap each of my sold items with care and making it look beautiful for my customers. I also made a quick video on my process, you can watch it here; since i have a full time job in the day, I work on my Etsy shop at night.

Card: Target
Ribbon: Paper Source
Stamp: FORYOO
String: Oh Hello Friend
Washi Tape: Oh Hello Friend
Tissue Paper: Anthropologie
Vintage Game Cards: The International Printers Museum

20% Off Sale!

20% off sale on all items at Sea Sand Vintage on November 27, 28 & 30. For Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Click on the image to be taken to my store.

Ralph Lauren

I previously worked with the Mad Men prop department in 2012, you can read about it here. I was contacted by someone at Ralph Lauren for a piece I was selling in my Etsy shop. I'm not sure how it will or has been used, but I am very happy to work with one of my favorite companies. The easel that was purchased may be used as a prop in a store or as a prop in an advertisement.

I'm Back!

I'm back from my vacation and I've re-opened my Etsy shop, Sea Sand Vintage for two weeks, before I go on another vacation later this month. But in my travels I did found one new vintage item that I've added as a new listings, you can check out this vintage antique lama bronze figurine here.

I'll also, I'll post my vacation photos from Texas, travel tips and YouTube videos soon. In the meantime, you can check out my Instagram here, and my YouTube channel, here.

New Etsy Listings!

I have new vintage items on sale at seasand.etsy.com! Go check them out, I've had them for a bit, but it's time to sell them. Also, I just came from the Rose Bowl Flea Market and I have a couple more items that I need to photograph and add to the shop.

New Swiss Listing!

This vintage flag of Switzerland is a great piece and it's just been added to my shop. Click on the image to see the listing.

New Listing!

I finally put up a new listing in 2015. This year has been rough on me, but I'm happy to announce that I'll try to find more time for my shop and vintage buying again.  Click on the link to see the listing! It a lovely Number Seven in Gold.

100th Sale!

This beautiful vintage 1950's cake dome just sold and I loved it so much. It'll be going to New York soon. I will say that I never though that I'd be selling 100 vintage items and still have more to sell. It's been an amazing four years and while it may not seem like much, when first started this shop, Sea Sand Vintage I was a student and now I've been working in my chosen career field for the past three years. Thank you to all my customers and blog readers, you have kept me going.

I also never thought that one of my customers would be the AMC's Award winning series, Mad Men. Who purchased my vintage finger cymbals for the Season 5, Episode 10 "Christmas Waltz" (Premiered May, 20 2012).

Just a look back to my first sale below, I really worked on my photography and I will continue to do so. I also, still have some fabric, but I've decided to sell the fabric specifically around the holidays and any actual in person sales at fairs or booths.

Create and Thrive Challenge - January

I was answering the Create and Thrive Challenge on my instagram, but the questions were too involved to answer with a photo a day, so I thought I'd answer them on my blog instead. (the first 12 are on my Instagram).

12. How many new collections/products are you going to release in 2015 – and when?
 I'd like to post at least 1 a month. In January I've added 5.


13. What sales venue will you be focussing on in 2015, and why?
I'm just focusing on Etsy and selling in-person somewhere, though I'm still researching where I'd like to sell.

 
14. How much time can you realistically devote to your business each day/week in 2015?
Most of my time will be during the weekends. About 4-6 hours total a week.

15. When you look at your main product photo compared to other people's similar products, does yours stand out?
They standout, however I'd like to create a better photo studio and background.

16. What's your marketing strategy for 2015?
Blogging at least once a week. Posting a new product once a month.


17. Which single social media are you going to focus on in 2015?
Bloglovin/Blogger.

18. How are you going to track and measure your progress this year?
Sales and posting views.

19. What planning tools are you going to use to keep yourself organised and on-track this year?
 Calendar, notebook and lists.


20. What are you going to start doing in 2015 that you've been putting off?
Researching flea-markets by going to them and checking them out before I apply to sell. 


21. What are you going to stop doing in 2015?
Being so lazy with my photography.

22. Who is going to help you with your business this year, and how?
Maybe some of my friends (a a friend) would be able to help me with set up, but I have yet to ask.

23. What one strategy are you going to use to ensure you're taking care of YOU first this year?
Trying to take time to do nothing after work except blog and not work on my store.

24. When are you going to take a break this year? I'm not sure, I should really think about this, even when I was on vacation I did some Vintage shopping for the store.

25. What do you need to systematize to make things flow more smoothly this year?Post office time, I always underestimate it.

26. How are you going to make your customer service exceptional this year?Giving them up to date information on their purchase through online media and my thank you note.

27. What will your mantra be when the going gets tough?How can this day go right?

28. How are you going to celebrate your achievements/milestones during the year?After the purchase of one item, post another within that week.

29. Who is your crafty business role-model, and why?Well my Vintage business role-model are Dear Golden and Cut and Chic Vintage. Although I don't sell much vintage clothes I do enjoy the way these businesses use social media and photography to create a style that I know and love.

30. If you reach your ultimate goal for your business, how will that change your life?I'd like to sell everything I've had in storage and maybe start again with more financial backing.

First 2015 Sale!

The Vintage Hair Dryer (Blue Handy Hannah) sold! This makes the 99th sale on Etsy for Sea Sand Vintage. This is so exciting, I never thought I'd make it to almost 100 sales in 4 years. If you make a purchase or are interested in my packaging and shipping process as a vintage Etsy seller on Instagram and this blog.

Office Listings Added

I've added even more listings to my Etsy shop. This two printer's blocks I got from a Printer's fair last summer. You can click on the images to see the listings.
 

This fun Concord typewriter is a lovely blue color and it's from JC Penny in the 60s or 70s. It was hard to find exact information online. This piece was found on a vintage shop in Monterrey, California.

Etsy Card Reader

I have some very exciting news! I received my Etsy card reader from Etsy.com. I had a square card reader for person-to-person sales at my first Pop-up last March. But now I don't have to worry about keeping my inventory correct. The card reader does it for me! I also loved the minimal packaging. And the free card/coaster and the sign holder is great too. I have been an Etsy customer since 2008 and a a seller since 2011, so I am very happy that I can sign up for more Pop-ups in various Southern California Flea Markets next year. Here's to a profitable 2015!

Improved About Page!

I've been working on a "better" blog throughout this Summer. Besides working on improving the text and images of my blog posts, I decided to focus on my About page next. Luckily enough, I saw the DIY Writing Workshop by Sarah Grear! I am so happy that I attended this workshop, I learned a lot about writing for a blog and met some great people and Etsy sellers there!

In addition to my new About page, I also added places to submit your email into my new mailing list. Check it out, here! I've also added an Instagram button on the right side of the blog. Shockingly, it's the app I use the most and I didn't have a link to it on this blog.

Blog Content

I am currently working on better content for my blog. It's been a long time coming but I think I'll be making more time to write and post. Two of my inspirations lately have been Dana from The Wonder Forest and Gerry from The Bunnie Hole. I've been watching their videos on blog content and posting ideas. My brain is full of ideas, so I just need to post my new vintage listings on Etsy and write new blog postings.

New Listing

I'll be adding new stock slowly as I need to make a new light box and light now I am not as pleased with my photos as I'd like. But here is a new item: a vintage brass candle snuffer for candles. Click on the image to see the listing.

Royal Typrwriter

I have some very exiting news, one of my favorite pieces has sold! My mint green Royal Typrwriter was purchased and being shipped to Kansas. I'll miss this piece, but I'm very happy to finally find this guy a home.

It was shipped this past Monday and should be there tomorrow. I hope the new owners enjoy this awesome piece. Below is the box that I shipped it in.