Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Blossom

Okay, so here’s the fun story of a chance auction that blossomed into a wonderful business.

Just after the kids went back to school last August I was enjoying a Starbucks and a little “me” time meandering through one of my favorite antique stores. Normally I would have been at a little part time job I had acquired, but the slow economy ended that. However, it was also that economy that caused me to sell some clothes on eBay the week before and in the process I noticed that a set of Julia Child’s cookbooks sold for over $900 dollars that week! Popularity was at a frenzy because of the recently released “Julie and Julia” movie.

As I wandered through the antique store soaking in all the treasures of the past my eyes suddenly froze on a set of books nestled back in one of the booths. Could it possibly be that set? What were the odds of an eBay newbie stumbling on this information and then finding the books all in the same week? I don’t know, but it happened to me. $37.50 for a First Edition Set. Before this I didn’t even know the value of first edition books, but this experience gave me a new appreciation!

Fast forward a week. The books are on eBay and my husband and I are sitting in “The Outback” restaurant pushing refresh on our phone internet connection as the seconds counted down on my book auction. This was the best entertainment I had had in weeks! I had no idea how exciting an auction could be. Auction time 3, 2, 1, 0 ……… final bid $205.00! Not the $900 I had seen the week before, but $165 profit was pretty exciting for an eBay newbie with a zero feedback score.

I was hooked. Combining my love of vintage things and an interest in online business, 3 months later I opened my own vintage jewelry store VintageBonBons.com. If you have ever had an online business you know the rush of the first sale. Mine came within hours of starting the store set up! It has not all been quite that fast, but for the most part it has had a steady pace and growing it is part of the fun.

We enjoy so many blessings in disguise. A lost job and transition to mothering “independent” teens gave me the time to slow down long enough to notice the details, develop a passion and open a store. So that’s my “blossom” story……….I would love to hear yours! If you would like to share the story of your business, please email me at vintagebonbons@bellsouth.net and I’ll post them for others to enjoy.

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