I attended the Heart of Thrift Virtual Conference last month and it was amazing! This was my first time ever attending a thrifting conference and it did not disappoint. The founders Sammy & Keren really captured the heart of thrifting. Even though the event was online, the connection and community aspect was still there! I have so much love for the thrifting community and this conference basically reminded me why thrifting is so special. So let’s get into the Heart of Thrift Conference Recap.
I was gifted a free ticket to attend the Heart of Thrift Conference in exchange for a review on my blog. All opinions are my own. Click here for full disclaimer.
Keynote Speech:
The conference was 3 days long and I was pumped for every single session! Let’s start off with the keynote speech. If you don’t recognize the women on the flyer, their names are Edwina & Shana. They were the keynote speakers and the creators of the popular YouTube channel, Thrifters Anonymous (TA). These two are considered thrifting celebrities, because they were literally on a season of Storage Wars and have paved the way for many of us thrifters. I especially love them because they are down to Earth and from my hometown Las Vegas.
Main takeaways:
- Say yes to everything that scares you
- Sometimes you have to live someone else’s dream in order to discover your own
- Opportunities can come no matter how large your social media following is
- Ignore the naysayers and chase after your vision (having a supportive friend by your side helps)
- Growth happens outside of your comfort zone
The TA ladies also hosted an epic closet sale on Facebook live. I never knew the Facebook thrifting community was so engaged and so into shopping. The ladies had 120 pieces for sell and sold 109 of them! In the future I want to dive into a whole post about live selling on Facebook because it is EPIC. Basically it’s like being a part of a live clothing auction from the comfort of your own home. The ladies sold lots of amazing vintage pieces.
My Favorite Events:
1. Style Wars
We started the conference off with a Style Wars competition. This set the mood for the whole conference. As audience members we were able to vote with the judges on who did the best job styling thrifted fall trends. The judges, LaVee of Thrift Therapy, Derrick Johnson of Thrifted Gent, and Chrissy Britt of Blazin’ Vintage, had their work cut out for them because all of the contestants came to SLAY!
Below are the winners of the style wars.
(Left to Right): 80’s Rocker, Like a Boss, Jewel Tones, Equestrian, 80’s Prep, and Colored Leather
2. How I Built My Thrift Influencer Platform
As a thrift influencer myself, I really enjoyed the opportunity to hear from other influencers in this space. Transparency is key and hearing other influencers speak openly about making money and growing online was super helpful. It was an honor hearing from the panelists: @sammydtv, @thriftingdivas, @thriftyfatty @cappuccinosandconsignment, @justjewels4u, and @taylor_made_style
Main takeaways:
- Create a strategy sooner than later
- Be consistent
- Build relationships with thrift bloggers and brands
- Have a rate card and stick to those rates
- Don’t only rely on brand deals. There are other ways to make money such as selling your own merch, reselling thrift finds, charging for event appearances, teaching a workshop, etc.
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3. How I Built My Resell Business
I did not know a lot about reselling, so this panel was super helpful. Especially because I am interested in launching a product of some sort next year, so learning from the experts definitely helped. Thank you @twostylishkays, @fortheloveofluxury, @fostered_vintage, @shopthrilling,@hillheelshooray, and @thehighlowfashionista for sharing your expertise.
Overall Thoughts:
The Heart of Thrift Conference was so much fun. I learned a lot, laughed a lot, and made new connections. The weekend was jam-packed with activities. I mentioned my favorites in this post, but here are some of the other amazing events on the schedule.
- Virtual Cocktail Party
- Fall 2020 Trends
- Unique Styling w/ Thrift Finds
- How to DIY Thrifted Furniture
- How to Spot a Fake vs Real Designer Bag
- Virtual Red Carpet
- Heart of Thrift Award Ceremony
I cannot wait until next year’s Heart of Thrift Conference!
Have you ever attended a Thrifting Conference?
