The Edit Blog Love Sponsor Thrift Image Map

2013-12-05

A Peek Inside

shop7
(pics by the sneaky and talented Merly)

The Edit is only about 250 square feet. There mayyyy have been a few nights that I lay awake stressing that the space was too small and that it would never work but lo and behold, once we cleaned out all the construction mess and got a little bit of organization happening, it turned out to be just right. Like Baby Bear's porridge... just right. Would I love to have a bigger space one day? Sure! But I need to take one step at a time, especially since I'm not letting go of my best landscape contract just yet. How landscaping and running a shop will work is going to be an interesting experience but I'm not doing snow clearing this winter so I've got some time to sort out all that good stuff... 
When I got the space on Ottawa St., it was outdated, quite pink and with 2/3 of a finished floor. We put in a new change room, put in new window displays, took out the dated stuff and painted everything white. Painting it all white made it seem so much more spacious and gave a clean, modern background for the vintage clothing. I wanted to avoid spending even more money by putting in new floors, so we ripped up the old flooring and painted the tiles with porch paint. I would have loved to have crisp white floors but that's just asking for muddy foot prints so Julie and I (fueled by wine and burritos) spent a night with some dollar store stencils and made a design on the floor with grey porch paint. Seriously, I feel like I need to do a step by step on how we did the floors because it will make me a Pinterest celebrity (and that's the dream right?) but I doubt I will get to that. Just buy about 10 stencils so that you can move the ones you painted first along as you work...
I still have to rework some display areas to get every square inch out of my square footage but I doubt that feeling ever goes away.  It'll never be just right and that's part of the fun...


shop20
shop4
shop18
shop5
shop9
shop19
shop6
shop1
(See that sign behind me? Kirsten from Willow Art And Design made that for me. Homegirl is only 17 and getting her marketing on. I love the sign and I love her hustle.)

I also spent over $150 in tinsel but I consider silver tinsel an investment. It's never going to go out of style right?

And because this post is so picture heavy, I shall put in a rare click through. But it is worth clicking through to see my vintage dress:)




shop13
shop10
shop15
shop11
shop14
shop17
shop16

The dress is actually from another vintage place in town and it was originally meant as my birthday dress. But when I decided to open a store (at the time of my birthday I was already pretty serious about the store but stuck in moving forward due to some paperwork delays... 'paperwork' is evil), I cancelled the big shindig I was going to throw for my 30th and put my energy into the store. After all that, it just seemed fitting to wear the party dress for the grand opening.
I should have steamed that glorious bow on the back but after my dear mama just spent all afternoon steaming clothes to prep for the opening, I didn't feel like dragging the steamer out of the basement again. So I rocked a slightly wrinkly bow and survived to tell you about it. 
I also survived opening weekend, which is far more impressive. If you would have seen the mess that was in the store, mere hours before we opened up, you would be impressed too. To be honest, I would have never gotten those doors opened and this dressed zipped up without the help of so many people. Turns out I have a lot of supportive people in my life and I couldn't be more grateful for all the excitement and support. Let's end this blog post here before I get all weird and emotional again. 
But really, thanks so much. 

33 comments :

Secondhand Stella said...

Oooo, looks so fabulous. I need to pay you a visit :)

Anonymous said...

I have been a blog reader of yours for a while now and I just wanted to say how excited I am for you that you followed a dream and opened this store. Congrats! The store looks lovely and if I am ever in town (I live in North Carolina so it would be quite a hike) I will defintely stop by.
-Pam

Miranda said...

The shop and your wares are gorgeous! I look forward to spending some money there.

Amanda @ Life with A.Co said...

OMG Yen, it looks PERFECT.

The floor is unbelieveable, I can't believe you stencilled the entire thing, WHOA! You and Julie did SUCH a great job!

This is so exciting and so amazing, you're following your dreams! YES! GET IT GIRL!

I looooove your logo, the font and sizing is perfect, and the tags are so chic and look GREAT.

The signage by Kirsten is awesome and fits the space perfectly.

Tinsel--an investment, always. #duh

CONGRATS (again). KEEP GOING!

Author said...

THAT DRESS!!!!!! Incredible. I love it. Also your store looks awesome and if I didn't live so dang far away, I'd be a very regular visitor. I'm happy for you and I hope this little shop is an awesome success!

Jessica Cobb said...

Congrats! You make me wish so much that we weren't so far away and could come go shopping!

Leah said...

Yay! Thanks for sharing this.
So excited for you.

Anonymous said...

Your shop looks beautiful, congratulations!! and I wish you much success. Would love to live closer and be able to shop there.

Anna said...

The shop looks absolutely perfect, I love what you did with the floor!! And your opening/party dress is fabulous. Can't wait to shop there next time I'm in the area.

Sarah M said...

Congrats Yentine! Such an exciting new venture. Wishing you much success. I will certainly have to make a day trip to Hamilton & stop by for a little treasure hunt :)

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! It looks amazing! I can totally understand all the hard work it requires to open a business and set the store and all thing that are required but in the end nothing beats the satisfaction and all the amazing things are about to happen, I wish you the very best! ps. you look stunning in that dress!

Cee. ♥
Code Overdressed

FutureLint said...

Yaaaaay! Congrats - it all looks just awesome! Good luck!

Sue @ A Colourful Canvas said...

Heavenly! Your shop is a little gem and just-right sized. The floor is genius! Your goods are so artfully displayed too. I love the boots and the frames! Oh, well done Yen! Success and happiness to you!

GFS said...

Congratulations my friend!!!! I love that the shop is just perfect for you!

Kayla said...

If I ever find myself in your area of Canada, I will stop in. And then I expect you to be there and for you to summon Julie so you can make all my internet blogger dreams come true. =)

Patina Jewelry said...

Congratulations, lovely lady! Incredibly thrilled for you, and humbled to have our jewelry amidst all the amazing vintage finds in your shop. And that dress was worthy of such a grand opening :)

- Tina & Kristel
Patina Jewelry

Veronika Novotny said...

This post is making me smile from ear to ear... I'm so happy for you, Yen. Your shop looks amazing and I love that it's small and cozy!! All the best to you, girl!! And if I lived close by... I'd be your number one customer! Adore your taste!!

xo
By The Shore, a life + style blog

gleeps said...

Your shop looks fascinating, and you are stunning in your special dress. Had you been putting vintage aside for years, or once you leased the shop, you went out on a mega thrifting spree to find stock? Would love to hear the story of how you stocked your shop for the opening.

Jennifer said...

Love that wooden sign in the window! Congrats again Lady!

xo Jennifer

http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com

Stella said...

Aw, congratulations! Everything looks amazing! Best of luck to you!

DressUpNotDown said...

I see about 10 things I want from just this little gimps into your shop!

www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Congrats! That is very exciting! I love the dress too!

www.ashleykiraand.wordpress.com

Anonymous said...

Peek not peak, unless there is a mountain inside hiding from the pictures. The shop, however, looks incredible, so, just don't worry about that grammar, really. That floor is worth all that extended effort, it's beautiful! You are SO meant to have a shop. Best of luck.

Firesparx said...

Congrats! And dibs on the duck sweater! I'll have to swing by this Christmas when I'm visiting my parents in Oakville. I have to admit, after reading blog for a couple years now it will be like meeting a celebrity. So if someone walks into you shop all tongue tied and possibly asks for your autograph it will be me!

Naomi said...

The floors look incredible! Great job! I'd love to take a road trip to visit your shop~

xoxo
The Occasional Indulgence

Suzie Salmon said...

It's absolutely gorgeous Yen! But then I would expect nothing less than that from you.

All the best in your new venture. I can't wait to send my niece in to say hi and do a little scouting for me :)

Belle de Couture said...

Congratulations, girlfran! What a dream come true! It looks amazing! I wish you the very best! :)

xx
Jen
http://belledecouture.com

Unknown said...

I am so SO happy for you! You must be so excited to be starting this new chapter of your life. And dang! Those are some nice-looking floors! Congratulations on everything!

Rebecca Jane said...

Just so full of happiness for you. The shop looks amazing, and so do you. What an accomplishment to get everything going and underway, it's seriously amazing.

HUGE congratulations!

edenhairstudio said...

Wow, The shops look fabulous! This is such an exciting and important milestone in your life; hope you are so proud of yourself!!
Even more of a reason to take a trip up to Hamilton... Stratford is just a car ride away! Good work girlie!!!

citizen rosebud said...

Your space looks amazing. As do you. Happy 30th, and much success on your fabulous fashionable venture!

Natalie Ellis-Lackey said...

Huge congratulations, Jentine!!! Your shop is so lovely, and I'm very excited to come in again, and spend some time perusing all the various items you've curated!

Again, big congrats and all the best to you and The Edit! xo

p.s. I actually got little butterflies in my stomach when I saw the fringe from the vest I bought hanging down! ha! My new little tartan vest is internet famous! ;) ahaha...

Caramel Latte Kiss said...

You've created a beautiful space! That floor is amazing, well done.