Before Bleecker Street Vintage there was something else. About two years ago, I began selling Japanese kokeshi dolls, vintage Japanese medicine boxes and other Japanese odds and ends at Camberwell Market. I also sold handmade cards and art, which was mainly left over stock from what was sold in stores in Japan when I lived there.
I began doing this with a good friend who had begun again selling amazing vintage clothes at Camberwell Market after returning from living in the UK with her lovely English husband. After a while, I found I needed to expand my range of customers and so started selling vintage too.
My friend and I both agreed we had a lot of fab skills that complimented us as a team, so months later we found ourselves quickly going into business together and purchasing a lot of stock from a shop that was closing down.
Although we remain great buddies today, during the time of having the business together we found ourselves under a lot of stress as a result of not discussing our business ideas from the beginning in detail. There were other differences too, such as work/life balance and how quickly we wanted to build the business.
What I am trying to say is, going into business with a friend or anyone has it's difficulties. And if you don't have the right personality match and similar ideas then it's not going to work. It's just like having a girlfriend/boyfriend! I know of another business partnership that is going great, and I like to think it has a lot to do with what I said in the previous sentence.
Before going into business discuss everything first. I know it's dull, but it's VITAL as you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. If you find you can't agree, then go it on your own and hire casual staff when you need them.
So now my friend and myself have separate business with different goals and we are both much happier now. And finally, what is most important to me is that we are still GREAT friends!
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