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Pre-Loved Podcast with Emily Stochl

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  2. S9 Ep2 PRETTY PENNY: Sarah Dunbar has sold vintage since 1998 - on the early days of the buy-sell-trade business, vintage pop-ups in her apartment, and 19 years of her own stores.

S9 Ep2 PRETTY PENNY: Sarah Dunbar has sold vintage since 1998 - on the early days of the buy-sell-trade business, vintage pop-ups in her apartment, and 19 years of her own stores.

Feb 3, 2025

On today’s show, we’re chatting with Sarah, the owner of Pretty Penny Vintage, located in Berkeley California. Sarah started selling vintage in 1998, when she got a job at a busy buy-sell-trade store called Mars Mercantile, which taught her a lot about the business. 

Eventually she held pop-up sales where she sold her own vintage clothing in her apartment, and then in 2006, she opened Pretty Penny with a student loan. She’s had multiple locations and iterations of the business throughout its almost 19 year history.

But what remains consistent is her love of her local community. You’re gonna love this episode – it’s a fun one, so let’s dive right in! 

DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE:

  • [1:46] Thrifting in the 90s in the Washington grunge scene.
  • [5:18] Working at Mars Mercantile in Berkeley in 1998
  • [14:48] Sarah started her first store as a pop-up in her own apartment.
  • [22:40] Real talk about the many challenges of running a small business.
  • [31:51] Pretty Penny’s vintage specialities, and how they’ve changed over the years.

EPISODE MENTIONS: 

LET’S CONNECT: 

SPECIAL THANKS: 

A special thanks goes out to my Patron Insiders – your support makes Pre-Loved Podcast possible!

  • Patty Weber
  • Kathy Brand
  • Lisa of Queenie & Pearl
  • Lucille of Galipette Vintage
  • KT 
  • Lydia Welp
  • Anastacia Banicke of Goods & Provisions
  • Michael A.
  • Megan Morris
  • Jennifer