At The Underground Attic I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the world of vintage clothing alongside small business owner Elizabeth Raphaelson. During my time at I learned valuable lessons in running a small business as well as the importance of online sales!
Final Project Outcome
My main responsibility at UA was helping with online sales as the population in Oneonta is not enough to sustain a small business alone. We utilized instagram DM to claims which I curated at my ships as well as whatnot, a online live sales platform. During these sales we were able sell up to 70 items at a time which taught me the importance of online selling.
What I did
Once sales were complete I was also responsible for shipping each individual item with extreme care. Vintage items are incredibly delicate so I had to learn the art of packing glass, crystal, metal, and more, sometimes all in one package together. Once items were unrecognizable in tissue paper, bubble wrap, and then more paper, I labeled items and sent them on their way. This is definitely as skill I will be carrying with me as a future business owner myself!
What I learned
Overall the most important lesson I learned was the importance of forming strong connections with customers both in person and online alike. It is easy to form regular connections and loyal customers in person, but forming those same connections with online buyers who join sales nightly is not as easy. This skill is still equally important, especially when running a business in a small town such as Oneonta.
