Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Wyatt Weir, co-owner of People's Champ Vintage, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

People's Champ Vintage is a vintage clothing store located in the Toronto neighbourhood of Parkdale. We specialize in finding vintage garments from as early as the 1940s while ensuring that our shop is fully stocked with great vintage clothing from a wide variety of eras. Our customer base has grown a considerable amount since we opened our brick-and-mortar location in Parkdale in 2018. The customers that we see on a day-to-day basis are generally experiential shoppers. These customers come to our shop looking for curated clothing items to complete their wardrobes - whether that be a t-shirt from a past tour of their favourite band or an eye-catching jacket.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we've noticed a remarkable shift in the amount of customers brought into our shop after making the decision to be more environmentally conscious in the clothing that they purchase. Over time our business has sourced and sold over 20,000 pounds of clothing, saving these items from landfills.

Tell us about yourself

I was always interested in finding unique items at thrift stores. Growing up in a small town with an aging population afforded me the opportunity to explore this interest more as I grew older and began driving. After a stint studying business at the University of Ottawa, I moved to Toronto to attend fashion school at George Brown College, where I was able to reignite my passion for finding unique things. As I reached graduation from fashion school, I secured a job working for F As In Frank Vintage, then located on Queen St. West in Toronto.

The years I spent working for F As In Frank taught me a great deal about the ins and outs of the vintage clothing business and introduced me to the vintage clothing community here in Toronto. With this knowledge, I was able to form a partnership with Abraham, who I met during my time working at F As In Frank; we began selling clothing as People's Champ Vintage at small pop-up markets throughout the city. In 2018, we opened our store in Parkdale and had enjoyed being a part of that community since. I am motivated most by the number of stories that can be told about the clothing we source for our customers and the friendships I have been able to make in the community throughout the years.

It continues to inspire me how much the general interest in vintage clothing has grown over the short amount of time that I have been involved in sourcing and selling items that often have a rich history. Whether it be a specific brand or the item was made using a manufacturing technique that has long been abandoned, saving these items and giving them another life in someone's wardrobe keeps pushing me to do more.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Presently, my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is running my business successfully throughout the pandemic. We've had to greatly alter how we operate on a day-to-day and month-to-month basis throughout the pandemic. Most notably, we've begun to use an increasing number of outlets to source products for the shop, which has allowed me to create new relationships within the community and strengthen existing relationships. We've also spent a considerable amount of time building and filling a website with the items that we source, allowing us to interact with and sell to people all over the world.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing about being a vintage clothing store owner is managing customer expectations. Although the clothing we source is used, we do not collect free donations from the public. A lot of effort is put into sourcing, curating, researching, and mending garments. Unfortunately, this means our prices are often not comparable to local corporate thrift stores. We try to price things fairly, usually below true market value. We do not like feeling as though we've disappointed someone looking for a bargain, but at the same time, we need to value our time and efforts as vintage curators.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Your business is not isolated. Be a part of your community and grow together.
  2. If a space doesn't exist for you, then work to create one.
  3. Be patient; it is important to note that a successful business takes time to nurture and grow.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I encourage anyone that doesn't seem ready to go to thrift stores, vintage stores, and pop-up markets. The environmental impact of shifting some of your buying towards second-hand clothing causes large ripples that will not go unnoticed in the coming years and decades. Shopping second-hand can become a very fun way to spend time with your friends and loved ones while also meeting a lot of great people. The best part is that eventually, you'll find something that you'll cherish more than you can imagine, not only because of its material value but also because of the memory you will have of the time you found it.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.peopleschampvintage.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peopleschampvintage/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peopleschampvintage/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.