Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamela Fortier.
Hi Pamela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Cat, our mall manager, began as a seller on eBay and Marketplace after inheriting her father’s collections after he passed. This led to a deep passion for all things old and second hand and a desire to want to preserve and save them from ending up in landfills especially after a family tragedy. Eventually she wanted a physical space of her own to sell but was having trouble finding open space available. I also had the desire to “purge” a lifetime of collections of my own so the two ideas merged into finding a building that would allow us to not only sell our own things but also have space for other people to do the same. We found this great old garage that had been spruced up on the outside but still had the rustic aesthetic on the inside and we loved the space. We measured out the booths and started advertising. It only took 30 days for us to fill our building with fellow creatives and curators eager to launch or even expand their own small businesses. We are now a whole collective of local artisans and curated collectors and house over 37 small businesses! Whether they are clearing out their attics or family estates, have curated vintage or antique collections, homemade crafts, art or even some retail items like jewelry and clothes; we have it all under one roof! It’s a changing landscape – once something sells, it’s replaced with something new, we never have stale booths, new inventory floods in every week. It’s an old-fashioned way for people to sell their wares to the public or to jump start their small businesses. We sit on over two acres of land, so we added outdoor flea markets and events to our business plan to be able to offer more opportunities for community events and involvement. We hold that once per month and it’s free for the public to come and roam. We are always looking for outdoor vendors or creative acts that would like to set up outside during those events.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We’ve only had a few struggles. Being able to reach the public without spending hundreds on advertising is a challenge as a new business so we somewhat rely on free media, on the ground foot work and word of mouth to help get the word out that we are here and what we have to offer. Having enough manpower to handle all the facets of the operation without having a payroll is also challenging as a family owned and operated business. We have big aspirations and want to add on a lot of different moving parts but it’s not always easy to achieve as a mostly two-woman team. Everyone helps out where and when they can. It is very hard but very fulfilling work to be able to create a space where small businesses can come network, collaborate and support one another and the community!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are the in-between place for your items that need to find a new home! We offer space for you to sell and promote your small businesses without you having to be there. We handle all the sales for the vendors with the exception of the outdoor events. We help to heavily market and promote you and your business, handle all the special events and keep the shop open, inviting and fresh. We specialize in second hand, vintage and antiques but are also welcome to artisans and creatives. We focus on sustainability and supporting the community however we can. We are open 5 days per week Tuesday-Saturday for customers to shop. We are not just your average Vendor Mall or Vintage shop; we are also an event hub for the community! We are a blend of a Vendor Mall, Flea Market, Estate Help, Consignment, Vintage/Antique Store, eCommerce and Venue all wrapped into one and hope to be a true staple for the community to come build and grow together. If you need help with a clear out or just want a place to sell your stuff, or have us sell it for you, we have a multitude of ways we can assist you in selling collections or launching your small businesses. If you just want a cool place to shop, find unique treasures or just need somewhere to hang out and have fun on the weekend, you can always find it here!! We are proud that we have grown to over 1000 followers of Facebook who patronize our business and recommend us regularly. We are grateful to our vendors who are truly the heart and soul of the whole operation! Our inventory changes daily and you will be surprised when you step beyond the door!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Divine intervention led us to this business as well as the expertise of our Mall manager, Cat Sarbinoff, who knows this business inside and out, as it is what her father had done and she grew up learning how to do the same. We live in close proximity to our building and saw it being renovated and practically begged the man to let us open up this crazy idea on his land. Luckily enough, our landlord has been very good to us and has assisted us with readying the building for occupancy and even for some events! The stars truly aligned for us and gave us a clear path. We couldn’t be more thankful to the community, and everyone involved that has been helping us to make this the most successful and fun first year! Whether you bring us in bags and packing supplies, come shop, become a vendor or even just bring us up in casual conversation, thank you deeply, from the whole team here at Purjatory.
Pricing:
- Cheap to divine
- Deals to steals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.purjatory.com
- Instagram: purjatoryvm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568526181360
