Meet Jessie Feigert | Reseller & Marketing Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessie Feigert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Reselling is not easy. It is very tedious and requires you to be incredibly proactive. Most people spend years gaining the knowledge and expertise in their niche required to be successful. There is a misnomer that resellers stop by a Goodwill, grab some vintage clothing or knick knacks, pop it online, make a profit, and then rinse, lather, and repeat. In reality, the process is much more time consuming. I might drive hours to pick up items from auctions, for example; then begins the process of cleaning, researching, meticulously taking photos, and posting a thorough description online. It also takes time to properly package items up for shipping, and e-commerce platforms take a pretty penny in fees from your gross profit.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I operate a reselling business, mostly utilizing eBay and similar online platforms. I started reselling as a side hustle in my parent’s basement, where I was trying to make money to support my daughter and me. As her sole caretaker, I needed work that was incredibly flexible and I just could not find that in a typical 9-5. It has taken a long time to reach where I am at now, and I still work part-time with my father’s fireworks company in addition to running a shop full time. I work 7 days a week and I still struggle; but I have a willingness to continue to learn which has been my greatest asset. I have determined to never give up, no matter how bleak it seems. I am proud of my ability to single-handedly do every aspect of running a business. I have to wear many hats; I am a bookkeeper, a customer service representative, a researcher, and an owner plus a plethora of other titles that make up running a company.

My focuses are on vintage clothing, old toys, and antiques. I strongly believe reselling is one of the most environmentally friendly industries out there, which is desperately needed considering the current climate of fast fashion, mass production, and over consumption. I take pride in reusing plastic bags, old newspapers, and other such products for shipping supplies and I love the idea of repurposing or polishing up old items to give them a second life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Georgia has some really great nature spots and such a rich history at many of them. I live close to Olde Rope Mill Park which has tons of amazing hiking trails. In the 1840s it was home to a grist mill and a cotton mill, and you can still see the remains of these structures while exploring. You can even catch deer wandering around in the early mornings. There is this awesome tiny pan-latin sandwich and smoothie shop called LottaFrutta on Auburn Ave that is a must when visiting the city. The decor is bursting with colorful prints and paintings, and there is an intimate atmosphere with just a few sets of tables that make you feel like you are family when you’re there. Nearby is the Sweet Auburn Historic district which is worth exploring; this was the Black business district in Atlanta during the 1920s, home to the first Black millionaire in Atlanta, Alonzo Herndon. You can find Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church here as well, where Dr. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. preached.
Brunch and goodies at Highland Bakery is always a must (hello, peanut butter French toast); and for nighttime I always favor the Earl in East Atlanta to see good local music and have some drinks.
There’s also so many great murals around the city to check out for some art; my favorite is a portrait of my dear friend who unfortunately passed away, named Laura Calle. There is a beautiful giant mural dedicated to her across from Estoria on Wylie St. (While there you might as well check out Krog tunnel of course to see all the current art and graffiti.)
And lastly, it is always worth it to make the trek to Truist Park to watch a Braves game!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am lucky to have a great family that supports me and a core group of friends that always have my back. My main inspiration, however, is my 6 year old daughter, Violet. Everything I do is for her and she is my fuel to get up each day and do my best to succeed.

Website: https://www.ebay.com/str/violetsvanity

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiemindenf/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessie.feigert/