Community Highlights: Meet Ryann Waller of Awesomesauce Vintage Shop, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryann Waller. Ryann shared her story with us below:

Ryann has always had a strong passion for antique and vintage items. Her love for everything, antique and vintage, is heavily influenced by her parents. Growing up, her parents had a deep love for everything old and rare. Often on Sundays after church, they would wander around antique shops, estate sales, and vintage shops as a family. They would snag great furniture, jewelry, kitchen items, and artwork. Ryann may have grown up in the 1980s, but her world and home were made up of beautiful items and memories from the early 1920s-1970s.

One of many phases of Ryann’s business plan, opening a vintage shop, was pushed up due to COVID. Ryann always wanted to own a vintage shop, so she decided there was no time like the present to make that dream come true. She opened Awesomesauce Vintage Shop, LLC. in 2020. The shop took off considerably faster than she ever imagined it would! Every single item you see in her shop was hand selected by Ryann.

It’s not just a vintage shop! In addition to selling unique antique and vintage items, Ryann is a certified personal property appraiser, estate sale operator, and offers interior/staging services. Last but not least, Ryann provides high-end dinnerware rental services for bridal and baby showers, private parties, and weddings.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, starting the shop was fairly smooth. COVID did cause some obstacles, but it also afforded opportunities for my shop, since many people were staying at home and shopping online.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I take pride in every item listed in my shop. I love being able to use my creativity in photographing and writing listings. I have especially loved collaborating on my shop promotion, like my recent collab with California-based hip-hop guru Locksmith and Lawrence, KS-based influential musician, and producer Johnny Quest/John McCluskey. I believe that being certified as a personal property appraiser has also assisted me in selecting unique items for the shop.

One cool thing about Awesomesauce Vintage Shop is that it is like online shopping in an antique/vintage store! Customers can choose from various antique and vintage items, like jewelry, luxury glasses/tumblers/ handbags, dinnerware, collectible glass, lunch boxes, brass decor, and so much more! Some items that are very popular in the shop include vintage Corning Ware, Merry Mushroom, Culver LTD Glasses/Tumblers, and various antique and vintage Carnival Glass items.

I am most proud of my ability to provide my customers with a high level of service. I ensure all orders are cleaned and packed very well. I also go out of my way to respond to all inquiries that I receive. I do custom searches for items that my customers are seeking. In addition to selling vintage items and doing appraisals, I offer a variety of gorgeous antique and vintage luxury dinnerware and tea set rentals, so every customer is sure to have gorgeous table décor at their wedding, private event, or party.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe that I took a leap of faith by opening a small business. Besides the fact that there is no “steady paycheck,” there is also a delicate balance between work and home life that has to be had when running your own business. I have also learned that juggling multiple lines of my business takes additional time and consideration, so I continually work to ensure that I manage my time well.

Contact Info:

• Website: AwesomesauceVintageShop.com
• Etsy:  AwesomesauceVintShop.Etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awesomesaucevintageshop/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AwesomesauceVintageShop/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/awesomesaucevintageshop/

Image Credits
Photo of Ryann Waller, Owner Photo Credit: Abigail McCubben