“No longer any need for hours trawling the internet or weekends sifting through op-shops, we do that for you, and it’s all here, ready and waiting for you”

Are you an avid op-shopper who spends countless weekends at the local garage sale and sifting through second hand clothing stores? Then you will love this! gran’s loose change is New Zealand’s newest online destination for vintage and second hand designer clothing, accessories, furniture and jewellery.

Kelly and her business partner, namely ‘the fearless leader’, launched their hot online store for fellow op-shoppers with a vision to take the hard work out of finding the next best second-hand fashion item. In store you will find a collection of vintage pieces handpicked by Kelly for its style, quality and wearability.

In just a few months gran’s loose change has grown into a collaborate treasure trove for New Zealand’s second hand lovers complete with an online store, inspirational blog spot and much loved ‘lookbook’. After checking out this stylish online shop for myself I decided it was time to find out more about the creative director behind this entrepreneurial project.

Where did you grow up? 

I was born and bred in the hearty New Plymouth but spent every summer in the Bay of Plenty since I was 10. My mum moved to Tauranga when I left for uni and for the past two years the Mount has been my own home. 

When did you launch Gransloosechange.co.nz?

I first started talking about gran’s loose change with my business partner in May of last year. Although back then it wasn’t called gran’s loose change. In fact, it didn’t even have a name! Initially, we were going to open a physical store but realised as an online business it was it viable to keep my ‘day job’ and not struggle through huge start up costs. After a long and well-thought out process, we launched gran’s loose change in May this year.

What were you doing before you launched the online store?

I studied media and english at Victoria Uni in Welly; worked in business then beauty PR in Sydney for a couple of years and after moving home in 2008 have worked at v.marketing ever since. At v. I am an account manager where I strategise, conceptulise, budget, write, plan, coordinate and execute a range of clients needs across web, design, events, PR, marketing and advertising. We work namely in social marketing, where I personally work heavily in the youth arena, as well as retail, property and local government. www.vmarketing.co.nz

I also write freelance for online mags such as Beauty Bible and Sideroom and write a monthly blog for FashioNZ. I initially thought I’d be a journalist but I love the diversity of my job and my roles.

My dream is to travel the world buying for gran’s loose change and to write books as I go.

Where did the inspiration for gran’s loose change come from?

gran’s loose change was born out of my passion for vintage, fashion, being bossy, wanting to own my own business and pure determination. It’s taught me to be brave and to believe in what I do. It is hard work theoretically working two jobs but it will pay off one day.

My wise and wonderful grandmother has travelled the world and I always remember her being a stylish and elegant woman who I wanted to be like. She loves a bargain and is queen at op and vintage shopping.

In the long term, I’d like to be able to zip across to London, Paris and Italy, Melbourne and Sydney, Thailand and Hong Kong for buying trips and make vintage and second hand clothing accessible to everyone.

If you could only take three things with you when travelling what would you take?

My canon, my great grandmother’s Cameo ring (I never take it off) and my other half.

What is it that makes gran’s loose change something special?

I keep my prices realistic and am not trying to be an exclusive ‘vintage’ store that marks my prices up 1000 percent. I price the goods no higher than the maximum I would personally pay and I believe my customers appreciate that.

It’s a fun ride and I am lucky enough to have a wonderful group of creative friends (photographers, models, art directors, editors, writers, artists) who have helped me more than I could ever have imagined. Their input, advice, help and kindness is part of the reason gran’s loose change is growing so successfully.

Is gran’s loose change your full time job or do you work it on the side? 

I still work fulltime at v so gran’s loose change is very much a side project. Ideally, I’d love for it to be viable to be fulltime but all good things take time, right? The experiences I have at v are so fulfilling and I love to be busy so I work my ass off to be able to do both. I manage all of the stock photography, product sourcing, buyer management, lookbooks, website maintenance and upload, photo editing, pricing, packaging, blogging, monthly expenses, billing, invoicing and everything else that comes with owning a business, outside of my 9-5.

Is this a solo project or do you have a business partner? 

I have a business partner who is a successful businesswoman herself. She works as a mentor, another person to bounce ideas off and as a support, she is there if I need her but gran’s loose change is my baby and she allows me the freedom to do with it as I please. I’m lucky to have such a solid, inspirational woman to work with.

What noise do you hate most?

Hearing other people chew.

Have you won any awards, or had any recent media attention for your site? 

The publicity we have gained for the site has been amazing. We have been featured in NZ Herald online, Frankie Mag online, Fashion Quarterly tweeted about us within our first week, we’ve been on blogs Here Comes the Sun, Fancy! Batt Your Lashes, Runamuk Visuals and online sites Slynkey, NZ Girl, Beauty Bible, Sideroom and FashioNZ.

What are a few things that most people don’t know about you?

If I told you, more than a few people would know…! Ha!

I don’t like the smell of mince, people touching the knobbly bits in my knees and I hate the smell of saliva. I am fiercely protective of my friends and family and tell it like it is. There’s no dilly dallying around with me! I also collect china tea cups. Ok, I just told you far more than a few things…I like to talk. Although most people know that already!

What can we look at for in the near future of gran’s loose change?

MORE product, more selection, a variety of sizes and the inclusion of furniture. Oh and worldwide domination of course.

www.gransloosechange.co.nz