1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,460 Thrift shopping, finding a good deal, unique item. If you're located in or around the Kingsville, 2 00:00:12,460 --> 00:00:18,720 Ontario area, you're going to want to come to the newest thrift/consignment store 3 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:30,680 Altr. And I have with me the owners, Jess and Steve Muzzin. And in case this is the first time 4 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:36,000 you're tuning in, my name is Tracy Martens and I'm the host of this podcast, YQG In Bloom. It is 5 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:42,400 everything local to the Windsor-Essex County area. So how you guys doing? We're doing well. Now I 6 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:49,160 didn't realize until today that I just thought it was ALTR, but it's Altr. Now what made you 7 00:00:49,160 --> 00:00:58,360 choose that name considering there's no E in it? Yeah, no. So Altr, for us it was a perspective 8 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:05,880 thing. Okay. So when you think about thrift, whether it's apparel or home decor, we wanted 9 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:11,240 to have an alternative sort of offering. And then sort of to push that a little bit further, 10 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:16,360 we felt like just even just altering the name itself. And it became sort of a talking piece. 11 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:21,160 Well, because things that are used are usually missing something. So why not miss a letter? 12 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:26,760 Right? It's a good way of looking at it too. Now, how long have you guys been open? It's been about 13 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:32,200 three months, a little over three months. It's closed right now. They close on Saturdays at 3 14 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:38,120 p.m. And we're setting up for the podcast. People were still coming and we had to tell them it was 15 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:43,640 closed because they want to find this place that they've heard about or they're just fans. 16 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:51,400 It's nonstop. The community has been amazing. We have nothing but wonderful things to say, 17 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:57,400 whether it's the donations or just the biggest thing for me is word of mouth. There's no amount 18 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:02,760 of money that could buy advertising like that. And the positive feedback we've been receiving 19 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:08,200 has been outstanding. The generous donations. It's amazing being immersed into this community 20 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:14,600 because I think some people take it for granted and we are seeing it firsthand and we just like, 21 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,480 we appreciate it so much more. Yeah, embracing it as well. Yeah. Oh, for sure. And you also do 22 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:26,040 consignment. We do. So we do some consignment. It'll be like a traditional consignment agreement 23 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:32,120 for higher end pieces. And then for a lower ticket price, we would do a buyout for those items. 24 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,840 Okay. Yeah. Cause I know your chair, you're sitting in right now. That is consignment. 25 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:44,600 Yes. As well as I'm sure you guys can see this huge ottoman, which is gorgeous. So there's no 26 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:52,440 haggling on those prices, but you never know. But I love, I've been here twice now and looking 27 00:02:52,440 --> 00:03:00,440 through like people aren't just dumping off stuff like they do at other thrift stores. Like these 28 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:05,480 are really, really nice items. People are actually taking care as to what they're bringing in you 29 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:11,640 guys. For sure. And something that's important to us too. And we, we make sure that we communicate 30 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:18,040 that to everyone is that you don't need to vet what you're bringing here. Obviously like we're 31 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:24,040 looking for things that still have life in them, but if it needs some repair, like we, we do those 32 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:29,560 fixings, we curate the pieces because we want to make sure it's a tight space. So we want to make 33 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:34,520 sure the things that we do focus on in here are things that the community would be interested in. 34 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:40,120 But we're also working with the mission. So any pieces, like if there's a item article of clothing 35 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:45,800 that has a stain or something, we don't toss anything. No, we save it and then we're dropping 36 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:50,040 it off at the mission to share with them. Oh, that that's really nice. Yeah. There's always, 37 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:55,560 it's useful. There's exactly. And I guess like the biggest component, which we didn't touch on with 38 00:03:55,560 --> 00:04:00,280 the donations is where we're working with Ursa major in town. Yeah. I was going to bring that 39 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:06,840 up and I'm sure people want to give good quality stuff because a portion of the proceeds is going 40 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:12,760 to Ursa major. Exactly. And it's, it's wonderful when people come in and they're already familiar 41 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:18,520 with the organization. And that's usually like the catalyst to why they're bringing things in 42 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:22,280 because they want to support whether they have like a family member or a friend that is attending 43 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:29,800 as a member there. So, and Ursa itself is a day program, a day support program for adults with 44 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:37,080 intellectual disabilities. So we, Steve and I, it was important to us when we started Alter to align 45 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:43,320 with something that really meant something to us personally. And our son, our seven year old son 46 00:04:43,320 --> 00:04:48,440 is autistic and we had never heard of Ursa, but a friend of ours was like, oh, you should check out 47 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:54,760 little bear cafe, which they do on Mondays from nine 30 to 12 30. And their members serve you 48 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:59,000 coffee and everything's donation based, but it gives them the social skills. What is that church 49 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:04,200 called again? That's the, so we didn't know it's the Kingsville community church, community church, 50 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:10,440 Ursa major and the deputy mayor are supposed to be on my podcast. They were supposed to be on a 51 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:18,840 while ago. Unfortunately I got sick and things happened and it got pushed back, but that church 52 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:27,160 does so much. The deputy mayor, Kim DeYoung. Yeah. She does what you guys have. It's a bake shop 53 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:32,840 and they have their, so many events for seniors. Yep. In the community. It's a community center 54 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:37,720 too. Yeah. That's the thing. I had no idea. And I live here and then I met Ursa major and they're 55 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:44,440 just beautiful people. Sweetest people. So what made you guys decide to open Alter? Well, 56 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:53,320 the short story. I was working, we lived in Toronto for a period of time working in the 57 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:58,360 advertising and marketing industry. Steve still works remote for a Toronto agency and I was 58 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:03,720 working for a Chicago agency. So when I moved home, I was traveling back and forth and it just became 59 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:10,280 a lot. And after COVID, I think again, back to Alter perspective, my perspective shifted and 60 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:16,280 I was, I felt like I was missing out on family and we live in such a good community and I always 61 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:23,800 felt like I wanted to be, to feel a part of it. Like I had so much more to offer. And just one day 62 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:30,760 I reached my breaking point. It was a blessing in disguise. The boss I had, thank you now, 63 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:35,080 not thank you at the time, but pushed me to my breaking point and I was like, you know what? 64 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:40,200 This isn't worth it. Like it was taking a toll on me personally, mentally, on my family. So then we 65 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:45,320 decided to give this a go. It's something, we are big thrifters. So this is something we're extremely 66 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:51,960 passionate about. So we were like, let's give it a shot. I always say never look a gift horse in the 67 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:58,360 mouth because the same thing happened to me. It was let go from a job and I was really, oh my God, 68 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:03,560 devastated about it. And then like a month later I walked back in and I said, thanks. 69 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:10,760 Right. I appreciate it because it forced me to do something else as a mom. Yes. I had to do something 70 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:18,680 and it forced me to do, I had started a cleaning business and that took off for a few years. 71 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:26,040 Good for you. Days and nights, but it does, it helps you to get perspective on what you want to do. 72 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:33,560 Absolutely. It's funny that you mentioned as a mom because for me after that moment in my career, 73 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:38,440 I thought to myself, if my child came to me with this problem, what would I tell them to do? 74 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:44,360 And I was like, get out of there. Like it's not worth the toll it's taking on you. So. Exactly. 75 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:50,520 Yeah. Life's too short. Easier said than done. It is, but sometimes you just gotta go. You know, 76 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:56,520 sometimes it just takes a few years. Like you're not going to always get it right out of college. 77 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:01,640 If you go to college or university, if you don't, that's okay. That's right. But you know, 78 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:08,040 like it's usually a couple careers in, unless you are straight focused from the get-go that you want 79 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:12,120 to be a doctor or a lawyer or something. It's usually a couple careers until you find your 80 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:18,840 passion. Right. So I always say if you fail the first time, don't worry. Just something like this 81 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,840 is going to come along. Right. Like you learn along the way. That's the most important thing. 82 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:28,040 As long as you take away something from those, not even mistakes, but their experiences and they 83 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:33,560 build the person that you are today. Exactly. So yeah. And now you're building this wonderful 84 00:08:33,560 --> 00:08:41,320 company, having time with your kids, helping out an organization and a small community as well. 85 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:47,080 And I do have to show you guys a few things because the stuff that people bring them are amazing. 86 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:53,160 Like we said, the chairs minus the yellow one, that's theirs. This I'm bringing home today. 87 00:08:53,720 --> 00:09:02,760 It is a wine bottle holder and the lid and the lid topper, but it's $5. I mean, $5. This is, 88 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:13,720 it's crazy. But on consignment, this is a Kate Spade purse and there is nothing wrong with it. 89 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:20,840 It's amazing. $50. You can't even tell that it's been used. If I am all honest, you'd probably 90 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:26,840 find this at Winners for $150 because I've actually seen them there. Yes. On the weekend 91 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:35,160 on clearance for $200. And then over, again, I'm not sure if any of you can see, but there is this 92 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:41,720 beautiful pillow and it is down filled and it came, you said it came right out of the bay. Yeah. We 93 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:47,880 took it out of the packaging. Yeah. It is 20 bucks. Like, I mean, for a very comfy pillow or 94 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:54,680 something for your couch to fancy up your living room a bit. Why not? Tracy, we're going to hire 95 00:09:54,680 --> 00:10:03,400 you full time. I love this place. And then the outfits behind me, these guys just put together 96 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:08,520 while we were getting ready here, while my husband was setting up all of the cameras. 97 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:17,400 And this one outfit with the green, the green purse, it has, it's the purse. It's the really 98 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:24,760 nice fuzzy sweater. It's, it's so soft. Two necklaces and the skirt. And I figured it's, 99 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:32,200 it's probably about $80 all total, including the accessories, which you, they have a lot of jewelry 100 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:39,240 and necklaces. Tons of accessories. Yeah. I love it. I love it in here. There's a little bit of 101 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:45,400 everything for everybody. And what are your hours? So our hours are, we're closed Sunday, Monday, 102 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:50,440 and then we're open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 to three. And Friday is the exception. We extended 103 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:57,400 our hours to six. I was going to say, you guys are so popular. It's, yes, it's so busy. Which is great. 104 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:05,000 It's amazing. I mean, upcycling, thrifting, and it's always something different too. And it's like 105 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:10,280 the perfect business for her because she gets, I'm surprised I'm still around. She changes her mind 106 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:15,080 on things so often. So it's great that like you can make it something new and every day. 107 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:21,000 And it's a challenge because so many things, new things come in. It's like, okay, now every day we 108 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:25,240 walk in, okay, how are we going to rearrange and, and, and, you know, feature some things or just 109 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:32,360 make it work for the space. Yeah. Yeah. Like I, when we came out here, me and my husband to meet 110 00:11:32,360 --> 00:11:41,080 you guys and I found this blue, I don't even know it was it antique is a blue glass. I don't know if 111 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:51,080 it's a jug, a jar, a huge vase, but I think it was like $5 and I put tons of buttons in it. And it's 112 00:11:51,080 --> 00:12:00,520 on my table in my set at home. And I love it. That's something that we really love too. And I 113 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:04,360 mentioned it to you earlier. Like, I love that the buttons were from your grandmother. So when you 114 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:12,120 look at it, it brings back those memories. Yeah. We, we do receive a lot of people, there's some 115 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:17,640 seniors that are downsizing and then they are bringing in some China and crystal and they're 116 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:23,240 sad about it because their kids don't want it. And I saw the pinwheel crystal. I have all my grams. 117 00:12:24,200 --> 00:12:31,640 And she had a ton of it and whatever nobody in the family wanted, I kept it and I have an entire 118 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:37,400 trunk full of it and I'm looking at it going, okay, I want it, but I'm not going to get it. 119 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:42,520 I know, but that's the best part for me is like, people come in here, seeking out those pieces and 120 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,200 you know that they're going to take it home and cherish it because like they come in with the 121 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:52,280 intent of finding like milk glass is a big one. And I don't know what else was there? Yeah, milk 122 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:56,920 glass is cool. Angels. There's like, there's people that are just collectors of those pieces. So. 123 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:02,920 But even like the more expensive stuff, the pinwheel crystal, the fancy purses, these are 124 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:08,840 affordable to people that can't go out and spend a ridiculous amount of money on pinwheel crystal. 125 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:15,720 For sure. And it's coming back in style. Yeah. You know, people want the old, the old looks again. 126 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:26,200 Yeah, for sure. How is your house? Is it getting a little, a clock ticks the best. I know. We were 127 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:31,560 like, I guess like when I was working at the other place, it felt a little more like cold and modern, 128 00:13:31,560 --> 00:13:37,240 but now the warmth is coming out a lot of personality because I want to make it, 129 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:42,840 it's my mission for us to have thoughtful pieces in there, like your jug with grandma's buttons. 130 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:49,640 Like I want to look at round and there's like happiness. Yeah. And it is a very happy place. 131 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:57,160 I mean, we try artwork and I'm going to post a few things that I found in there that I'll probably 132 00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:03,080 come back for on my Instagram. You guys have wonderful stuff. You have a wonderful eye for 133 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:10,120 decorating the shop and it already needs to be upsized. Yeah. Right. Thank you. We appreciate 134 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:15,480 you saying that because like it's our happy place too. And we're glad that it's sort of radiating. 135 00:14:15,480 --> 00:14:21,960 Yeah. Because it truly is a, it's a labor of love and we, we just love sort of people come in and we 136 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:27,800 hear their stories and we share the stories and we talk about Ursa or our story and it's a neat sort 137 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:32,680 of, it's just sort of a neat venue for it all. It's like a little, all you need is a little 138 00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:40,600 coffee maker and it's a community place. Get the stuff from the church, the pastries and that. 139 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:47,000 Right. Have a coffee. Yes. Look over purses. You know, that could be the go-to place. In the winter. 140 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:54,440 Yeah. I know. See, Steve's right. I can't stop. I was just like, yeah, you got it. Yeah. And if you 141 00:14:54,440 --> 00:15:02,760 want to know more about their story, Anna's Flowers, they did a really nice blog that I found today. 142 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:08,040 Yeah. It was really nice. Beautiful. Better than we expected to be put on. Like, I shouldn't say 143 00:15:08,040 --> 00:15:12,760 that, but it was like, we were blown away by how, how well they captured the business. They really 144 00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:19,560 did. They did a hundred percent and everything they said is, is true. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you 145 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:24,840 so much. Now, how can people get a hold of you guys? So you can either reach us through social 146 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:33,960 media, Instagram, or Facebook under Alter Thrift Shop. ALTR. Yes. And Purr-Tante, yes. ALTR. And then also we 147 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,760 have a website, altrrthriftshop.com, and you can send us a message through there as well, 148 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,640 or you can give us a call. I don't remember a phone number. It's on the website. 149 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:54,280 Oh, this is great. And again, it is Tuesday to Saturday until three, except for Fridays that are 150 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:59,800 until six. And it starts at 11. That's right. This is great. I want to thank you guys so much 151 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:06,280 for being on here. I'm glad we finally were able to get together. Thank you. Okay. You guys have to, 152 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:11,480 if you're in the Kingsville, Ontario area, get down to Alter Thrift, and I'm going to put 153 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:18,200 and consignment because they do have a lot of beautiful consignment pieces as well. Or if you 154 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:23,480 want to donate, some of the proceeds are going to Ursa Major, which is a local charity here. 155 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,920 And thank you so much, Justin and Steve. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thanks so much, Tracy. 156 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:32,920 Again, my name is Tracy Martens, and thank you so much for joining me for another episode of 157 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:42,760 YQG In Bloom. You guys have a good day.