Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Watkins
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am the owner of Mine & Yours, Canada’s leading luxury resale business. My journey in fashion began at 17 when I moved to LA to attend The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. While in LA, I gained experience working at a small boutique in Beverly Hills, a trend forecasting company, and even served as Paula Abdul’s personal assistant. After moving back to Vancouver in 2011, I realized there was an opportunity in Canada for a business that valued sustainability, interpersonal relationships, and luxury fashion.
During my time in LA, I became fascinated by secondhand fashion culture and quickly saw an opportunity to create a designer resale shop that still offered a luxurious shopping experience. I fell in love with finding incredibly unique designer pieces without the hefty retail price tag.
12 years ago, I moved back to Vancouver to take over my family’s sawmill business after spending a lot of time going back and forth between LA. It wasn’t my dream job, but due to life circumstances, the business needed my help. I ran the business for three years, and we tripled sales. I figured if I could succeed in a business where I wasn’t passionate about the products, I could do even better in the fashion industry.
From there, I told friends and family that I was looking for a new venture, and I was introduced to my then-business partner, Jigme. I initially thought of a ‘Rent the Runway’ concept, but when we met and she presented the idea of Mine & Yours and was looking for a partner, I knew this was it. We had both spent a lot of time in Los Angeles, where curated second hand stores were more popular, and we noticed there was nothing like it in Vancouver. That’s how Mine & Yours was born.
The dream was to foster a community of people who invest in themselves—and their closets. What started as a 300-square-foot experiment in a downtown Vancouver townhouse quickly became an empire. After 10 years, Mine & Yours has grown into Canada’s number one resale company, with three locations between Vancouver and Toronto and an incredible online presence with 58k followers and counting on Instagram and an online store that caters to an international market.
Fun fact, someone in my Grade 7 yearbook predicted I would open a clothing store one day, so it’s definitely something that’s always been on my mind.
Resale is the future of fashion. I’ve always believed in the power of pre-loved. Since opening our doors in 2013, I’ve seen more people embrace buying and selling within the circular fashion industry. We give our community a way to shop sustainably without sacrificing their love for luxury or their budget. Mine & Yours is revolutionizing resale one iconic bag wall at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Not always. Over the past ten years, Mine & Yours has tripled in size, but we faced challenges, including having to close one of our original locations, 1025 Howe Street, due to an increase in crime in downtown Vancouver.
After more than 10 years at the heart of Vancouver’s luxury consignment scene, we announced the closure of our original location at 1025 Howe Street. The store was known for its charm and exceptional designer deals but we were forced to shut its doors due to significant changes in the neighborhood, including ten break-ins and substantial inventory losses.
Howe Street was our first ‘real’ store. Before that, Mine & Yours was a live/work townhouse. As word spread about our hidden gem, we quickly outgrew our initial space and found a great offer at 1025 Howe Street. More than a decade ago, we planted our roots in Downtown Vancouver.
It was a challenging decision to close one of our customer-favorite and original locations, but as they say, when one door closes, another opens to make room for more growth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Mine & Yours is my pride and joy—we are a leading designer consignment business who are redefining sustainable fashion by being one of the fastest-growing resale brands in Canada. Over the past decade, my business has expanded threefold and offers curated collections with an elevated luxury resale experience. The aim is to inspire an entire community to celebrate their unique style in a sustainable way. We’re championing the future of fashion by offering pre-loved treasures and empowering individuals to shop consciously without compromising on quality or budget. We also offer a tailored ‘Sell to Us’ program, where we encourage our clients to be part of a circular economy that’s revolutionizing the fashion industry. To give you an idea the luxury resale industry is projected to be a 350 billion dollar industry by 2028!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I would have to say that I have a strong sense of community that has translated into my business. I love meeting new people and having great, memorable experiences. I want people to feel the same way when they walk into one of our stores.
We have a great community of shoppers and staff at Mine & Yours. We have worked hard over the years to develop great relationships with our suppliers so that we get the best designer products. Our community knows that when they walk into our stores they will get a tailored experience with knowledgeable stylists who love working with luxury resale pieces. The idea is for people to walk into our stores and feel as though they are shopping in their best friend’s closet, and that’s really where the sense of community comes in from my perspective. Shopping with us should be a memorable experience that leaves you wanting to come back for more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mineandyours.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itscourtwatkins/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/mineandyoursco/?hl=en
Image Credits
Internal Photographer at Mine & Yours
