Today we’d like to introduce you to Marie Monsod.
Hi Marie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
It all started with a beaded top that inspired me to get into the business. I’ve always loved vintage and fashion and decided to just do it, to deal in vintage. I was also interested in going to law school at the time but figured if the vintage route didn’t work out, I could always apply for law school. I started collecting more and more and opened a by appointment studio. While I had my studio, I sold at vintage shows to meet people and it started to grow. I felt there was a need for a consignment vintage store in our area, so after 5 years of having the studio, I started Recess. During the pandemic, we expanded to the space next door (was a pretty extensive undertaking to open the walls and combine both spaces) to incorporate vintage home decor. Recess has now been open for almost 11 years.
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?
The first couple of years after opening Recess required patience, as no one knew we were there or what we were doing, so we had to spread the word and advertise to get people to consign with us. Another challenge in the beginning was maintaining an online platform. I was doing everything, so until I got help, we were relying on Instagram. It honestly continues to be a challenge to maintain our website and keep it fresh with new content and products weekly.
The pandemic was a serious challenge, but we are grateful to our loyal customers who continued to shop with us during our LIVE shows that we did under the A Current Affair platform, as well as using Instagram.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Recess?
We are a curated vintage and designer consignment store. We mostly focus on vintage and now also sell vintage home decor. We are known for our eclectic style and that we carry a wide variety of pieces from different decades and designers. We are also known for our statement accessories, we love big earrings, vintage box bag and statement belts. What sets us apart is our price point and, again, that we carry a wide variety of vintage and designer from casual to fancy from the 40s to the present. We love brands like Jean Paul Gaultier, Galanos, Gianfranco Ferre, Issey Miyake, Galliano, Thierry Mugler, and so much more. I am proud of the business we created and maintaining a consistent brand. We have become friends with so many of our customers throughout the years, and people trust our store and items. We appreciate vintage and the history behind them…how lucky are we to have decades of fashion behind us to learn from and wear? We also love that we are a sustainable business. Expanding into home decor has always been a dream, and it’s been great combining both clothing and home because, ultimately, we want Recess to be known as a lifestyle brand.
What does success mean to you?
Success is setting a goal and achieving it to the best of your abilities. It’s a combination of hard work, allowing yourself to overcome the challenges, and persevering.
Contact Info:
- Website: recessla.com
- Instagram: @recessla
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/recessla
