Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Smothers.
Hi Brandi, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My business started out in a small 100 years old building that was originally a roadside milk stand on Hwy 78 on the road to Julian. It was then used as an apple packing shed for many years until I started collecting and selling vintage /antiques out of it one day a week while my four kids were in school. My dad eventually started to retire and offered me (okay I begged him) his 4,000 sq ft pole barn on the property, as I had quickly outgrown the small shed. In 2015 I opened up what is now The Barn Vintage Marketplace. We occasionally have markets on the property that bring in hundreds of vendors and thousands of customers daily and stay very busy on our regular open days. We focus on all original, authentic vintage and antique home decor, with an emphasis on industrial and architectural, and enjoy the comments from our customers about “stepping back in time” as they enter The Barn. All of my four girls have helped in the barn from time to time, but you can almost be certain to see my oldest there each time you go, displaying and adding her natural touch to each area you see. It’s truly a dream job and a magical place, filled with memories and stories and the nicest people on the planet. We’ve teamed up and created a destination and have had a unique opportunity to breathe new life into old things. And that’s where their new story begins!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
We have been lucky to grow fast and stay busy as we are in a tourist area with a great location. Although this business has gotten more difficult to find original pieces, we have stayed true to our mission of staying authentic.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Vintage entrepreneur and home decor designer.
Contact Info:
- Email: smothersfamily@aol.com
- Instagram: @thebarnvintagemarketplace
- Facebook: The Barn Vintage Marketplace
