I first met Nikki McIntosh virtually through Etsy in 2011 when we worked together on a weekly blog post as members of a team of vintage sellers. I found her fun and bubbly personality to be a mirror through which her shop can be viewed. She’s a professional through and through, and everything from her photos and descriptions to the care in which she chooses her inventory is done with a clear vision for who Wise Apple Vintage is and her customer’s best interest in mind.
Nikki is what’s known as an old soul in a young body. She understands the importance of preserving history through conscientious consumerism. She’s someone I’m proud to say I’ve worked with and continue to stay in touch with over the years.
Enough from me, here are Nikki’s thoughts on being a vintage seller and what it means to her:
How did you become a vintage seller? I started selling vintage in 2008 when I basically just ran out of room to keep everything for myself! A couple of years later I was in between jobs and figured I’d give selling vintage full time a try – ten years later, I’m still doing it and still loving it! 
How long have you been a vintage seller? About 12 years now — yikes! Where does the time go!?
What is your favorite era? Mid-century! I love anything from the 1940s right on through the 60s – it’s such a fun time period!
What would you describe as your specialty? All things colorful and fun! I love bright colors and whimsical patterns and I’m definitely a sucker for anything kitschy! If you’re looking for a piece that will add personality to your space and is guaranteed to make you smile – I’d like to think you’ll find just the thing you’re looking for in my shop!
What is the best thing you’ve ever found and sold? Oh goodness, I think there are too many to count! My home is kind of an ever-evolving collection of vintage goodies. Sometimes I find something I can’t part with right away, so it will live with me for a while…but there’s always another ‘keeper’ just around the corner, so things have to keep moving along! I definitely have some regrets when it comes to things I’ve sold in the past, but I’m always finding new favorites, so I try not to get too caught up in the ones that I wish I’d held onto just a little bit longer.
What is the greatest challenge of being a vintage seller? For me it’s 100% trying not to keep everything for myself! I only buy things that I can imagine having in my own home…which definitely leads to trouble. I tried using a ‘one in one out’ rule for a while, but the only rule I’ve actually managed to stick with is more like ‘if it fits it sits’. Hah!
What is the best thing about being a vintage seller? Am I allowed to just say pretty much all of it? No? Okay, well then, I’ll try to narrow it down. I love helping the environment out by showing people how much fun it is to buy second hand. I love it when people have personal memories and stories about items I’m selling. I LOVE the thrill of the hunt. I love digging up the history of an item. And I absolutely love the vintage community – what a wonderful group of like-minded people I’ve found here on this big, beautiful internet!
What is the hottest category of vintage for you now? I don’t know if I swing into or out of trends too often – I’m more of a ‘tried and true’ kind of seller. I’m often out hunting for the same sorts of things I was out hunting for when I first started over ten years ago – Pyrex dishes, brass figurines, mid century barware, kitschy coffee mugs, and planters are some of my favorites!
What’s something we have in our homes now that vintage buyers will be looking for in twenty years? Ooo, I wonder about this one a lot! I think a lot of the mass-produced junk filling our homes these days may not even last another twenty years, so tomorrow’s antiques will probably look a lot like today’s antiques – just 20 years older! On the other hand, I also think there’s a new generation of more conscientious consumers emerging – which is finally bringing handmade and artisanal items back into our homes. It’s so exciting! These are the kinds of thoughtfully-made things that I hope will become the vintage treasures of the future!
What do you collect? Honestly, I might as well just say that I collect collections at this point! I collect everything from matchbooks and swizzle sticks to typewriters and wooden card catalogs. Any time I have more than two of something, it’s in danger of becoming another collection!
Social media links:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
Website: https://www.wiseapplevintage.
Hot tip: I sell on my own website as well as on Etsy, but new items always hit my website a few days before they hit my Etsy shop, and are offered at a discounted price.
As vintage sellers, the Vintage Unscripted team is part of a community of like-minded individuals and are pleased to support our fellow dealers. If you enjoy this new Seller Spotlight feature, please support these sellers by following them on social media and purchasing from their shops.
2 comments
Nikki, your shop tagline is perfect! Your treasures do make me smile.?
Thank you for sharing your backstory and the wonderful photos of your home with our readers. I think you will be responsible for the smile on the faces of many vintage lovers.
I loved learning about what makes you and your shop tick, Nikki. Fresh and fun! Want to come and see your house and share tea and stories. I’ll bring my favorite lemon sponge cake. Glad to have met you on this feature.