The Messenger Weekly Times - November 2012
Using websites and social media to reach customers around the clock is an ideal way to combat the economic downturn and boost business, western traders say.
Local shopping strips are using tactics including social networking, which is attracting interstate shoppers and hosting art exhibitions to combat the economic downturn.
But, they all agree, community support is needed.
In the lead-up to the festive season, Messenger Community News, The Advertiser, Sunday Mail and adelaide now are joining forces to encourage South Australians to "Shop In SA" and support businesses that support our community and our state.
Vintage Carousel started as an online business in 2003 and has built up more than 3200 Facebook followers since it opened its Bowden Shop in 2009.
Rachael Will said the store still did a strong trade online.
"Thirty percent of our market is interstate," she said.
"A lot of people come over and truck goods or courier them, and most of them found us on facebook" Ms Will said.
She said social media worked because it was free, instant and easy to access anywhere.
Ms Will said the store held regular "garage sales" in the yard behind the shop selling discounted wares, and also held exhibitions supporting local artists.
She said having a niche and selling unique goods brought in the crowds.
"I also work as an interior stylist, and I use goods from the shop," Ms Will said.
"You have to find new innovative ways to advertise and promote yourself to stand out from the crowd."
The Advertiser - November 2012
250 of S.A.'s top shops
Vintage Carousel
Bowden
'Arguably SA's best vintage store, products are well-sourced, in good condition and pricing is more reasonable than a lot of other vintage stores'.
The Sunday Mail 'home magazine' - September 2012
Decorate, diner style.
Number 9, retro kitchen cupboard, $145, Vintage Carousel, Bowden
April's Love - July 2012
Now call it ‘by chance’ but a stop at Hawker Street is a
cue to visit one of, in my opinion, Adelaide’s BEST vintage shops –
‘Vintage Carousel’. The beautiful Rachael always greets with the warmest,
engaging smile – Rachael is the face & owner of this fabulously quirky
shop. Filled with ladders, seats, & assorted furniture to racks of groovy
recycled clothes. The kitsch, practical & unusual all share a happy new home
at Vintage Carousel.
Yes, I snapped a few pic’s but you can find loads more on
this shops facebook where goodies are ‘uploaded’ for your perusal and purchase.
Of course I have secured many a treasure for the ‘lovin’
household. Mr B has also found Love previously at this little
store, he’s always engaged by the eye for interesting gadgets -
so, truly something for everyone!
Recently at Vintage Carousel, I spotted a little beauty
for Miss JC. A dear, dear childhood bestie & all things vintage
enthusiast! Miss JC had sought my professsional services and engaged me to
‘source’ her a vintage magazine table with a top for her glam cups of tea – but
of course, what more could a ‘real lady’ want?! The brief was quite specific.
My roving eye had been searching for sometime & the item in question is not
particularly common. Vintage Carousel came to the rescue. Now, the item isn’t
quite fitting the brief as this particular table was wood, not iron as
preferred, BUT knowing Miss JC’s style & penchant that leans towards a
touch of the ‘Shabby Chic” I felt it was a strong contender nonetheless less. I
fell in love with this baby as did Miss JC after receiving my txt/pic! The
look, the price – a winner & everyone lived happily ever after!
I could truly visit Vintage Carousel every week
& I’d bet my bottom dollar I’d find something new & interesting
EVERYTIME. The presentation of this little shop is to be admired, why? Because
of its pure simplicity. The seemingly effortless attention to simple
lines & details brings life to these vintage & recycled goodies – well,
it just makes you want to take them ALL home. Isn’t that the secret – ah ha, by
george she’s got it! More importantly, it has a soul, by and large because it’s
owner does.
A clear eye, passion & Love – perhaps an ‘old soul’ –
breathes its new life into vintage. This is why Vintage Carousel is one of
April’s Love – I hope you can pop on by soon, or at the least via cyber space.
Fortunately for Rachael I don’t visit every week – for fear she may accomplish
little with my constant chatter about all things vintage…never the less,
I have a funny feeling I won’t be able to resist for long…
Vintage Shops Australia - June 2012
Vintage Carousel offer hand picked vintage clothing, collectables and
furniture. What we love most about this vibrant, vintage shop is the
ever changing stock.
Rachael from Vintage Carousel provides a continual
feed of items featured on their face book, keeping their presence in the
vintage market forever new and interesting. You will find great
quality items at very affordable prices, making this store a must save
on our lists.
Read on to find out more about what makes this store a
favourite to so many.
(Head to this
link to read the full story)
With possibly the most apt name (once a product enters
the store, it is almost guaranteed to be gone the same day, a product
merry-go-round if you like), Vintage Carousel has packed a lot into its three
short years, with a movie under its belt, photo shoots, retro styling and exhibitions.
The store stocks genuinely affordable wares, with no
overzealous mark ups that you usually find once the word ‘vintage’ or ‘retro’
has been whacked on the label.
Anything from the 1950s through to the 1980s with
clothes, home wares, fabric, locally made jewellery (they stock Gretel Girl,
Vivienne Milk, A Little Red) furniture and a whole lot more. It’s actually
impressive how much a seemingly tiny shop squeezes in.
The stores reputation seems to precede it, with fans
around the country and world, including a few international music identities
according to the owner and founder and serious contender for the Nicest Person
Award, Rachael says. They have even featured a big budget Australian movie.
“We were pretty chuffed to supply costumes to the
Australian movie Red Dog”, says Rachael.
She won’t spill the beans on where she sources her
products from, but she says she put in a lot of practice before she set up
shop. “I had a six year trial period so to speak. Rain or shine I became a
regular face at Adelaide markets over that time.”
“Regular garage sales, ebay and consignment fuelled my
passion before 26 Hawker Street Bowden was christened in September 2009.”
Rachael says Bowden was the perfect fit for Vintage
Carousel, with a sense of community and retro (Hawker Street Cafe is next door
and the suburb seems to be undergoing a bit of a facelift and revamp at the
moment).
Working virtually around the clock, Rachael says Vintage
Carousel is still a dream job. “There is a lot of work behind the scenes, but
it’s a livelihood I wouldn’t trade.”
There are downsides to living and owning your own
business, especially when it happens to stock some pretty rad gear.
“I fall in love daily, but have the store to share, hand
on and make room for the new treasures. There are a few dresses I wouldn’t mind
wearing again, but you can’t keep everything and it isn’t long until you find
another gem.“
With the constant roundabout of wares popping up in the
store, Vintage Carousel has well and truly set the benchmark when it comes to
the vintage and retro niche stores dotted around the city.
A fantastic collection of quality vintage and retro items including a
nice range of funky new jewellery (mostly earrings and brooches when we
went).
There were quite a few items I lusted after in this store and the
prices were unexpectedly reasonable.
The lady that was there at the
time was very friendly but respectful of your space.
The name may promise you to be able to dress in your finest outfits, skip along a golden path whilst eating ice-cream and fairy floss and jumping upon nostalgic fair rides - but vintage carousel actually delivers even better.
It has become a haven for those looking to add a special something to their household, business or photoshoot. You'll find impeccable items, gorgeous threads and quite possible the world's loveliest shop assistant, Rachael.
Vintage Carousel is turning into a bit of an Adelaide institution. Known for furnishing more than a few of the city's quirky, retro stores (Cafe Komodo, Presence and E for Ethel, to name a few!), Vintage Carousel is doing the vintage/retro trend right.
The store stocks only the best quality vintage goods from the 50's through to the 80's - so much so most of it seems brand new. But you know you're doing things right when you have international musicians, local business owners, photographers and vintage lovers trawling through your store on a regular basis.
The Bowden store is also the perfect hostess, with many an exhibition adorning its fine space.
Yelp - January 2012
Bowden's got vibe. The evidence: Vintage Carousel.
Jumping on
board the retro/ coffee/ vintage thing that nearby Queen Street does oh
so well, Hawker Street in Bowden is getting a few little cool shops that
promise to turn the near city locale into a place to visit.
As
it stands I'm only ever in the area when visiting a nearby friend, but
we love to pop into the Hawkers St Cafe for breakfast then peruse the
awesomes at Vintage Carousel.
This is well picked stuff, ladies
and gents. It has a very 70s feel to it: think mustard and brown
sunflower print sunlounges, green vinyl chairs, formica aplenty,
beatboxes and loud retro textiles. It's not all my scene strictly
speaking but the occasional piece does grab my eye, and it's very well
selected and always good quality.
Yelp - December 2011
I like to pop into Vintage Carousel after brekky at Hawkers St cafe next
door. Sure, I love clothes, especially ones which have had a life prior
to landing in my closet, but you don't have to be a frock fan like me
to appreciate such a well put together space featuring hand picked
vintage clothing, bric a brac and artwork. (N.B. Hand picked means no
junk, just charm and appeal).
Rachael the owner is also one of the
smiliest, friendliest loveliest people ever. Just have one conversation
with her and she'll turn a bad day around or make an average day great,
she is blessed with such positivity I like to steal a little sometimes!
The
prices are also great and although everything is carefully hand picked
the prices don't suffer any undue inflation. Make sure you check out the
furniture too - you can see a bunch of items on the facebook page so
you can keep an eye on all the new goodies from your own loungeroom.
Vintage Carousel is a very apt name for the store as stuff goes out more stuff comes in and round it goes. It's hip to be old! New life is being recycled into a new fashion trend sensation, which has been slowly emerging over the last few years. The revival of vintage fashion and furniture our grannies and grandpa's had is sitting within this small shop facing Hawker St, it's a tiny niche with only a handful of shops but there's more on the way. The displays are non cluttered so it's not a rummage sale environment but carefully and delicately placed about the shop. Lots of orange and honey coloured furniture brighten up the store along with browns, greens and the paler tones of yesteryear.
I have to say I still don't really get what it is about vintage that's so appealing, perhaps it's a psychological thing going back to my childhood when my mum dragged me around after school to the op shops and the smell of moth balls still lingers in my memory. Thank god they don't smell like that anymore - well some do but we won't go there - instead it's a real past time searching through stuff people have discarded and the same stuff some of us threw away because it was old and wanted the latest new stuff, which of course didn't last as long. And in case you haven't noticed....simply the mention of the word vintage attracts moderately high prices. But hey, each to their own.
This is only a generalisation of personal opinion and not intended to reflect upon any vintage business in particular...quite like having a browse.
There's alot of stuff in here all tastefully laid out in a simple and elegant manner. Good stuff Vintage Carousel!
Vintage Carousel is an absolute gem in Adelaide, hidden away up Hawker St in Bowden. Rachael has a seemingly endless supply of wonderful goodies at very reasonable prices. Some of Presence’s favourite shop fittings have come from Vintage Carousel (the two bookcases & the formica table!).
Every time I pop in I feel like I’m in a new shop (which is dangerous because it gives me new ideas) if you haven’t already, you must pop by!
You can also checkout the facebook where new stock is listed rather often.
Hey Radelaide! The guys that brought you National Swap Meet couldn't find an organizer to represent in SA, but that doesn't mean the peeps in SA should miss out on some fine second-hand fashion, right?
Vintage Carousel is the place to go to peruse through some fine vintage wares. We're pretty chuffed that they've got the Buy Nothing New Month window decal
The Adelaide* Magazine - September, 2011
Can't resist the inspired fashions, fabrics and furnishings of decades past?
Rachael Will's collection of all things vintage is a labour of collector's love. She also stocks locally crafted jewellery and holds special sale events.
Unilife Magazine - August, 2011
A bit off the beaten track from the vintage finds of the inner city Vintage Carousel at 26 Hawker Street, Bowden is a treasure trove of clothes, jewellery, accessories, furniture, fabric, home wares and electrical from the 1950s - 1980s. It also features jewellery and craft by local designers and art exhibitions.
Run by the friendly and enthusiastic Rachael Will, this shop is a great place for gifts, decorating your home or finding a fabulous retro number for parties or play. With new stock arriving weekly you are guaranteed to find something that you like.
There is always a sale rack, and occasionally a special late night store sale with drinks and snacks. Vintage Carousel is located in a funky little strip of shops on Hawker Street, where you can also find the lovely Hawker Street Cafe.
The rain had drizzled all day and I crossed my fingers & toes that the clouds would part and allow a warm afternoon sun to drink up all the cold & dreariness. But the sky seemed to prefer the company of its cloudy blanket. Evening headed in with its wet, dark blueness - a shade of blue that I adore. Rach turned on all Vintage Carousel's lamps & a wonderful sunny glow met the night. Is there any better lighting than a lamp? The musicians stood under the verandah warming up their instruments & voices... I stood watching in awe of their talent. Wine was poured while trays of food appeared, and then suddenly it seemed that the night had began... dozens of people mingled around me, art work was sold, treasures from Vintage Carousel were purchased, everyone seemed happy to hang out with friends in the drizzle. Opening night was a success & I went home just overwhelmed by all the encouragement I had received... honoured by the fact people would part with their money in order to buy my work... and I was proud of myself for the journey I had travelled the past year. Gretel Girl was now one year old... what a wonderful birthday party she had.
Thank you to all that have made the journey to see the exhibition.
Vintage Carousel
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Located in a small but very cheeky stretch of shops on Hawker St in Bowden, Vintage Carousel is one delightful store.
Full of men’s and women’s fashion, accessories and locally crafted jewellery including some tempting brooches and earrings. As well as all of this, Vintage Carousel has all you need to deck out your pad with some quirky vintage lamps, furniture & much more!!!
If you are looking for a place to get your other half a one of a kind gift or just looking to treat yourself, you are sure to find something great at this charming vintage store.
The store will also be holding a fringe exhibition during February which is sure to be worth a look!!!
I spoke with Rachael from Vintage Carousel about why she loves vintage and what to keep a look out for from her amazing boutique in Bowden.
What do you love about vintage clothing?
Quality, it's timeless and they don't make them like they used too!
Who has inspired your personal style?
Vintage items are often one of a kind, which allow you to have a unique style which is different from everybody else!
Do you have a favourite clothing era and why?
The retro era (60s and 70s) would be my favourite. I love the style, design, colours and fabrics.
What can we expect to see when we walk into your boutique?
Affordable, ‘hand picked’ retro gems, including fashion, accessories, home wares, furniture and more.
Amazing vintage pieces from clothing to home wares
What can we expect to see in the coming months?
Vintage swim suits, dresses, men’s retro tees, sunnies, eskies, picnic sets, bicycles and all things summer! New stock weekly and discount days...stay tuned!
Do you have a favourite item in your boutique at the moment and what is it?
A 1960s kitchen dresser, a collectable 1970s world globe, a few patterned 1960s dresses, men's crimplene tops/retro tees and a ceramic art deco bird ornament.
What is the best piece of style advice you would like to share with our fans?
Be yourself, experiment and have fun!
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