We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsey Zilliox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsey below.
Lindsey , sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I’ve definitely not over come my depression and anxiety; it’s always a work in progress. But it’s been really lovely to see the stigma around mental heath waning.
Everyday is, at best, a subconscious battle to keep my depression and anxiety at bay. I do this by routine. Routine helps me manage by keeping me focused and organized.
I’m also very lucky to be surrounded by a good support system, friends and family, who understand me and remind me that it’s okay to struggle, it’s okay to not get everything on the list done and, most importantly, that is okay and very important to take days off and not hold guilt around that.
I also make sure to have self care moments throughout my week. Mine consist of facials once a month, gardening when I’m feeling down or stressed, and playing soccer to relieve stress and escape from my business.
Really, like anything in life, achieving balance is the goal. And rest, good food, hydration and my routine is what helps maintain my mental health.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’ve been selling vintage for a little over a decade now. And what that looks like now, has completely evolved from when I first started.
I started just selling on Etsy, but very minimally due to time constraints from a full time merchandising job. I, then, began posting on Etsy more and thought about starting to do markets, but just didn’t have the courage to take the plunge. My first year of marriage, my wife and I were at a small local market and she casually asked if I’d like to vend at it one day. I said I would, and she said, “Great! I signed you up for the next one!” From there, I went full time selling and did more and more markets.
Now, I’m in two collectives, Mojave Flea Yucca Valley and Market Market in Palm Springs, I’ve my own website and a studio in Santa Ana.
Working for myself has also given me the opportunity to start working on my floral career. I’ve a at home garden where I’m honing my growing skills and I do weekly arrangements for my local coffee shop. I’ve also started doing small gigs, so keep your eyes peeled for growth in that area.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the things that have best served me in business are curiosity, honesty, and openness. Curiosity about everything; learning and researching vintage pieces, learning about your customers and their needs/wants. Honesty; it’s pretty self explanatory, but it’s so important to be true to yourself regardless the pushes and pulls from outside, and honesty with your customers, from how something looks to what their dollars support when they shop with you. And openness; being warm and welcoming to all and creating space that feels safe, comfortable, and nonjudgmental.
The advice I’d give to folks who are early in their journey, listen to your gut, be open to feedback, and don’t just follow trend for the sake of making a buck.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking for folks to collaborate with. It’s what keeps my job fun, inspiring and ever evolving!
The most important thing I’m looking for is an inclusive mindset.
In general, I’m looking to work with more creatives such as, but not limited to:
HMUA
MODELS
SET DESIGNERS
BRANDS
FLORAL/FARMER MENTORS
Anyone who may be interested can email me at louellabasil@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.louellabasilvintage.com
- Instagram: Louellabasil
Image Credits
Images 1-4: film photos by Yulissa Mendoza Images 1-2: model Ellie Soto Images 3-4: model Isabella Long Image 5: my shop at Mojave Flea Yucca Valley Image 6: my shop at Market Market Palm Springs
