Sarah Vining shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Sarah , we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I am being called to help female owned entrepreneurs build their brands. It is my ultimate vision to see all of downtown retail shops be creative and unique and I am dedicated to helping businesses build their brands and scale their business by creating affordable studio spaces. By making subleased spaces affordable, the business owner can put more money back into scaling their business with the hope to have a future independent brick and mortar store of their own.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sarah Vining and I created The Hickory Post, LLC in Rock Hill, SC. The Hickory Post is a brick and mortar store that highlights local artists, offers affordable gifts and furniture and encouraged community involvement. We specialize in helping you live in an art forward interior.
I am originally from Rock Hill, had a career in healthcare, moved into the business sector and ultimately created The Hickory Post in 2019. I started the business in a small 900 square foot building to make sure the concept worked. In December 2020, I moved into our current location that is 6,000 square feet. I sub-lease studio spaces to other entrepreneurs hoping to grow their businesses. The hope is The Hickory Post can create an environment where other businesses can scale so they too can have their own brick and mortar store in the heart of downtown Rock Hill, SC
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I thought I had to shrink myself, or not be completely myself, in order to make others feel comfortable. I am a Southern raised female and I think our culture teaches us to be calm and quiet and these attributes somehow equate to being feminine. In my core personality, I am the opposite. My family used to call me Tigger, a character from the children’s book, Winnie-the-Pooh. I am vivacious, boisterous, passionate and therefore I take up space in every room I find myself.
While I have learned there is a time and a place to let my freak flag fly, I no longer feel the need to be less than myself to placate others. Instead of seeing my true nature as something I should be ashamed, I know now it is my super power.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I am a trained Child Life and Recreational Therapist. I practiced in healthcare for for 8 years. I wanted to go to grad school, get my PhD and ultimately teach in the field. When I decided to leave my beloved profession, I was working for an institution where I felt my skills were completely undervalued and taken advantage of. I was being paid as a low level employee and being asked to work twelve hour days, and not compensated for my efforts.
When I was debating leaving the profession, a friend approached me to be a sales associate for his company. Making the transition from my passion in healthcare to sales was one of the most challenging choices of my life. I now see this as one of the best choices I have ever made. When I went into sales, I had the opportunity to learn about business while being appreciated and compensated greatly for my efforts.
Ironically, in my sales job, and in my current position of owner of The Hickory Post, I utilize my degree in therapy daily. I see my career decisions as building blocks on one another. My degree helped me understand and relate to everyone, my training as a sales associate was a crash course in running a business, and my current role fuses all of my skills. I now look back and I am grateful for all of my experiences.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to helping women reach their fullest potential. I believe women struggle with the false concept of imposter syndrome. We have subliminally and consciously think we are not able to reach goals that are completely attainable for a woman in 2025.
This work comes in so many forms. It can be delivering a friend a meal, vacuuming someone’s home after a difficult divorce, helping file for an LLC, brainstorming how to make your house a home, finding the perfect gift for someone else or selecting the perfect piece of art that sparks joy!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as a person who helped everyone feel comfortable in the space they find themselves. I am committed to helping people reach their fullest potential in every way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thehickorypost.com
- Instagram: @thehickorypost
- Facebook: thehickorypost
- Yelp: thehickorypost
- Youtube: thehickorypost
Image Credits
Rebecca Jacobs
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