Story & Lesson Highlights with ELYSSA ALFIERI of Concord, NH

We recently had the chance to connect with ELYSSA ALFIERI and have shared our conversation below.

Hi ELYSSA, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of the community that’s grown around LDR. The part that most people don’t see. It’s a diverse mix of shoppers and sellers who care deeply about sustainability, creativity, and supporting each other. They’re not just customers; they show up for our causes, share our values, and help create a space that feels inclusive and meaningful. That sense of shared purpose is what gives LDR its real strength, even if it’s not always visible from the outside.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Elyssa Alfieri, founder of Lilise Designer Resale (LDR). LDR is a curated resale boutique that blends sustainability, style, and community. What started as a passion for giving beautiful clothing a second life has evolved into a space where fashion meets purpose. Recently, we’ve expanded to include rentable booths, giving young and emerging sellers a platform to showcase their own clothing, accessories, and handmade pieces. It’s created a vibrant, ever-changing marketplace that reflects the individuality of our community. At its core, LDR is about more than resale. LDR is about connection, creativity, and reimagining what a local store can be.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
When I was very young, I went to an antique shop with my mom and grandmother, and the kind owner handed me a tangled pile of necklaces. She told me that if I could untangle them, I could keep them… and let me take the whole bundle home before I’d even started. I spent the next few days of my vacation patiently working through every knot. That small act of trust and generosity from a small business owner stuck with me, and it’s one of the earliest moments that made me want to build something just as personal and kind.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. Within less than a year, I had a baby, our store flooded, and then the pandemic hit. It was a perfect storm that nearly ended the business, and at times, I honestly thought it would. But that season forced me to strip everything down to what really mattered: purpose, people, and perseverance. I learned that strength doesn’t come from things going right. It comes from showing up anyway, even when everything falls apart. And somehow, through all of it, the business not only survived but found a deeper sense of meaning.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. The public version of me is real. I genuinely care about the people who walk through our doors and the community we’ve built. But I also keep parts of myself tucked away for safety and boundaries, especially since I’m so visible and always in the shop. The heart of who I am: my values, kindness, and intentions – never change, even if the full version of me stays a little behind the scenes. Dolly Parton used to say: “you gotta keep a little part of yourself for yourself.”

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I built something that mattered… that I created a space where people felt seen, inspired, and connected. That I led with kindness, stayed true to my values, and left things a little better than I found them. I don’t need to be remembered for being perfect or successful… just for caring deeply and building something that helped others believe they could, too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.liliseresale.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilisedesignerresale
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilisedesignerresale