About Amber's Attick

Origin of Amber’s Attick, or: How I Learned to Stop Panicking And Love the Lockdown 

The following story begins when everything seemed to be ending...March 2020.

SPRING 2020 - SPRING 2021

In March of 2020, I was working as a server for a dinner/circus show at a theater in downtown Chicago. I had recently moved to the apartment in which I currently reside, which I lovingly call “the attic,” alone, after leaving a difficult roommate situation. 

At that time, I was working 4 days a week (4-5 shifts), and all of my basic needs were met and bills were paid, but I was feeling emotionally drained. I went to college from 2011-2015 and studied primarily Acting/Directing and English Literature. When I moved to Chicago in 2015, and up until 2020,  I was focused on pursuing a career in theater. I actually had looked forward to being a "starving artist." Server by day, actress by night. I had never even thought about having my own store until family legacy, necessity, and new passion arose through the darkness of the first lockdown. 

Unemployment was a life-saver for me: it covered my monthly utilities and rent, but I had to figure out how to make enough money to begin to save in case of an emergency. I had gone back to my “Old Faithful” quick-cash solution: donating plasma. I had started teaching tarot to an old friend, who paid me for my time. I was in full-on hustle mode, out of necessity. I hosted a “read-aloud benefit,” where I read a chapter of Toni Morrison’s “Tar Baby” aloud every other day on my Instagram Live in order to raise money for myself and Assata’s Daughters. I had started to create and sell handknit beanies, scarves, herb wands, and loose incense blends. Anything I could think of, in order to prevent myself from having nothing in case my job never returned. 

Stills from my Read-Aloud Benefit of "Tar Baby" - @ambersattick on Instagram

At first - I was thinking of “Amber’s Attick” as a Book Club, Craft Club, and personal blog. I wanted to focus the Book Club on Black and Native American authors and stories, fiction and nonfiction, as a lens through which to discuss race relations in America. This was in July 2020. I am still working to bring this Book Club to life, as I have so much to learn about the past and how it is affecting us in the present - so, stay tuned! The Craft Club would have a different low-budget craft tutorial every month, with video and written instructions in order to encourage creativity without breaking the bank to follow the trendy hobby-of-the-month that happens to cost $200 for materials (I’m looking at you, jumbo wool hand-knit throw blanket)! 

My handmade Herb Wands.

I continued to sell handmade items, donate plasma, and teach tarot until the Spring of 2021. 

 

SPRING 2021 - SUMMER 2021

A year had passed since I had been laid off due to the pandemic, and I knew one thing with certainty in the uncertain world: I didn’t want to go back to serving tables as a full-time job. I didn’t want to go back to full-time anywhere, because I had a mind to figure out how to keep up the hustles I had started, and make them better than before. 

I didn’t attempt to go back to my old job, because it felt like moving backwards. It felt unsettling to return to a position where I would be pouring my energy, talent, and personality into a company that had nothing to do with my future. But - I needed money, so I ended up taking what was meant to be a part-time position as a barista. 

I only lasted a few months (late-May-mid-August). Due to short-staffing, I was quickly accelerated to shift lead and the high-stress (as a result of heavy turn-over), was making me gain weight and lose hope in my own abilities to grow on my own. I was crying every week, about how it all felt like it was taking away from what I was actually supposed to be doing for myself. I told my mom, and she gave me the idea that sparked Amber’s Attick!

Mommy, Gramma, and Me, 2021.

My dear mother, Mrs. Dorothy Hugee, is the reason that I even considered reselling vintage/thrifted clothing, etc. She mentioned to me that there was a surplus of her clothes that she wanted to donate or sell, that were in amazing condition. She asked me if I would be interested in helping her and my Grandma, Mrs. Ann Austin, move some vintage clothing and jewelry. 

You see - Miss Ann is an entrepreneur! She ran her soul food restaurant “Ann’s Wings & Things” and a vintage/thrift shop for several decades, but was wanting to retire. Her love of thrifting and vintage clothing was passed down to her children, not escaping my mother! Because my Grandma’s retirement lined up close to when I was starting this venture, I had to make a decision -did I want to keep working for others, or take the leap headfirst into learning how to work for myself, full time? 

I decided to take the leap after getting a few tarot readings on the subject, soul-searching, and deciding I would regret it more if I left this opportunity on the table. I had a few grand in my savings, and put in my two week’s notice at the beginning of August 2021 (happy birthday to me)!

I had never done this before; but, I figured with the help of all of the reselling sites, and Youtube tutorials, I would be able to make some money and have some fun trying a new hustle! I added in my own small inventory of clothing, jewelry, and home decor that I had thrifted or gently used. I set everything to the side, and started receiving shipments from my mother a couple of weeks after I decided to give myself a shot at this.

 

SUMMER 2021 - PRESENT

In mid-August 2021, I began to list clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories on Mercari and Poshmark. As popularity rose for Depop, I added an account on that site, too! I added Ebay last, as I found it intimidating (we'll get into that in another post). 

As of 2022, I had over 400 listings across 5 platforms: Etsy, Ebay, Depop, Mercari, and Poshmark. I was self-employed and supporting myself only from the Attick for 15 months, selling online and in-person as a vendor at many markets and events. While I was very happy to be independent, it was tough to make ends meet every month, since it is extremely competitive (and can be pricey) to participate in vintage/secondhand markets in Chicago. I realized that if I wanted to progress, I needed a more  while I built up this site. I started working 3-4 shifts a week at a bar downtown as a unwavering source of income, and have been able to invest more energy and money into planning how to make this shop the best it can be online, until it is eventually a brick-and-mortar store!