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0:03I don't think there would be as much
0:05vibrance, at least in Chicago, if it
0:07weren't for these very unique, very
0:10individual small businesses on this
0:14My name is Jen. I'm the owner and
0:16operator of Vintage Frills in Logan
0:19Square/ Aendale community here in
0:26Things are so old and gorgeous and get
0:30to relive history through these
0:34Not only do I handpick each piece that
0:36goes into the shop, but I curate it with
0:39care. Okay, come with me to the red
0:42room. It's a colorcoordinated shop.
0:45Customers come in and they're like,
0:46"Ooh, the red room. Oh, the blue room."
0:48You know, or ooh, pink. just makes it
0:51easier and more fun. Actually, we
0:54literally get international customers.
0:58I feel like we're almost becoming sort
0:59of like a tourist destination. You have
1:01a vintage frills notebook. Even if
1:03you're from out of town, now you have a
1:05permanent mark on our shop.
1:08Oh, the fashion community in Chicago.
1:11It's still a baby. I feel like I really
1:14want to help grow us and and make people
1:17realize that you can be sustainable,
1:18too, and still and still be fashionable.
1:21Sustainability, it means the world to
1:23vintage frills. All of our garments have
1:25already passed the test of time. They've
1:26been here for 20, 30, 40, 50 years. That
1:29lets you know it's sustained.
1:32By purchasing secondhand, I'm literally
1:35preventing these things from going into
1:37the landfill. Vintage is not just for
1:40dress up. It's a way of life.
1:43It makes me so proud that I've created
1:46this incredible community around me.
1:50We're constantly working together. We're
1:52creating events, fashion shows, karaoke
1:55events. We even invite our local
1:58community to be a part of the fashion
2:00shows. If you've never been a model
2:01before, it's okay. I didn't want it to
2:04be just high fashion, you know, 6 feet
2:07tall models because I want the
2:09community, an everyday person to know
2:11that you can wear this, too.
2:15It's important to support small
2:16businesses because we are the backbone
2:19of the economy. American Express does
2:22the Small Business Saturday event. Ever
2:25since I opened, I've been participating
2:26in it. Our entire community has gotten
2:28involved. It's a big deal because on
2:31this strip there's so many small
2:32businesses. I originally did not know
2:34that this was something started by
2:36American Express and I'm like, "Oh my
2:37god, this is this is genius." You know,
2:39it really helps us get the word out to
2:41people who may not have known we
2:43existed. Thank you so much. Thank you.
2:48any small business owner or upcoming
2:51entrepreneur, I would definitely suggest
2:53they take a part in American Express's
2:56resources because they literally give
2:58you the building blocks to help sustain
3:03I took a leap of faith and I did it on
3:05my own and and even though sometimes
3:07it's a tumultuous journey, I I wouldn't
3:09have it any other way. It's the best
3:10decision I could have made for myself.
3:12It's not easy, but it's possible. You're
3:16not going to have all the answers, but
3:18as you work through the process of
3:20owning this business, they come to you.
3:22Whether they fall into your lap or you
3:24have someone like American Express who
3:26are giving you these resources to make
3:28you a better business owner.
