Episode description

Emma Wren is a female founder of Revor Vintage who worked for the police, in construction recruitment and in prison education before she became a full-time vintage founder. Along the way she ran a vintage fashion side hustle, then counted her customers, handed in her notice and built Revor Vintage into a community-focused business that now has its own appointment-only studio.

Emma talks to Bethany Wright about growing up in Middlesbrough, a first job at 14 and watching her mum retrain as a teacher at 35, and why a Notting Hill bedroom, a two-hour walk home and a £15 coat in a Romanian thrift store shaped everything that came next. She shares what it really takes to build a brand rather than just resell vintage clothing, why she'd rather have a loyal "crew" than a big following, the big financial leap behind her Trophy Jacket collection, and the behind-the-scenes graft nobody sees behind a beautiful feed.

Show notes

This is a conversation about building something slowly, loudly and on your own terms. And about what changes when you stop treating a passion as a hobby. Emma and Beth talk work ethic, community over algorithms, how a career in the police and prisons taught her to meet people where they are, and why she says consistency is the only advice she keeps giving.

Themes: female founder story, side hustles and leaving a full-time job, building a community building business, women in business and women supporting women, building a brand rather than reselling, vintage fashion, consistency and showing up, affordability in vintage, and learning to appreciate how far you've come while still wanting more.

If you've ever had an idea you keep talking yourself out of, this one's for you.

Key takeaways

• A side hustle becomes a business when you can count real, loyal customers - Emma's test was a hundred.
• Build a quality audience, not just a big one. Emma says the algorithm never worried her because she had her crew.
• Consistency beats motivation: post, show up and keep going even on the days you don't feel it.
• Act while the idea is warm. Emma doesn't build mood boards for her business - she just does it.
• You can want more and still appreciate how far you've come.

Find Emma Wren

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• Facebook

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Podcast Editor: Charlotte Gunnell