Thrifted treasures, thoughtful gifts, and maybe a little vendor booth of my own!

Have you ever had an idea that just keeps coming back to you?

You think about it, get excited, talk yourself out of it, move on to something else…and then a few months later, there it is again.

Well, that’s exactly where I’ve been for over a year now.

I’ve been thinking about renting a small vendor booth somewhere locally here in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Nothing huge or fancy. Just a little space of my own where I can sell things I’ve found, put together, or given a little new life.

And for whatever reason, my heart keeps calling me to do this.

I can’t really explain it. Maybe it’s my love of thrifting, maybe it’s the creative side of me wanting an outlet, or maybe it’s that little voice telling me to finally try something I’ve been thinking about for far too long.

Either way, I thought I’d share what I’ve been dreaming up!

It All Starts With My Love of Thrifting

If you’ve followed Aunt B’s Corner for a while, you probably already know that I love a good thrift store.

There’s just something about walking into a secondhand shop and never knowing what you’re going to find.

A beautiful vase, a wooden cutting board, a vintage tray, a unique basket, or a piece of home décor that someone else no longer wanted.

I love finding things that still have plenty of life left in them.

And I’ve started wondering…what if I turned that love of treasure hunting into something more?

Not necessarily a huge business. Not another full-time job. Just a little side hustle that lets me be creative, find beautiful things, and hopefully make some extra money along the way.

My Latest Idea: Curated Gift Baskets!

Photo Above: Gift inspiration — examples of what I’m dreaming up.

Here’s the part I’m really excited about!

What if I took beautiful thrifted items and paired them with brand-new goodies to create thoughtful, ready-to-give gift baskets?

And I’m not talking about throwing a bunch of random clearance items into a basket and calling it a gift. 😂

I’m picturing something much more intentional.

Imagine finding a gorgeous wooden cutting board for a few dollars. Add a brand-new kitchen towel, a wooden spoon, some gourmet crackers, a little jar of jam, and maybe a cute decorative item.

Arrange everything beautifully, wrap it in clear cellophane, add a gorgeous bow, and suddenly you’ve got a housewarming gift that looks like it came from a boutique.

The best part? Some of those pieces are secondhand!

And I wouldn’t hide that. I think it’s part of what makes the gift special.

Thoughtfully Thrifted. Beautifully Gifted.

That’s the idea!

I’m imagining larger gift baskets priced around $40, $50, and $60, depending on what’s included.

Something that looks generous, thoughtful, and beautifully presented without costing a fortune.

And because I’d be using unique thrifted finds, no two baskets would necessarily be exactly alike.

What About Cute Little Mason Jar Gifts?

Now, here’s another idea I’ve been playing around with!

What about smaller, inexpensive gifts that someone could grab for a birthday, coworker, teacher, friend, or that person who’s just impossible to shop for?

I’m thinking cute mason jars filled with little goodies!

For example, a “Hot Stuff” jar for the guy who loves spicy food. Fill it with a miniature hot sauce, beef jerky, spicy snacks, and a cute gift tag.

Or a coffee lover’s jar with coffee packets, chocolates, and little treats.

Maybe a movie night jar with popcorn and candy, or a cozy little self-care jar.

Nothing overly complicated. Just cute, useful, ready-to-give gifts in the $15–$20 range.

I think these could be especially fun around the holidays, for teacher appreciation, birthdays, or those times when you need a little something but don’t want to spend $50.

And let’s be real, sometimes shopping for men is HARD! 😂

But I Wouldn’t Sell Just Gift Baskets

Pictured above: A little inspiration for what I’m dreaming up—not my actual booth (yet!).

This is where my love of thrifting really comes into play.

I’d also want to sell individual pieces I’ve found along the way.

Pretty vases, vintage trays, unique baskets, candleholders, seasonal decorations, and little home décor treasures.

You know those things you find at a thrift store and think, “Someone is going to LOVE this!”

Those things!

I love the idea of mixing old and new, finding pieces with character, and creating a space that feels more like a little boutique than a typical resale booth.

Not everything has to be expensive, either.

Some people might want a $50 gift basket. Others might just fall in love with a $10 vase or a cute $15 gift jar.

I’d like to have a little something for different budgets.

Could a Local Vendor Booth Be the Answer?

Pictured above: More inspiration for what I’m dreaming up—not my actual booth (yet!).

This is the part I’ve been thinking about for over a year!

There are a few local vendor malls here in the Fort Wayne area that I’ve been considering, including Vendor Village and Our Perfect Chaos.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, some vendor malls allow you to rent a small space inside their store.

You stock your merchandise, arrange your display, and the store handles customer purchases.

You don’t have to sit there all day selling things yourself.

Which is pretty appealing when you already work a full-time job!

I’d be able to spend my free time doing the parts I actually enjoy: thrifting, finding bargains, putting gift baskets together, and creating a cute display.

Then stop by periodically to restock, rearrange things, and hopefully collect a little money from sales.

At least, that’s how I’m imagining it!

Of course, I still need to look into the actual rental costs, commissions, space availability, and all those little details that determine whether something is worth doing.

I’m definitely not looking to spend a bunch of money just to say I have a booth.

I want a side hustle, not a monthly bill for storing my thrift-store treasures! 😂

But Would People Actually Buy This Stuff?

And that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

It’s one thing to think something is cute. It’s another thing entirely to get someone to spend their hard-earned money on it.

We can order practically anything online these days, including beautiful gift baskets.

So would someone purchase a locally curated basket instead?

Would people appreciate the combination of preloved treasures and brand-new items?

Would someone spend $40–$60 on a beautifully wrapped, ready-to-give gift?

Would a realtor be interested in something like this for a closing gift?

Would a local business purchase them for employee appreciation or customer thank-you gifts?

And would shoppers at a vendor mall pick up a $15–$20 mason jar gift just because it caught their eye?

I genuinely don’t know!

And that’s why I’m thinking about starting small.

Maybe a few gift baskets, some mason jar gifts, and a collection of beautiful thrifted finds.

See what sells. See what doesn’t. Learn as I go.

Because I can dream up cute ideas all day long, but eventually the numbers have to make sense.

Maybe It’s About More Than Making Money

Here’s the thing.

I’ve explored plenty of side hustle ideas over the years.

Mystery shopping, reselling, blogging, digital products…you name it!

Some I’ve tried. Some I’m still working on. And some never made it past the brainstorming stage.

But this particular idea keeps coming back.

For over a year, I’ve pictured having a little space of my own, filled with things I’ve personally selected, arranged, or created.

And there’s just something about that idea that makes me happy.

I enjoy the hunt.

I enjoy finding bargains.

I enjoy taking something ordinary and making it look beautiful.

And I love the thought of someone finding the perfect little gift or treasure in a booth that I put together.

Of course, I want it to make money. I’m not going to pretend otherwise!

But I also want to do something that I genuinely enjoy.

Something that’s mine.

Something creative outside of my regular 9-to-5.

And maybe, just maybe, something that could grow into a bigger opportunity down the road.

I don’t know where this feeling is coming from, but my heart has been pulling me toward this idea for a long time.

And I’m starting to wonder if I should finally listen.

So, Is This My Next Aunt B’s Corner Adventure?

Maybe!

I’m not making any big announcements or signing a rental agreement tomorrow.

But I am seriously thinking about taking those first few steps.

Maybe that means visiting a couple of local vendor malls, checking out the spaces, thrifting with a purpose, and putting together my first few sample baskets.

And if I decide to go for it, I’ll share the journey right here.

The good finds, the bad purchases, the costs, the mistakes, and hopefully a few sales along the way.

Because that’s what Aunt B’s Corner is all about.

Trying new things, finding opportunities, sharing what I learn, and hopefully inspiring someone else to give their own little idea a chance.

Sometimes I think the ideas that keep tugging at your heart deserve a chance.

And this one has been tugging at mine for over a year. ❤️

Now I Want to Hear From You!

This is where I could really use your honest opinions!

Would you buy a gift basket that includes beautiful secondhand finds mixed with brand-new items?

Would you rather purchase a smaller $15–$20 gift or a larger $40–$60 basket?

Do you enjoy shopping vendor malls for unique home décor and gifts?

And if you’ve ever rented a vendor booth, PLEASE tell me about your experience! Was it worth it? What sold? What didn’t?

I’d especially love to hear from anyone local to Fort Wayne who has experience with vendor malls in the area.

And one more question…

Have you ever had a business idea that you just couldn’t get out of your head? Did you finally go for it?

Leave me a comment below! I really do want to hear your thoughts.

And please don’t tell me it’s a great idea just to be nice. 😂 I want honest feedback!

Maybe this little dream turns into something. Maybe I learn a few lessons along the way.

Either way, I think I’m finally ready to explore it.

Until next time, happy treasure hunting!

❤️ Aunt B

Aunt B’s Corner — Side Hustles, Smart Finds & Everyday Life