#awinewith Lana Sciasci
MEET Lana Sciasci, Co-Founder of Love Me Again Market
You can find them here:
Transcript
Danielle Lewis (00:05):
So good. Lana, welcome to Spark tv. I'm so excited to have you here.
Lana Sciasci (00:10):
Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.
Danielle Lewis (00:14):
So good. So for anyone listening in, we have probably crossed paths a billion times probably because we're both Brisbane is over the years in so many different roles. So I'm so excited that life has come full circle and now we're having business chats on the podcast.
Lana Sciasci (00:34):
I love it. This is like, yeah, that's the best thing to think about Brisbane is that you meet people and you always cross paths again.
Danielle Lewis (00:42):
It's so true. And literally I'm on the other side of the country right now, but life reconnects, so it's just so good. I love it. I love it. Let's start out by telling everyone who you are and what you do.
Lana Sciasci (00:55):
I am Lana and I'm one half of Love Me Again Market. My business partner Izzy, sadly couldn't be on our chat today, but I'm here to talk about everything pre loved clothing on our behalf. But yeah, as I said, co-founder of Love Me Again, market as it's known today, we are a Brisbane pre loved clothing market. And yeah, we have three locations across Brisbane and we're actually about to launch our fourth.
Danielle Lewis (01:23):
Wow.
Lana Sciasci (01:25):
Oh
Danielle Lewis (01:25):
My God, it's so cool. This whole pre loved clothing revolution. I mean, you think about back in the day, shops Vintage was cool if you could get cool vintage, but I think over the last few years the sustainability movement and the demand for people wanting to shop pre love has just gone crazy. What's that experience been like for you guys?
Lana Sciasci (01:53):
It's been amazing. I mean, we have been around since 2020 and we began, I guess our journey in community halls really catering to specific community areas and we were a once a month pop-up, super fun, but that was kind of, it was quite hard, I guess, to convince people to come along and shop, and it was really about shopping your friend's wardrobes at our market. And since 2023, that was when we signed our first lease on a big warehouse in Milton. And yeah, I guess since then we've again grown to now three locations to launch our fourth. But definitely over that time we've just seen this beautiful adoption of shopping, pre loved making, more conscious consumer decisions. It's been quite organic, but as you said, unfortunately shopping, pre loved or thrifting or going to shop is such a taboo topic, and that's really evolved I think in the last five years. Certainly when we began, it was a hard sell and it was quite new, whereas we are seeing so many more consignment offerings, market offerings, rentals, more options, rentals in particular. So yeah, it's been just a beautiful journey to be a part of and to lead, especially Brisbane, which is where we are based and where we're really focusing our energy, trying to take this city to new places with access to shopping and selling pre.
Danielle Lewis (03:36):
Yeah, it is so amazing. And I think you're right, it was a taboo subject and I almost think it was reserved for super cool people who could find the one-off amazing finds
Lana Sciasci (03:51):
Vintage. Yes.
Danielle Lewis (03:53):
And it was almost like you had to be so lucky to find something amazing. But it's funny, I follow, do you know Marlo Grover on Instagram? And I dunno if she sells, but she always buys from your markets. And I'm like, I look at her and I'm like, you look absolutely impeccable and incredible. You would never know that stuff is pre loved anymore.
Lana Sciasci (04:19):
No, no. And why would you? I mean, we wear things so little these days, unfortunately, there still is a big trend of one wear and then you're moving on, especially with this digital world we're living in, people are posting outfits and then unfortunately getting very over 'em. But there's just so many pieces in the world, everything you've ever owned, it still exists, and I think that's just such a awful thing to try and get your head around is that every single piece of clothing you've ever owned is actually still exists as well. So where is it? And I think that's a big goal for us, I think this year is to really make consumers think about if you are letting it go, if you are willing to sell it, it's about making sure that that piece is then going to a new home. You're not just dropping it to an op shop and hoping that they can do something for it. Izzy and I were talking the other day, I went to maybe three op shops last week, and all three of them had signs up saying, no more donations, please. We are inundated.
(05:28):
And unfortunately what we're seeing is all of these really super low quality pieces that are coming from Sheen and supernova, all the rest of it. And they're just being worn once they're such low quality that you wash them and they shrink or they fall apart and then they're being donated. So shops are then being inundated with really low quality things that they can't even sell even for a fraction of the price. So just really thinking about you making that purchase decision and then finding it a new home, doing your due diligence and making sure that it is passed on in the right possible way. So yeah.
Danielle Lewis (06:06):
Wow. No, I love it. I just think it's so incredible. So how did you get here? What is your backstory? Because I know there's obviously a career, there's a family, there's another business in the mix, so tell us your story.
Lana Sciasci (06:21):
Yeah, I mean my background is marketing and I've worked in media I guess my whole career. I started out in TV and now I'm in print digital media, and Izzy is somewhat the same. She has a career in content marketing and has worked agency side. This is definitely labor of love from both ends, sorry, also events. Big part of my career events is definitely my passion, which is how we look at our business I guess, is they are events. They're not a open seven day business. They are a once a week event and we really try to think about all of the touch points of making an event successful and enjoyable and welcoming for all people. But yeah, as I said, Izzy and I, we crossed paths many ways ago in our respective roles. And then she had actually started this business in the community halls back in 2020 and it was post covid and she was looking for a business partner and yeah, we had I guess one coffee and she had great dreams for where she wanted to take Love Me again, market beyond community halls and once a month.
(07:43):
And so yeah, we came together and we launched what is now today, love Me Again, market. We rebranded, which was a really exciting journey in itself. And then we signed our first lease together. So yeah, that is I guess the event that you see today, but it was just such an organic, I guess, evolution. It was literally one coffee and then I was saying to my partner, oh, I'm starting a business with Izzy, going to the bank, creating bank accounts, doing all of those things and learning how to even get a business name and A-P-T-Y-L-T-D and all those things, accountants, all that jazz. And we're still learning, as you can imagine. And yeah, I mean along the journey, we've both had kids, she's got two, I've got one. So just going through that journey together and becoming moms alongside each other was just such a, I guess, beautiful part of this journey.
(08:46):
And even part of that I guess was also us launching last year, our mini me market, which is where you can come along and sell your wardrobe and your kids' wardrobes. So that was also just this insight into how many clothes our kids are rowing out of so quickly and how much stock there was that we could on sell. I think a big part of as well, what we are so passionate about is that it is an everyday person booking a store with us. So it is an everyday woman in Brisbane, so it's you coming along and shopping from another woman in your community. It is not you spending your hard earned dollars, shopping, retail, giving the big dogs, your hard earned money, passing that on instead to someone else in your community who may actually really need it. They may be clearing out their wardrobes for a million different reasons. So I think that is at the core, what we are so passionate about,
Danielle Lewis (09:51):
And it's so evident that you have built this gorgeous community online as well. I love that you just said that it's not just Yeah, and I mean, we could talk about the cost of living for days, and it is that, right? We all go to work every day, we work hard for our money. Things cost more and more, and you don't ever know what anybody's going through. We all put on a happy face for Instagram always. And then I think that you're giving people this incredible opportunity to earn a little bit of extra income, but also exactly what you said, not only is this a sustainability issue, but this is investing our dollars back into our communities.
Lana Sciasci (10:33):
Yeah, exactly. No, and it is also just so beautiful. You'll have customers come along and then they're able to talk to the person who has worn it before them have a conversation, the amount of stories you hear of where you wore that dress. We had one beautiful girl who wore this stunning little mini dress for her 21st birthday, and she had just had so many beautiful memories with it and she was able to pass it on to someone who she could see and speak to, and I think I'm pretty sure she was wearing it to her birthday event as well. So it was just so nice that a piece of clothing can actually bring people together and you can really think about the lifecycle of where that piece is going, where it's moving on to and hope that that will continue.
Danielle Lewis (11:19):
Yeah, I think it's just incredible. And now talk to me about having a co-founder. So I mean, I think it helps when you are friends because you kind of know each other a little bit in your quirks already. Were there any lessons that you've learned moving from a friendship or career relationship to a business partnership?
Lana Sciasci (11:42):
Honestly, it was such a seamless evolution. I think mean, again, we've been learning together. This wasn't an established business as it is today, and we both have obviously very strong opinions about what we want to see the business do and how we move forward, but we align on so many of all really of the core foundations, I guess, and objectives that we want to achieve and just where we see the business. So I think we don't get caught up with the little decisions. It's like if you are really passionate about this particular piece of branding or this collaboration or this content creator that you want to work with, whatever it might be, we don't get hung up on it. It's like, great, let's try it. And I think that is the core of our business, is really just trying everything. We are trying to encourage everyone to shop pre loved every woman, man and child. So we are trying to, I guess, attract as many people as possible trial anything. And yeah, don't get hung up on those small things and just respecting each other's time. Again, both moms both have careers outside of Love Me Again, market and just respecting each other's time and opinions.
Danielle Lewis (13:12):
I love it. Getting about time. It sounds like the mission really drives the both of you, which I think is interesting that that is the core. So it's kind of like if we agree and align on this mission, it's kind of like the other stuff doesn't even matter. It's not ego driven vying for I get to make the call, or this is my zone. Genius is like, no, as long as we're pushing the mission forward, then who cares? I think that that's such a fabulous way to look at it. I think sometimes when founders come together, it's kind of like, well, this is my zone of genius. This is my zone of genius and everyone's buying for their piece. But to actually align on the mission first, I think that that's beautiful.
Lana Sciasci (13:56):
Yeah, I mean, again, it's been quite an organic way to work together because one person definitely would have strengths in certain areas, but because we've been growing together, it's really just been this, okay, great, you jump on the accounts today and try and get our bookkeeper on side and you go sign this neat lease, or it's all the nitty gritty stuff that really no one wants to do, but it has to be done. So it is just that lend a hand where possible jumping cover each other. I mean, Izzy just went on this beautiful month holiday in New Zealand, and of course I cover her and now I'm holding it against her until when I want to take a holiday. Yes.
Danielle Lewis (14:43):
Oh my God, I love it so much. What do you think has been some of the bigger challenges of a physical business? So I mean, it's really interesting because it's not a traditional physical business where you hold inventory per se, but you do have to convince people to come. You do have to fill out the space, you do have to get them people to come in. It's time boxed. What are some of the challenges been making that a success?
Lana Sciasci (15:10):
Yeah, I mean, as you said, it is an event. So we are selling store holder tickets. We are encouraging customers to come, which they don't come along. We too charge a small fee on the door to help, again, pay for the facilities that we are hosting within a big part of our business model. And I guess where we decided to elevate the market experience was that if you are booking a store with Lagan Market, you get your entire stall set up included. So that's our big point of deference. We were the first in Brisbane to do that. So if you're booking a stall, you get two really heavy duty, beautiful retail racks already set up in your space, ready for you, you wheel in your suitcase. Again, a big part of what we wanted to do was make it so accessible and so fun, not daunting, attract everyone.
(16:07):
If you had this beautiful wardrobe that you wanted to sell, but you did not want to go buy a really flimsy pop-up rack, set up, a marquee, a table, all those things, we've all done those kind of carbon sales situations before. It's not fun. You're sitting outside. We wanted indoor beautiful locations. Again, it's about the music, the coffee van we bring in, the clientele we bring. So yeah, we really wanted to elevate the traditional market experience, and I guess that's what we do with your full store setup already there for you. We even give you downloadable posters to make your space look really beautiful and you can promote your sizes, your brands, your payment details, all of that. You get a lanyard, you can share your store with a friend. We are forever trying to think about ways to, again, make it a really fun and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Danielle Lewis (17:06):
I think it's so cool that you've looked at traditional market experiences and really looked at that as almost the problem and what is the solution. So what is something that you, as somebody that would go to a market and sell your wardrobe, what are all of the things that you wish would be more amazing and then you've gone, cool, we can do that. We can make the experience so much better for both the stall holder and for the people that attend as well. I know, it's so interesting. I think about that. I've done markets before and yeah, you are sitting outside in the sun all day. It's absolutely horrific. It's almost like a rite of passage for small brands. And I think what if there were more incredible market experiences? How many more brands would we be exposed to because they had an opportunity to go in and sit inside for a day and love the experience?
Lana Sciasci (18:01):
A hundred percent. And that's such a big part of it as well. There's so many incredible beautiful Australian brands that maybe you can't afford to buy them retail, right? I'm wearing Palm Noosa right now, and it's like the amount of brands that you can get access to be able to try it on. We've got permanent change rooms at every location. A hell of a lot of mirrors get to experienced brands that, yeah, one you may have never even heard of or just can't afford retail prices for. So that's a massive part of it. Zimmerman, for example, who can afford to go buy that retail anyway, let alone then being able to try it on and find your exact size to then know if that's for you.
Danielle Lewis (18:43):
I love it so much. Now, one of the things that always comes up for any woman in business and the Spark community especially, is how do people grow their business? So I know you mentioned content creators. How have you actually been able to scale from that very first community hall to three and now looking at a fourth location? What has been your growth strategy?
Lana Sciasci (19:08):
Honestly, thankfully, we've just had so many beautiful people, content creators, small businesses, happy to help us grow, happy to come along and shop and share their experience. I mean, that organic growth, even being a store holder and then sharing your experience with a friend to then come along, that's really been our biggest kind of growth opportunity. But from a content creator perspective, again, every woman has a wardrobe that they need to sell. They've got pieces that they don't wear anymore that are sitting in their wardrobe that they may as well earn some cash for them. So I think, again, thankfully our business is attracted to really every woman. So yeah, people have just organically been happy to share their experiences. We also now have a service where, which is, we call it our rent to rack service. So you can book a rack for the whole calendar month and you don't have to be on site.
(20:09):
So if you are time poor, we have so many moms come through who have two or three kids and they're like, I cannot dedicate a Sunday morning to run my own store, but I have an amazing wardrobe. I need to clear. So you'll book a rack, you'll rule in your suitcase, you'll set up your rack, and then we will sell it on your behalf for the whole calendar month. So again, attracting different audiences, really again, trying to make shopping and selling pre loved, so accessible, that is our core. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to clear your wardrobe and to shop as well without having to go to a retail store. As I said, content creators, they've just thankfully organically come wanting to sell their wardrobes and share their experiences, which has just been amazing.
Danielle Lewis (21:01):
I think what I'm hearing is you've made the product incredible, so you have elevated the experience of the buying and selling process. So the product that you're supplying is absolutely incredible and not like anything available. And then the community that you have built around content creators, stall holders, buyers, that, those two sides of making the experience incredible and then bringing together that community, I just think you're genius. It's incredible. I love it so much. I could talk to you all day, but we always love to wrap up these podcasts with one last piece of advice. So reflecting on your time in business, what would be a piece of advice that you would give to another woman on her business journey?
Lana Sciasci (21:49):
I would say make sure you've got a good community around you as you are launching, not before, but as you are launching, lean on those around you. Join the groups, join the community pages. I just think we've met so many amazing people along this journey. People we already knew, people we knew, but didn't know they could help us or be able to provide value in a different way. Just being so open to leaning out and also just being able to take feedback and action things as quickly as possible. I think we've been able to pivot and evolve really quickly, and that's definitely helped us. But yeah, just having your own kind of community to really lean on and seek advice from, and also be able to assist. There's so much to be said for just commenting on a small business's Instagram post, and again, we're launching a fourth venue, and we just know that even our staff, just hiring people that really are as passionate about your business as you are and yeah, surrounding yourself with just like-minded people.
Danielle Lewis (23:07):
I love it. You are absolutely amazing. Lana, thank you so much for joining the Spark podcast and sharing your journey. It's been so amazing to chat with you.
Lana Sciasci (23:18):
Thank you so much for having me.
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