A Small Business Owner on Life, Love, and Business Abroad

I’m feeling incredibly inspired today, and I think that after you meet Hayley, a beautiful expat and small business owner, you will be, too.  Hayley lives in Strasbourg, France.  It’s right along the border of France and Germany.  She runs a sweet little etsy shop called The Hope Tree filled with her vintage French finds, and she shares a lot of beautiful wisdom about celebrating the beauty of whatever you have.  She also has some vintage European treats to give away.

So everyone, here’s Hayley!

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I understand you’re an expat from South Africa.

Yes, I was born and grew up in lovely South Africa. It is truly a wonderful place to grow up in and a place where you experience so many different cultures.

I did travel quite a lot after school and also studied art in between. When I finally settled back home, along came a French man, we got married and he brought me back to Strasbourg, France. The greatest joy of my life now is that I have a 2 year old little boy. We have decided to stay in Strasbourg as schooling and life in general will be better for my son BUT my heart still belongs to South Africa.

2. What inspired you to start a French vintage shop?

Coming to France for me has been extremely challenging, not only did I really actually want to live in South Africa but I found adjusting to the strong French culture hard. That is where my little etsy shop came into being. I needed something to focus on, a hobby or a use of my time when the French culture got too much. Not only did I need a focus, I needed to bring in money! Etsy was my life saver, I started it without knowing how important it would become to me, like a child that you have to nurse and care for and give a lot of attention to. The etsy shop is also therapy to me when I spent time at markets looking for treasures.

3. Is your home filled with vintage and repurposed items like we see in your shop and why do you think using what’s already been made matters?

My home is very small so we just have the basics. I do however have some antique items that are very special. My father inlaw restores old cupboards and so I have three beautiful antique cupboards as well as some other restored furniture. There are some items in my shop that I ‘desire’ but my husband says I have to sell them!

You know, old items, vintage items are so precious. They tell a story, they have a history and are just so much more beautiful. In South Africa, we do not have a lot of antiques or precious items like they do in France so whenever I am out and about, I marvel at the beauty of old goods. I struggle to buy new items now that I have my etsy shop.

4. Can you offer any tips on getting away from the “must buy new” mentality?

I used to be a ‘must buy new’ girl but it has changed totally. Firstly, if you look at new things, there is so little character. Old items speak volumes and often are much better quality. Other than that, it is so much better for the environment to recycle and reuse items, even one vintage item being bought helps.
The best thing to do is to start searching for something old and only buy something you really love. Once you have that feeling for one object, believe me, you will soon be buying many more ‘old’ loved items.

5. What’s a favorite piece in your shop right now?

Oooh la la.. There is one item that has stolen my heart. It is a French vintage cast plaster frieze! It is just incredibly beautiful. This item really sums up my style and quite a bit of me too. I love it.

6. What advice can you offer to people living abroad?

Living abroad is quite a roller coaster ride! I lived in England before France and the adjustment was much easier but that said, where I live is so beautiful, I feel privileged to be here. I guess one has to have an open mind and just be prepared as much as one can be. Some days are hard but others bring a lot of joy and excitement.

7. And finally, what tip would you give to someone who might like to open a small business?

Yes, you can. I did quite a lot of research of etsy before starting my shop but still there are many surprises. I think research before starting is absolutely necessary .

Also, don’t get disappointed when things go wrong. I have a lot of challenges with the postal system but I will not give up. A small business can be challenging but very rewarding. I have discovered that I have a passion for old things and starting to love my new country, France.

Prize: an antique letter and three antique postcards valued at $25 from Hayley’s shop
Specs: The antique letter is dated 1859.  It’s written in German since many people coming from Strasbourg spoke French and German.  The three postcards are all about 100 years old.  One is of a cathedral, one is of an outdoor swimming pool in the mountains, and one is of snow-covered mountains.  
 Entries: One entry per email address and per household please.  Leave a response in the comments section below with your answer:

If you were to write on a very old or very precious postcard (or put it in an envelope with a letter!), who would you write to?  What would you say?

Ships to: anywhere in the entire world!
Contest ends: Monday, October 18, 2010 at midnight in the Rocky Mountains.  Winner announced here on Tuesday.