Vintage and Vogue YYC is a Calgary-based, family-run business owned and operated by co-owners Jessica and Cullen Caldwell, alongside partners Jessica and Cullen Caldwell. The company specializes in sourcing and reselling carefully curated vintage and antique merchandise from around the world, offering customers unique, character-filled pieces primarily through its Etsy online storefront.
What is your business called and what does it do?
The business is called Vintage and Vogue YYC and we sell vintage and antique merchandise online through our Etsy storefront.
What made you want to do this work?
The idea for Vintage and Vogue began when we stumbled upon a home filled with incredible treasures from countries around the world. As we spent time with the family, we learned how these pieces were collected and began researching their histories. Through that process, we developed a deep appreciation and love for vintage and antique items.
What problem did you want to solve with the business?
We saw an opportunity to help meaningful pieces move from one home to another, allowing their stories to continue. At Vintage and Vogue, our goal is to give these treasures a second life while keeping beautiful items out of landfills.
Who are your clientele/demographics?
Our clientele is made up of people across the world who appreciate character, craftsmanship, and history — fellow vintage lovers who are drawn to one-of-a-kind pieces and want their homes, collections, or wardrobes to tell a story. We see a wide range of customers, from seasoned collectors to people just beginning to explore vintage, all connected by a shared appreciation for well-made, meaningful items. To date, we have sold to 13 different Countries.
How does your business make money? How does it work?
Our business works by thoughtfully sourcing vintage and antique pieces, researching their backgrounds, and carefully preparing them for their next home. We handle every step ourselves — from pickup and curation to staging, photography, and secure packaging for shipment. Vintage items can often be priced out of reach, so we work hard to price our pieces fairly and, whenever possible, lower than many other sellers, while still respecting the time, care, and expertise involved.
We also believe in honest and transparent service. Whether we’re purchasing items or selling them, we aim to be fair and upfront, so everyone involved feels good about the process.
Where in the city can we find your profession?
While we’re based in Calgary, Vintage and Vogue lives primarily online. Our collection is available through our Etsy shop, and we also connect with customers locally and beyond through Instagram and email. This allows us to be accessible to fellow vintage lovers across the city and around the world, while still keeping the experience personal and community-driven.
What is the best question a prospective customer could ask a member of your profession when comparing services? Give the answer as well.
“Can you tell me about the history, condition, and care of this piece — and why it’s priced the way it is?”
The answer should be: A knowledgeable vintage seller should be able to speak honestly about where a piece came from, its age or era, its condition, and how it should be cared for. Clear and honest answers build trust and help ensure the piece is the right fit for the customer.
What is the best part about what you do? What is the worst part?
The best part is connecting people with pieces that have a story. There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing a beautiful, well-made item find the right home. We also love the constant learning: researching history, craftsmanship, and the journeys these pieces have taken before reaching us. One of the most rewarding parts of our business is meeting people who share stories of the items, reminding them of their childhood, grandparents, or even just wanting to learn the history of the item to inform their guests.
The hardest part is that vintage sourcing is unpredictable and time-intensive. Finding the right pieces takes patience, travel, research, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work that people don’t always see. There’s also a level of care and responsibility involved in accurately representing one-of-a-kind items, which takes time and attention to detail.
As a small, family-run business, we house our treasures in our home within a dedicated Vintage and Vogue room. While it’s a wonderful space to showcase to family and friends, it also requires adequate room for storing, staging, and packaging our items. Vintage and Antique items require careful, researched packing, and due to their fragile nature, we invest in packing supplies and boxes—sometimes reusing boxes or mixed materials to ensure safe shipping.
What is your favourite joke about your own profession?
We always tell ourselves we’re just going to pop in for a quick look and be out in five minutes—then an hour later, we’re leaving with a cart full of treasures!
Where can we follow you?
PAY IT FORWARD: What is another local business that you love?
Soft Landings – We are proud to have partnered with this exceptional Calgary-based team specializing in personalized downsizing and relocation services, particularly for seniors. Their comprehensive offerings include home decluttering, packing, appraisal of keepsakes, move coordination, estate sales, staging, and complete new-home setup.
