Today we’d like to introduce you to Johanna Durham, Jennie Flor, and Kim Watts
Hi Johanna, Jennie, Kim, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Our names are Johanna, Jennie, and Kim, and we’re the executive officers for Secondhand Salamander, a creative reuse center. Think of us as a craft supply thrift store, offering sustainable, earth-friendly, and affordable art options. We’ve always had a passion for arts and crafts, DIY projects, and creating all sorts of things! We were frequent visitors at our local creative reuse center, Clever Octopus, and when it closed down, we were heartbroken. A year later, we realized that someone needed to fill the void, and who better than us?
Our journey to establish Secondhand Salamander has been gradual, given that we all have families and full-time jobs that take up a significant portion of our time. Nonetheless, we’re committed to growing and becoming a valuable part of the local art community. This summer, we plan to sell our supplies at farmers markets across the valley. Keep an eye on our website for updates on the markets we’ll be attending.
Our current goal is to raise enough funds to purchase a trailer, which will provide us the flexibility to set up pop-up shops outside the regular market schedule. As we gain momentum, we hope to establish a physical location so we can be available whenever the crafting bug bites.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We are just at the beginning of our journey, and our main focus has been on gaining traction. With no initial funds, all of us are volunteering our time, driven solely by our passion to keep us moving forward! Our biggest challenge has been finding a place to set up. While farmers markets are fantastic, we dream of having a space where people can walk in and explore with yarn, buttons, and fabric to their heart’s content. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of people interested in joining our cause. In just a week or two after launching our Facebook account, we gained over 100 followers!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Secondhand Salamander?
We are essentially a craft thrift store. People donate unused or partially-used craft supplies, which we make available to the community. Our goal is to take these supplies out of people’s junk closets and put them into the hands of those with fewer financial barriers. We believe everyone should have the space to create without the stress of wasting money. More importantly, we aim to make the art process accessible to everyone, fostering a community of creativity where everyone feels welcome and supported in their artistic endeavors. Art is a crucial creative outlet for everyone and shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on supplies. We want everyone to be able to channel their creativity and be part of a community where everyone can be an artist.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Our primary inspiration came from our local creative reuse store, Clever Octopus, even though they closed their doors before we opened ours. Along the way, we’ve had tremendous support from friends and volunteers offering their time and expertise. We’re especially grateful to our five board members—local art lovers who share our vision and are willing to help us navigate the endless possibilities as a new enterprise. We also deeply appreciate our families for their unwavering support and the time they’ve dedicated to this new endeavor.
Pricing:
- As all of our inventory is donated, we try to keep the pricing for everything as low as possible! We are still trying to earn enough to expand our opportunities and employees in the future, so we appreciate any support, whether that be donations of time, money, or just buying what we have in stock!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://secondhandsalamander.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondhand_salamander/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572909052075
- Other: Email: secondhandsalamander@gmail.com
