Meet Morgan Aceves | Antique dealer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morgan Aceves and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morgan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Considering that my business sprouted from a hobby and love of simply thrifting and sharing nostalgia, there was little to no thought process at first. I, at the time, never thought that this could be a serious career. Shortly after, as my sales boomed, I realized that couldn’t be further from the truth. Perhaps it’s the Aries in me but I almost immediately took a huge leap of faith and quit my day job to pursue this full-time after seeing the high demand for all things vintage and nostalgic. After making the decision to leave my day job, I quickly realized that creativity and strategy were essential to curating a perfect y2k space that would be successful both online and in person. My thought process was to think as a consumer in the vintage market, specifically y2k. What are they buying, looking for, sharing with their friends, etc. I wanted to first put myself into their place and think about what would catch my attention enough to make a lasting impression. Prioritizing my customers and quality of product is a vital part in my thought process as well. Excellent customer service is so important and I think reseller’s can sometimes lack that. It’s easier to block someone than to try and work out an issue or concern but in doing so, you can possibly create a long-lasting and returning customer or at least let them leave with a positive experience. I’m very active with my audience online and often do story polls of items to either thrift or pass and ask what they would like to see more or less of in my shop. I think it’s important to keep your customers, new or returning, in tune with not only yourself but your business. Without my customers, there would be no business for me to run. I also take all comments and suggestions into consideration, I really value feedback because at the end of the day, I do what I do for them.

What should our readers know about your business?
Shop Hilton Hottie is a sustainably sourced and curated collection of y2k clothing, accessories, collectibles, and everything in between. My mission with this shop is to bring pure happiness into the lives of millennials and gen z who either have an eye for the fashion of the early 2000’s or who wish to reconnect with their inner child by buying pieces of their past like toys, movies or books. What sets me apart from others is my curation. I do pop-up’s on weekends and am constantly told that my booth is their favorite of the day or the best one here. I have customers who will come out on weekends specifically to shop my booth, it’s the ultimate compliment and reassurance that what i’m doing is worth my while, At King Richard’s Antique Center, I am also reminded by customer’s of how much my space reminds them of their childhood and how my items unlock core memories. It is truly such a rewarding feeling knowing that what I had been trying to evoke to others has come to life. I specialize in 90’s and y2k toys and collectibles which is a very niche market yet it catches everyone’s eye. I’m very proud of how far my business has grown in the past year. I’m always thinking about my next move and where I’d like to be. Ideally, I would have my own freestanding vintage store and be able to create the space I have been dreaming of. I think it’s safe to say that without the love and support shown by family, friends, and customers, I would not be where I am today business-wise. The encouragement is what first helped me take this leap of faith and it also still keeps me going. No path is easy and there is no smooth road to success. Like anyone, I’ve had struggles, dealt with unfavorable people, and have learned lessons the hard way. Had it not been for these sometimes negative experiences, i would not know what i know now. I’ve learned to be patient and to listen when needed, which is usually always. Kindness really does go so far and it’s important to treat everyone with kindness. I hope what people gather from this story is that you can find your niche or what you love sometimes by chance and it doesn’t always have to make sense at first. Take a risk, it could lead to something bigger than you’ve ever imagined. As I shared in previous features, I never dreamt that my love for nostalgia could lead to the career path that i have since gone down. I took a risk by quitting my day job to give this my all and had i not, i would still be doing something that i didn’t love but i would also not be here, in this article, encouraging you to take a leap of faith. If you love something, it’s worth pursuing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from Pico Rivera, California which is located in LA county. To me, it is the best of both worlds. I’m close to DTLA for a cruise of the city but i’m also far enough to not need to have my parking validated when i go to Target. Depending on the person’s interests, there are numerous places and attractions in all directions. Basics on an ideal itinerary would include visiting King Richard’s Antique Center, which is California’s largest antique mall, shopping at 562 Flea in Whittier on Saturday’s is a must, hot chocolate from the Hello Kitty cafe in Irvine, Disneyland, Melrose, Santa Monica, etc. The list really does go on. The great thing about where I live is the diversity. There’s all types of shopping, food, desserts, drinks, etc. and most are owned by people of color which I love to support.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I wouldn’t be where I am without my family. As much as we may get on each other’s nerves or see things differently, the amount of love among us speaks louder than anything. I feel so lucky to have been born into the family that I was, I love you all so much. Violet, Grandma, Megan, thank you for loving and supporting me the way you do. I would like to thank my mom for her support and encouragement that I elt growing up. She would always tell me that the sky’s the limit and it planted a seed in me at a young age. With everything I did or thought of doing, I knew she would be as supportive as she could. While she wasn’t immediately a fan of me quitting my job to focus on my business full time, she saw how happy I was and knew it was what I was meant to do. Hearing her say that she’s proud of me plays over and over in my head when facing bumps in the road. Thank you, mom. I love you. I would also like to credit my best friend, Lucy, for playing a huge part in my story by being my rock for the past 7 years. Through all the up’s and down’s, I know that I can turn to her for anything. Her love and support has reassured and comforted me when I needed it most and I’m eternally grateful to her for that. It’s rare to meet someone so selfless and loving. Someone so genuine that it puts your faith back into humanity. Lucy, words cannot describe how lucky i feel to have you in my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for everything.

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