The resale market is becoming a big industry (which is awesome!) — what sets Noihsaf apart?
Our community and curation really sets us apart from your larger resale sites. Noihsaf started as a way to sell some of my own items on Instagram in 2013. Nine years later we are a robust community with our own platform. I think any time you can foster and build a business organically it’s going to set you apart. I felt there was a big disconnect between current resale platforms and boutique brands. You have platforms that take everything and the kitchen sink, and then you have platforms that focus more on luxury items that require authentication. I realized Noihsaf Bazaar could fill in that gap and that's when I decided it was time to move beyond just Instagram and start building out our own resale site. We also love the brands we carry and want them to succeed! I love that Noihsaf Bazaar is a tool to discover emerging brands and small designers that often get overlooked on larger sites. They really align with our mission which is why I am so excited to partner with a brand like Oeuf!
What’s the coolest thing that has happened to you since you started Noihsaf?
Definitely meeting our community in real life. In 2017 I booked a ticket to D.C. last minute and went to the Women’s March on Washington without a plan. I ended up sleeping in the guest room of a woman I bought a Steven Alan blouse from years prior. I have a handful of stories like this, and I know I’m not alone. It really is a place to make friends! In a different realm of cool; we have had some celebrities from actors to musicians who have bought and sold using Noihsaf. It’s always surreal to be laying in bed with zit cream on my face in Minnesota and see an order like that come through. I am also hoping it ups my cool factor when my daughter is a teen. That remains to be seen.
There’s so much creativity in the Noihsaf brand. What inspires you?
Thank you! My previous job was a photo-stylist so I am very driven by aesthetics. I wanted shopping our site to feel like a boutique-like experience and not a soulless retail machine spitting out generic content and imagery. Our community is made up of a lot of artists, designers, and creatives. We utilize them as much as we can from illustrations, blog content, photography and pretty much anything we may need. We want to support those who support us. I worked with AfterAll Studios in Portland for our branding. JoAnna, the owner, was already a longtime Noihsaf fan which made the process even more special. She and I both like to keep things quirky and veer away from what’s trendy. Keeping Noihsaf a bit of a weirdo is important to me. :)
