Revival Thrift Boutique in Knoxville: Sydney Coffey on Thrifting, Style, and Starting a Business

Revival Thrift Boutique in Knoxville: Sydney Coffey on Thrifting, Style, and Starting a Business

Beauty is more than hair, skin, and makeup, and this week's guest shows why. Sydney Coffey is 27, the owner of Revival Thrift Boutique in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a self-described lifelong thrifter.

On The Beauty Lab Podcast, she told Velia and Monina how a childhood love of garage sales became a business, what she has learned along the way, and why helping women feel like themselves is her favorite part of the job.

 

 

How Did Sydney Coffey Turn a Love of Thrifting Into a Knoxville Boutique?

Sydney's love of secondhand shopping started early. Her grandmother took her to her first garage sale when she was about three or four years old, and she found a giant tub of toys for $10. She knew right away she had found a steal, and she was hooked, even though thrifting was not cool when she was young. Velia noted that Sydney started selling clothes at age 12.

Sydney was born and raised in Knoxville and has two younger sisters. She has always loved fashion, shopping, styling, and being creative, resourceful, and intuitive. Her father owned a business while she was growing up, which showed her she could do it too, and she has had an entrepreneurial mindset ever since.

Closet Revival to Revival Thrift: What Was the Turning Point?

About halfway through college, Sydney started working for herself and realized how much more beneficial it was financially than working in the service industry. She began a business called Closet Revival, which is where the boutique's name comes from. She would clean out women's closets, and instead of charging money, she took the clothes they were getting rid of and sold them at pop-up sales.

The aha moment came after a big sale on a 100-degree day. She realized she would be happy doing this for a living. When the opportunity for her current space came up, she went for it. She knew she could help others, even if it was not perfect, and she did not get stuck on doing it wrong or not being good enough. She focused on the difference she could make for other people.

How Does Personal Shopping Help Women Feel Like Themselves Again?

Sydney says her favorite part of the business is the connections: making friends, meeting people, and learning from them. Many women come into her shop feeling like they have lost touch with themselves and have been wearing the same sweatshirt every day. She loves doing personal shopping, and when someone says they are not good at thrifting, she takes over.

She has seen moms walk in feeling one way and walk out with a completely different energy, with outfits they love. Her view is that to be beautiful is to feel it from within, and fashion is a great way to reconnect with your inner self. Velia and Monina agreed: whether the tool is hair, skin, or an outfit, the common goal is helping a woman look in the mirror and feel good about herself.

What Are the Biggest Lessons From Running a Small Business?

The biggest lesson Sydney has learned is that not everyone has the same good intentions she does. She is an open and kind person, but because her business is young, she has to feel things out and listen to her gut when something seems off. Velia and Monina, who have also owned businesses since they were young, agreed that you do not always know the red flags until you have been burned once or twice.

They also stressed surrounding yourself with people who want you to succeed and who point out red flags out of love. Sydney added that as a business grows, the problems get bigger and can cost more, and she takes that as a sign she is heading in the right direction.

Why Does a Thrift Boutique Owner Bring Her Dog to Work?

Sydney's dog, Weegie, is the store mascot. Sydney has had her for 17 years, and Weegie has come to work since the boutique opened in March 2024. She is very old, but she still comes in most days. Sydney believes going to work keeps her moving and social, and many shoppers found the store through TikTok videos of her. Velia and Monina shared that their own dog was the mascot of their mobile salon, so they understood the appeal.

What Are the Biggest Thrift and Secondhand Fashion Trends Right Now?

Sydney sees shoppers from high school to elderly women, with the 20 to 30 range as the largest group. The biggest trend is a vintage look with a modern twist: mix an 80s or 90s piece with something modern, like a one-of-a-kind cardigan with a pair of newer jeans. Bootcut and baggy jeans are in, and skinny jeans are out.

For sourcing, she prefers estate sales and rummage sales and often travels to other areas for weekend-long thrifting trips. She does not do consignment and does not buy from the public, because she wants control over her inventory. She looks for unique pieces that someone feels they cannot live without, in all sizes. She has not done closet edits much lately, but she says she wishes she could clone herself to keep doing them.

How Do You Find Your Personal Style? Start With Your Closet

Sydney's advice is to start with what you already have. Go through your closet to reconnect with what you like, and wear the piece you keep saving, like that floral jacket you never wear, instead of defaulting to all black.

Her second step is Pinterest. Create a folder and pin 10 to 20 outfits you like, then look at it from a distance to see the style you gravitate toward, whether that is Western, boho, goth, or something else.

Are You Ever Too Old for a Trend?

The number one thing Sydney hears from shoppers is "I'm too old for that," and she calls it a mindset. She has seen 80-year-old women in bright pink denim sets and 28-year-olds who restrict themselves, so age, she says, is a mental thing in fashion. If you love someone's outfit, wear a version of it. If you are not sure, try it on.

She gently pushes shoppers to try new things, and says she only encourages a piece when she thinks they will like it. Velia and Monina agreed: you only get one life, so sometimes you need to YOLO a little.

What Should First-Time Thrifters Know?

Sydney explains there are different types of secondhand stores. Large thrift stores are usually the lowest priced, but they tend to be less focused on cleanliness and organization, and shopping them can feel like a job. An elevated secondhand store like her boutique is curated: the clothes are cleaned and organized, outfits are laid out, there is someone to help, and many pieces are in pristine condition, sometimes with tags still on.

If you are new to thrifting, she recommends starting with a curated shop so you can get a taste of the experience. She describes her boutique as a blend of different store types, with good smells, good sounds, and secondhand pieces at a good price. Or, as she puts it, a bit like a resale app in real life.

Thank You, Sydney

Velia and Monina thanked Sydney for being a breath of fresh air and an inspiration to women in their 20s and beyond. As Sydney said, at the end of the day we all wear clothes, and beauty is beauty. Until next time, keep experimenting with fashion.

Want to visit? Mention The Beauty Lab Podcast at checkout at Revival Thrift Boutique and get 20% off your total in-store!

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