One year ago, a dream became a storefront. Republic Goods, Las Vegas's curated second-hand store and booth rental marketplace, opened its doors in the Arts District, and nothing has been the same since. Not for our sellers. Not for our shoppers. And honestly? Not for me.

This is the story of year one. The wins, the chaos, the growth, and why year two is going to be iconic (spoiler alert - I learned a lot and now we have momentum).

The Numbers That Made Us Cry (Happy Tears)

Let's start with the stats, because they still blow our minds:

• Over 4,000 booths rented — by real people, selling real things, making real money

• Our top seller made over $1,000 in a single week, and the average booth does $150/week

• At any given moment, over 5,000 items are on the floor — each one with a story

• Hundreds of pounds of clothing donated to Foster Kinship instead of sent to a landfill

• 13,000+ Instagram followers (we see you and we love you)

• A Google rating of 4.7 — earned honestly, one interaction at a time. If you have negative feedback, please just email me directly, so I have a chance to address and fix it.

Every one of those numbers represents a community working together. A seller who needed extra cash. A shopper who found something they loved. A piece of clothing that got a second life instead of ending up in a landfill.

We Created Hundreds of Entrepreneurs

Here's something people don't always understand about our booth rental model: when you rent a booth at Republic Goods, you're not just selling clothes. You're running a teeny tiny business.

You lease a mini space inside our store. You set your own prices. You curate your own collection. You decide what sells and what doesn't. We provide the foot traffic, the location, and the community, but you bring the goods and the hustle.

In one year, we've helped hundreds of people in Las Vegas experience what it feels like to sell clothes, earn income on their own terms, and call themselves entrepreneurs (or Shopkeepers).

The Milestones That Mattered Most

Year one wasn't just growth; it was learning. Here's what we hit along the way:

• Booths went from 100% availabiliy to always sold out, and we now have a waitlist

• Launched our VIP rewards program for our best sellers

• Celebrated 12 First Fridays in the Arts District

• Hosted 3 Whatnot live selling shows (more coming soon!)

• Changed our POS system twice and credit card processors three times (learning sometimes means failing)

• Built automatic reporting systems to run smarter

• Survived two roof leaks with zero damage (we'll take it)

• Possibly acquired a ghost (ask Haley)

• Did all of this while working a full-time job (and being a mom and wife)

• One baby was conceived! The Republic Goods family is literally growing (and we cannot wait to meet them)!

Staff Favorite Finds (Because the Best Stuff Deserves Recognition)

We asked our team to share their favorite item they came across in the store. Here's what they said:

Haley: “This Tiger Brand seed sack jacket is made from old seed bags. It’s like a piece of American history. The graphics are incredible - it’s a piece of art. It was shockingly only $7!”

Gaby: “I could not pick, so I have four! The first one is a vintage San Francisco snow globe. The city has a special place in my heart, and I love collecting them. The Polaroid camera brought back so many childhood memories and joy; some of my early photography days started with this camera. A very unique film purse made from 35mm recycled polyester movie film. It’s so precious; I have it displayed because I’m afraid to use it. And the last item is a vintage sewing basket that I plan on using for trinkets. Note: most items were purchased from my favorite vintage sellers, shout out to booth #28, #51, and # 75.”

• Sue: [coming soon]

Maryn: “The pants and sweater are Free People. The sweater is like a warm hug and calming in the perfect blend of blue and green knit. The pants caught my attention because of the unique dye technique. The blend of greens almost gives texture and intrigue in a basic piece. The tee is a quiet, understated commentary on the current state of our government. It has quickly become a staple and favorite of mine. It’s perfectly broken, soft, and comfortable. The dog statue was a gift from Gaby (booth 8). The human-like qualities in the eyes are what draw me in. I named him Gary because he reminds me of my dad.”

Kat: “I think these are the prices or close to it:

Frye booths $50
LV $100
Barn Jacket $30.”

Tara: “My style is all over the place. I tend to wear whatever I want, when I want. Going between comfort and bold choices. I’m a Pisces, and my Venus is in Aquarius, so that makes sense! These are the most loved/worn items that I thrifted at Republic Goods lately. They go with so much of what I wear!

Orange Barn Coat - Vintage LL Bean
Blue Barn Coat - Vintage Levi’s
Black Leather Fringe Crossbody Bag - McFadin from Texas
Black Leather and Suede Bag - Rag & Bone”

Noel: “A real leather foldable butterfly chair that Kim (back of the store home goods) sold to Lisa (front of the store home goods), and then Lisa sold it to me. That's the magic of a resale marketplace. Things find their people. Now it’s at my house!”

It Takes a Village (Literally)

My husband, kids, parents, and relatives have all shown up and worked in this store. There is no Republic Goods without the people who believed in it before it was anything. I've cried on camera twice this year: once because I was so grateful, and once because I was sad.

Building a second-hand store in Las Vegas from scratch, while working full-time, is not for the faint of heart. But the community that showed up: sellers, shoppers, followers, and staff, made every day worth it.

Come Celebrate With Us — Saturday, March 7th

We're throwing a proper birthday party at 1310 S Main St in the Arts District, and you're invited. Here's what's happening:

• 11AM – Doors open with brand new booths

• 11AM–2PM – DJ set

• 11AM–3PM – Maria Valiente Mobile Cafe in the backyard

• 2PM–4PM – Free tiny tarot readings by Priestess Pamela (an Arts District legend)

• Free booth giveaway every single hour on Saturday

• If you buy something, get entered to win a $100 gift card

• Tamrah Gourmet Dates for purchase and free dates with any $100 purchase

• Other giveaways: plants, costume jewelry, and surprise chaos all day

Thank You. From the Bottom of My Heart.

To everyone who has ever been a seller, bought something, told a friend about us, liked a post, followed along, or commented and shared…

You are not only creating the change we need in the world: uplifting women, supporting your local community and ecosystem, and caring for this planet.

You are also helping make one local girl's dream come true.

And for that, I thank you.

♥ Noel