As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what this year truly taught me about running Taylored Finds. Every season brings new lessons, but this year especially reshaped how I think about inventory, platforms, and where our growth is really coming from.
1. Shoes Are the Standout Category
One of the biggest surprises this year? Shoes consistently outperformed almost everything else. From designer heels to everyday luxury flats, footwear has proven to be a strong, reliable seller across platforms. Buyers are willing to invest in quality shoes, especially when they’re authenticated, well photographed, and priced thoughtfully. Moving forward, footwear will remain a core focus of our sourcing strategy.
2. Jewelry Didn’t Perform as Expected
On the flip side, jewelry moved slower than anticipated. While beautiful and timeless, it often requires a longer buyer journey and more education around materials, value, and styling. This has helped me rethink how jewelry is presented, less volume, more storytelling, and a stronger emphasis on unique or collectible pieces.
3. Certain Brands Continue to Rise
This year reinforced the power of consistency in branding. Labels like Gucci, Chanel, Prada, Jimmy Choo, and contemporary designers with strong recognition continue to resonate most with shoppers. Buyers want trust, familiarity, and authenticity, and brands with strong resale recognition perform best.
4. Where My Buyers Are
One of the most interesting insights of the year came from shipping data. The majority of my customers are located in New York, California, and Florida. These markets consistently show higher engagement, faster sales, and repeat buyers, shaping how I market a drops, time releases, and promotions.
5. Finding the Right Platforms Matters
Not all platforms perform the same, and that’s okay.
Poshmark and eBay have proven to be the strongest performers when it comes to consistent traffic, conversions, and buyer confidence. Each platform has its own strengths, and leaning into what works has been far more effective than spreading too thin.
6. Local Growth Is Slower, but Still Important
While I love connecting locally, I’ve learned that local growth takes more time than online expansion. Community building is a long game, one built on trust, visibility, and repeated touchpoints. It’s slower, but it’s meaningful, and I’m committed to continuing to grow it intentionally.
Our first in-person event was an incredible success, full of connection, energy, and support. Our second event, while still meaningful, reminded us that in-person retail can be unpredictable. Because of that, we’re being more intentional moving forward.
Rather than frequent pop-ups, we’ll likely focus on select market events or thoughtfully planned in-person experiences two or three times a year, allowing us to show up fully and create something truly special when we do.
How You Can Support Taylored Finds
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Your support allows us to keep curating thoughtfully, investing in quality, and building something meaningful for our community.
Looking Ahead
2025 taught me to lean into data, listen to the patterns, and trust the evolution of the brand. Taylored Finds continues to grow because of an incredible community that values quality, authenticity, and thoughtful curation.
Here’s to refining, learning, and building even stronger in the year ahead.
