Daily Inspiration: Meet Deirdre Colligan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deirdre Colligan.

Hi Deirdre, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I founded Candy Shop Vintage in the mid 2000s. It started with a collection of whimsical vintage jewelry sourced from estate sales and flea markets and sold at private events and trunk shows. My background in fashion and design enabled me to curate a stream of sought after, one-of-a-kind vintage pieces that I sold in Charleston, SC where I was living at the time. I have always found it such a huge source of inspiration in terms of style, color and design. After having success with my rotating collection of vintage jewelry, I was faced with the challenges of constant sourcing and replenishment, I then adapted of some of my favorite vintage jewelry styles into a collection of hand crafted, modern costume jewelry and vintage inspired accessories. My designs have been featured in Vanity Fair, InStyle and Southern Living and continue to be a favorite among tastemakers and influencers. I moved from Charleston to Aiken, SC – a charming equestrian hub just over the Georgia border last year so my daughter and I could get more time in the saddle. We are both equestrians. I will be reopening a retail shop in Aiken, as I did in Charleston and continue to tour around the Southeast with my retro jewelry cart & come back soon for pop-ups in Nashville! I am also offering vintage clothing online, through our website candyshopvintage.com starting in May.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not – entrepreneurship is never a smooth journey! COVID was a struggle because we sold to many small retailers who, themselves closed during or after the pandemic. Manufacturing costs increased and I closed my retail store in Charleston after five years, during that time and went online only. For the last few years, I have started doing more pop-ups and events and finally got our jewelry production working smoothly again. But it took a couple years of taking a break (personally and professionally) during which I worked for a fine jeweler as well as managed a large retail store in Nantucket, Mass called Erica Wilson. Now, they will be hosting the Candy Shop Cart this summer in their Martha’s Vineyard (Edgartown) location. So good things can come out of pivoting! And I’ll be reopening a retail store in SC later this year and things will come full circle. I have a young daughter and she’s become interested in the business, so I am excited for her to start giving her design input as well.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In addition to building my own small fashion brand – Candy Shop Vintage – I also owned and sold a 3PL fulfillment center in the Southeast that serviced many clients in the fashion industry. I sold it to two of them, who have since expanded it in to a much larger company – Nice Commerce – and they do an amazing job with e-commerce order fulfillment for brands like mine (I have brought my own back in house for the time being. I also worked in interior design and help other small businesses, mainly in the Southeast, market and position themselves. It is one of my favorite things to do and I always lean a lot and take valuable lessons from what other people are doing, even in totally different industries.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
My parents are both writers and I grew up reading – and writing – a ton. I was actually an English major and marketing and art/design was second to that but I was worried I wouldn’t make a living as a writer! I’d love to write a book one day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://candyshopvintage.com
• Instagram: candyshopvintage
• Facebook: candyshopvintage