Conversations with Abby Porter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Porter

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
For as long as I can remember, I have loved to be creative. My mom is an entrepreneur who taught me so many valuable things about creativity, inspiration, & the “you could make that!” attitude. Having been raised by her, my ever-growing love for creating things was inevitable. To this day, I do not feel like I’ve been myself at the end of the day if I have not done something creative! This passion for creativity led me to numerous different entrepreneurial ventures, including The Found Co. I was 14 when I went thrifting for the first time, and I fell in love with the process. My passion for creativity was ignited when I stepped through the doors of the thrift store… there were endless opportunities for older things to become my new treasures! If you know the thrill of a really good thrift store trip, you just get it. There are so many possibilities to bring life into thrift finds, and I love that to this day. Soon after my first trip, I started a little business where I would thrift clothes, clean them up, style them, and sell them! I had begun doing some research on second-hand fashion and the world of thrifting after having been inspired by others on social media. This little business has now become The Found Co, about 8 years later. My passion for bringing new life into second-hand pieces I find is stronger than ever, especially with all of the knowledge I have gained throughout the years about the world of fashion and thrifting. I am constantly inspired to be creative. The Found Co has allowed me to make new friends, connect with my community, get creative with the treasures I find, save thousands of pieces from landfills, & even create curated style bundles for people all over the country!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Found Co was a lot easier to pour into when I was in high school. As I began my college career, my free time slowly became occupied with other things. The Found Co was something I had always been fairly consistent with, because I truly love it, so not having as much time to dedicate to my creative outlet was definitely a struggle. Ironically, I now look at this struggle as a positive thing, Recognizing that I am allowed to put things aside and focus on school was valuable for me. I tend to have an “all or nothing” attitude, which at times can be helpful, but allowing myself to prioritize school without lingering guilt was a healthy thing to do. Once the busy seasons flew by, The Found Co was always there waiting for me. That is something I love about having little hobbies and businesses of your own- you decide your priorities throughout each season of your life. Learning to navigate the busy ones with balance and grace was a valuable struggle.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Something new that I have honed in on with The Found Co are style bundles. People send me a budget, their Pinterest board, & some other preference-related information, and I shop second-hand for them!

I get the opportunity to look and shop for many different people without the confines of my own personal style, expanding my own horizons in the process! I get to watch people receive these clothes, style them with their existing wardrobe, and absolutely rock their second-hand finds that were chosen just for them.

For some people, thrift stores are not as magical. They don’t have time to sift through hundreds of piece, stain-remove, repair, or dig for things that remind them of their polished pinterest board. I find so much joy in getting to make that process simpler for people, and to bring some life into things that may otherwise get overlooked and thrown into a landfill. My clients get their second-hand sourced, one-of-a-kind finds, without the work that often times is a part of that process! I thoroughly enjoy every second of the process, so it is a win-win situation for both myself and the customer!

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I would say about 95% of my own closet is second-hand! It was a goal I set for myself in high school, & as a now senior in college, I can say I have reached my goal.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefoundco_?igsh=b3l2aWZpNDFtaWhq&utm_source=qr
• Other: https://forms.gle/3Mkz4sK6n5VRMFuR8