Meet Zack Smith and Caitlin Doyle of Backslide Vintage

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zack Smith and Caitlin Doyle. 

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?
It really depends on how far you want to go back! We both grew up with a strong love of hunting for treasures in local thrift stores. Back then (the early-mid 2000s), you could find really cool stuff from the 1960s and 70’s pretty easily. When we met, we began playing music together which took us on a wild ride, playing shows all over the United States, Canada, and Europe, and our mutual love for thrifting endured and became more about finding cool stuff to wear on stage. Eventually, when we moved to Nashville, it became a practical side hustle for us; we’d look for vintage clothing on our days off while on tour- maybe we’d be in Wyoming or something, and find a bunch of cool western wear- then we’d bring it back to Nashville and do pop-up sales around town. Eventually, we built up quite a cache of interesting clothing and home goods, and the natural progression was to find a brick-and-mortar spot of our own. The real catalyst was being off the road because of the pandemic. That time away from touring allowed us to sink our teeth into the project of building out a shop and creating a real business. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We don’t really have any other frame of reference to compare it to, but overall, I think it was probably easier than it could’ve been. We were incredibly lucky to have found the location we did, for a price we could afford, and we had been building up inventory for years, so it was almost like we were doing the work towards creating the business before we even knew we were going to do it. All that to say, it was an immense amount of work; finding all the fixtures, building out the space to be useable and consumer-friendly, wading through the bureaucracy of starting a business…it’s a huge undertaking, but it’s really paid off. We’ve already built a name for ourselves in town. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Backslide Vintage?
Backslide Vintage is a one-stop shop for vintage, vintage-inspired, and pre-loved men’s and women’s clothing, art, home goods, and gifts. We strive for a friendly atmosphere that’s inclusive and affordable, with an emphasis on interesting apparel that spans every style and niche. We cater to people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and body types, and are incredibly proud of how diverse our clientele is. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
We are indebted to our friends and family who have helped us with construction, planning, and loans, and to our employees who work hard to uphold our values, but we owe a special debt of gratitude to every member of our little East Nashville community who has supported us and spread the word about our store. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @backslidevintage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/backslidevintage/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/backslide-vintage-nashville

Image Credits
Zack Smith