Meet Andrea Sobel | Creative small business enthusiast; attorney.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Sobel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, what do you attribute your success to?
Hands down, customer service. Not only does that include being friendly, it requires consistent follow-up, asking questions, and genuinely learning about the customer’s purpose. Are they looking for a gift for someone special? Are they adding to their own collection? A gift to themselves for an accomplishment? Many times, the customer knows more than I do about an item in my shop; we discuss the provenance, and usually reach a fair price for the sale. I am clear with expectations, return policies, and quality. The hardest part is learning to stand your ground as well—you know the value of your product!! Don’t drop the price for a quick sale. There’s someone out there that knows the value and is willing to meet it.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Southpaw Solstice LLC was formed last year with the purpose of assisting a family friend liquidate his late wife’s estate. He was a friend of a family friend and through the grapevine, he learned that I “would sometimes sell things on the internet” and that I may be able to help him. For context, “selling things on the internet” meant a pair of boots I never wore; a jacket that never fit quite right. When we were introduced, I learned that his wife was a fashion model in the 70s and had a love of antiques and designer collectibles. He then showed me three bedrooms worth of her vintage designer collection—the rooms had been converted to literal closets for her. My jaw dropped, and I knew the volume of this estate had to be protected by an LLC. I’m not a stranger to small business, so a side-hustle just made sense. I’m also an attorney and my day job is my solo legal practice (another small business) and I assist many of my clients with their own small to medium size companies and non-profits. I also prepare estate plans, so Southpaw Solstice was a seamless addition to what I’ve been doing. I’ve learned a ton about vintage fashion, materials, eras, and design, which scratches the creative side of me so much that I’ve repaired my own vintage 1977 Kenmore sewing machine!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a foodie, so I always try to show my visiting friends a delicious experience and there are so many places off the beaten path in Denver. Are you on a work trip? Set up your laptop at Impossible City in RiNo. Looking for the best dim-sum service in town? Star Kitchen on Federal. Do you listen to metal? Hit up Black Sky Brewing on Santa Fe. Are you looking for a creative space to host your next birthday party? Go for Ant Life near Coors Field.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Denver community of thrifters and vintage collectors—without them I wouldn’t have met so many amazing humans, received essential help and knowledge, and have the confidence that I can accomplish my goal with this project. In particular: Amber with @WildFindsVtg ; Dani with @BroadwayBazaarVtg ; and Molly with @Collective_Vtg (on Instagram) THANK YOU! Finally, a loving shout out to my partner Adam, @psybezero , for drawing out the creative parts of me, for helping me haul loads of items to and from thrift shows, and for designing my visual branding with incredible precision.

Website: https://SouthpawSolstice.Etsy.com

Other: https://www.Sobel.law

Image Credits
Andrea F. Sobel