HOW I DISCOVERED MY PASSION FOR SALES
My journey into sales began unexpectedly during high school, when I hosted what I thought would be a simple garage sale. What surprised me wasn’t the fact that I made money, it was how much I enjoyed the entire process. I loved setting up displays, interacting with people, and watching which items rouse their interest. Looking back, that day was my first glimpse into the world of sales, even though I didn’t recognize it at the time.
When I arrived at college, that spark evolved into something more intentional: a monthly thrift pop-up held in the public park at the center of campus. What started as a small idea quickly became one of my ongoing passion projects. I wanted to create a space where students could find affordable, sustainable pieces while also enjoying the experience of browsing and connecting with others. Every pop-up became a blend of creativity, strategy, and community engagement. I handled every aspect of these events myself, which allowed me to learn the business from the ground up. I designed my own promotional flyers, planned the inventory, curated the aesthetic, and organized the layout for each sale. Marketing the pop-ups across campus taught me how to communicate effectively with my audience, while setting up each event pushed me to think critically about customer flow, pricing, and visual merchandising.
Seeing students share my flyers or show up because they “saw it everywhere” was a rewarding reminder of how impactful good branding can be. The most meaningful part of the pop-ups, however, was the interaction with people. Students would stop by between classes, talk through their style preferences, or ask for recommendations. These conversations helped me refine my ability to read customers, understand what motivates them, and build genuine rapport, all essential skills in sales. It taught me that selling is not just about offering a product; it’s about creating an experience that feels friendly, authentic, and welcoming.
Looking back, what started in my driveway with a few racks of clothing has grown into something that continues to inspire me. These pop-ups taught me how much I enjoy connecting with people, curating an experience, and building something from scratch. More importantly, they reminded me that passion often grows in unexpected places, and when you nurture it, it can evolve into something impactful.
These experiences solidified my interest in fashion merchandising and reinforced the kind of professional I hope to become: someone who values creativity, community, and meaningful connection in every aspect of the work.
As the pop-ups grew, so did my confidence. I found myself thinking like a seller, a merchandiser, and a marketer all at once. I learned to trust my creative decisions, analyze what worked and what didn’t, and adjust my strategies with each event. Sharing my progress on LinkedIn helped me recognize that this wasn’t just a hobby, it was real entrepreneurial experience that was shaping who I am and the career I want to build.
Highlights from my ongoing thrift pop-up project, on LinkedIn:
