Nice to meet you.

I’m Sarah, the blogger behind Booth & Hustle—and I’ve been in your shoes.

I’ve lugged boxes and lifted heavy furniture, rearranged product displays five times before opening, and learned—sometimes the hard way—what works (and what really doesn’t) when you’re trying to turn passion into profit.

Booth & Hustle was born from a love of the work-for-yourself seller life—from creatives and makers to antique dealers, pickers, upcyclers, thrifters, and everyone else carving out their own space in markets, malls, pop-ups, or wherever the hustle takes them.

I didn’t choose the antique life—it chose me. My mom was a teacher by profession who turned her lifelong love of collecting into a successful second career after retirement. She and my aunt spent years following that passion—selling online, renting booths, and doing the hands-on work it takes to build something real.

Eventually, that work gave them the opportunity to take over an existing antique market in our downtown and make it their own. Seventeen years later, it’s a local landmark—a three-level destination for dozens of vendors and thousands of visitors.

As a kid, I spent summer breaks in hot, dusty antique malls and barn-picking pit stops—not by choice, and definitely not always with enthusiasm. I wasn’t exactly blessed with the treasure-hunter gene, if I’m being honest.

But the rhythm of that world stuck with me. The smells, the storytelling, the sellers who’ve been doing this longer than I’ve been alive, the what-in-the-world-is-that moments—I’ve come to love the energy and the oddity of it all.

A recovering journalist who escaped corporate life, I now help manage the market that’s the culmination of my mom’s dreams. We keep it going not out of habit, or even for profit—but mostly out of heart. It’s a connection to her memory and her infectious enthusiasm for the thrill of the hunt and an amazing deal.

It’s also a responsibility I take seriously, and a community I genuinely care about. I want our vendors to do well. I want the store to thrive. I find joy when the people who rent space from us succeed—even if we’ve always refused to take a sales commission (not necessarily our wisest financial decision, but more on that later).

I started Booth & Hustle with the hope that it can grow into something special for the people doing the hard work—the creative, scrappy entrepreneurs building something out of nothing.

This site is still new and growing, but it’s here to offer the kind of help that… actually helps. Real talk, practical tools, and encouragement from someone who’s seen the whole process—from wondering if it’s worth trying, to tiptoeing in, growing slow and steady, and eventually becoming the kind of place people travel to see.

If you’re just getting started, figuring it out as you go, or ready to take your space to the next level—welcome. You’re in the right place.

Now. Let’s get to work.