TYLER, Texas — Hidden Julz is a new thrift store that will give East Texans a chance to shop and sell something new every week in Tyler.
Owner Julie Sively loves thrifting and wanted to open a boutique that not only gives the community a chance to find new treasures but provides vendors a chance to sell items in a safe environment.
"I want to bring my love of thrifting and finding wonderful, high quality items to my friends, family and the community of Tyler," Sively said.
Sively moved to Texas and decided to do a complete career change after working in the medical field for many years.
"I worked in the emergency room all during COVID and injured my back," Sively said. "And so I really needed something to replace this income. And I wanted to do something that I loved equally, as much as I love the medical community."
Sively not only changed careers, but she moved with her family to Tyler a couple of months. And just last month, she decided to risk it all to open her store.
"There's definitely a huge risk opening a business. So we thought long and hard about this, we prayed about it and decided that this was really something that we could go into," Sively said. "Our whole family has just relocated to Tyler ... we absolutely love the community so far. So I do definitely think that there is a risk, but was something that actually benefits the community and helps people."
Sively said she hopes her store will be a safe alternative to selling items than Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark or garage sales.
"This opportunity is open to anybody with a great imagination and all of the wonderful things that you have in your home. And what I really love about it is it gives people the opportunity to make a little bit of money," Sively said.
This thrift shop will have new inventory weekly. Sively is allowing 33 vendors to rent a booth for $40 to sell their items.
"Each booth is individually rented and it's not rented for a long period of time. It's rented for one week," Sively said. "So during that one week time, you can clean out your closets, you can go through all the extra things that you have in your home that are not being used and pick out the very best items that you want to resell at our shop."
Sively said the process to rent a booth is easy. Vendors can rent a booth by applying online and set their items up on a Saturday morning.
"The $40 basically gets you the space plus all of the hangers, baskets, hooks, everything you need for displaying all of your items," Sively said. "So you get a packet so that you can tag and price all of your items in the comfort of your own home. And then you come in on a Saturday morning, set up your booth. And then, we take care of the rest."
For the rest of the week, the store is in charge of advertising and selling items in each booth.
"Inventory changes weekly, people want to come in more often because they're like, 'what's new this week? What new hidden jewel can I find in this store,'" Sively explained.
Stephanie Diaz is one of many vendors who is renting out a booth at Hidden Julz.
"I decided to be a vendor at this store because of the concept of Hidden Julz, knowing that I can just set up my items and simply just tag the price that I desire for that item," Diaz said. "And knowing that I don't have to worry about it the whole week."
Sively wants to invite the East Texas community to the grand opening Saturday, July 22.
"Hidden Julz is just exactly everything that you can go through the store and go into the booths, and search through all of the things," Sively said. "And find the hidden jewels that are maybe valuable to you but may not be valuable to someone else."
Hidden Julz's grand opening will include food, activities and over 30 vendors you can shop from. If you're interested in selling your items at this store, visit their website here.