Guest Curation: Thrifting Adventures of Shaniqua Zastrow

Shaniqua Zastrow or Shanny, as her friends like to call her, is a music composer, content creator and an avid thrifter. When she’s not zipping through the nearest thrift store, you can find Shanny busy making music, creating content, or putting together dreamy boho set-ups for events, or photo shoots -- a business opportunity that was born out of her love for all things secondhand.

Now as a wife and momma of two, Shanny still makes time for her treasure hunt adventures. From cool vintage clothing to vintage glass, vases, Pyrex, and more, Shanny's thrifting adventures and discoveries are highlighted on her Instagram account @thriftshannythrift.

AuctionNinja is thrilled to have Shanny as this week’s guest curator!

 

What got you interested in secondhand, vintage and antique items?

My mother loves to shop! She has always had a great style, and a great eye for things. She also loved a great deal, and I can remember her dragging me into the thrift stores (I wasn't so fond of it when I was younger). 

When I started college, I wasn't able to buy new items, so I would go to the local thrift store to buy cool vintage clothing to wear when I went out with friends. I would always get complimented on my thrift finds. 

Fast forwarding to now, I had absolutely no idea that there was an online community out there who loved thrifting. So I started posting short clips of my finds, and out of nowhere, people started following me! 

Of course I started to dig deeper into it, and started meeting more thrift/vintage lovers! It opened my eyes to a whole new world of thrifting; not limiting my finds to just clothing, but also to beautiful vintage glass, vases, Pyrex, and more. I've just become obsessed with it. It literally feels like a treasure hunt.

 

What are the one or two things that you always find yourself bidding on/looking for when shopping secondhand?

Two things that I'm always looking for or bidding on when it comes to secondhand shopping are peacock chairs or wicker items, and vintage glass goblets.

Shanny’s AuctionNinja Picks:

 

 

1. Vintage Natural Rattan Peacock Chair with Wooden Seat - Slight Damage on Both Arms (White Goose Estate Sales)

2. Stunning Pyrex Golden Arches / Fish Scale 3 Quart Ovenware Casserole Baking Dish (Unique Antiques of Connecticut)

3. Vintage Set of 3 Purple Amethyst Goblet Glasses (Monster Estate Sales)

4. Rare Millersburg Carnival Glass Pitcher (Clearing House Estate Sales)

5. Vintage Fenton Blue Hobnail Bud Vase & Top Hat Toothpick Holder (Clearing House Estate Sales)

6. Mustard Gold Velvet Upholstered Easy Club Chair. Circa Mid Century NYC. Quality & Comfortable (Treasured Tag Sales)

7. Vintage Blue Avon Goblets (NorthEast Finds)

 

What's your absolute favorite item ever purchased at an estate sale or online auction?

My most favorite item ever purchased online is a wicker peacock chair. I purchased it not knowing that it was going to be the start of an amazing business. 

 

Tell us more about how thrifting evolved into kickstarting a business?

I didn't thrift a lot after I got married; I went maybe 3 or 4 times throughout the year to find things for my new home. In 2019, my husband and I suffered a miscarriage. We lost my son Levi at 17 weeks pregnant and I was absolutely devastated. 

To get my mind off of the things that I was going through, I started thrifting again. I also wanted to find clothing that I could wear to perform in for my shows. 

Fast forward to 2021, I ended up getting pregnant and having my daughter Shiloh. She is my rainbow baby for sure! I really felt like God restored with me the best blessing that He could ever give, but I still felt empty when I thought about losing Levi. I felt like I needed to do something to honor him, and to keep his memory alive. 

Towards the end of 2021, I was on a random thrifting stop and I found this gorgeous wicker lounge chair that was made by Ikea. I snatched it up, and decided to post it on Facebook Marketplace. Someone instantly messaged me back and purchased it from me a few hours later. It blew my mind away! 

It was the thought of knowing that people wanted my thrift finds; my home isn't big enough to house all of these beautiful finds, but I now had the option to find them and resell them. 

I did that for a few months, but then I had a God-given revelation to start renting the items that I found. When I made the decision to start doing that, peacock chairs, wicker shelves, event necessities, etc. started falling into my lap. I now own a total of 10 wicker/rattan chairs, shelves, tufted vintage chairs, and a cabinet full of colorful vintage goblets available to rent out for any event. 

But here is the special thing. I prayed and asked God what I should name my business and He showed me a rainbow. It literally brought me to tears because I had my rainbow baby, but I knew that I could dedicate this to my son Levi. 

I named my business Reignbow Rentals, LLC and every tufted chair that I've thrifted is named after a baby who was lost due to miscarriages. It really is a fulfilling thing. 

 

Your thrifting vlogs are very interesting and helpful. Can you share your top tips for finding things you love in a thrift store?

My biggest advice would be to know exactly what you're looking for or desiring. If you're new to this world of online auctioning, I would tell you to know what you like. 

Ask yourself what would you normally get when you go to Target or Walmart? What draws your attention there? Take that same attraction and use it when auctioning. 

I am 99% sure that you can find what you normally love, but much better and even more beautiful and unique. Vintage items have way more character than a lot of items that are made today.

 

What is the most interesting item you've ever thrifted?

The most interesting item that I've ever thrifted would have to be a velvet tufted wingback chair. I don't know why I was so drawn to it, but it was absolutely beautiful! 

It looked brand new, and the color was so vibrant and stunning. I had to take it home with me! It was a very random, yet necessary find.

 

It's common when thrifting to find the pleasantly unexpected. What was the most thrilling haul you've ever had?

I've had a lot of thrilling hauls, but one that I will always remember is the day that I found these glowing hot pink goblets made by Cristal D'Arquee. They are stunning! 

When I posted them, they broke the internet! I had so many messages of people wanting to buy them, but I truly believe that I'll never give them away. 

They are a treasure that I want to be passed down to my daughter, and granddaughter, and so forth. I found them in an old beachy town about an hour away from my home, and I wasn't even planning on going thrifting that day. 

 

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