In this episode of Behind the Business, host Gordie Tamayo sits down with two rising stars in the vintage clothing world—Cooper Jones of CJs Vintage Vault and Russel Bills of The Vintage Vault and Cache Valley Vintage Market.

These young entrepreneurs are building real revenue and real communities by blending digital platforms like Whatnot with physical vintage markets across Utah.

Discover how they got started, what tools they use to scale, and how the next generation is rewriting the rules of retail.

👕 Whether you’re a vintage clothing enthusiast or an aspiring reseller, this is your playbook for turning passion into profit.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories from modern entrepreneurs reshaping their industries.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro: Why vintage is booming and who’s leading the charge

01:00 – Meet Cooper Jones: Building CJ Vintage Vault

02:00 – The 2-year full-time hustle: Finding the right platform

03:00 – Russel’s entrepreneurial roots & discovering vintage value

04:00 – Turning dad’s old Jordans into a business spark

05:00 – Early challenges in sourcing and pricing

06:00 – Why Whatnot became a game-changer for live selling

07:00 – Cooper on standing out in a saturated market

08:00 – The role of content, branding, and backdrop strategy

09:00 – Russel’s vision for the Cache Valley Vintage Market

10:00 – Community-first business: Building loyalty offline

11:00 – What makes a great vintage seller today?

12:00 – Favorite finds and best-sellers from the vault

13:00 – Strategies for consistency and inventory flow

14:00 – Monetizing nostalgia through storytelling

15:00 – The future of vintage retail: Hybrid online/offline

16:00 – Lessons learned: Mistakes, pivots, and progress

17:00 – Entrepreneur mindset: Building before you're ready

18:00 – Advice to new resellers and creators

19:00 – Cooper’s personal framework for growth

20:00 – The importance of hustle and daily habits

21:00 – Live selling tips and show structure on Whatnot

22:00 – How vintage culture bridges generations

23:00 – Building brand presence in a crowded niche

24:00 – Russel on managing pop-ups and vendor networks

25:00 – The art of the flip: When to hold vs. when to sell

26:00 – Trust, curation, and why details matter

27:00 – Final thoughts on youth-led commerce

28:00 – Where to follow Cooper and Russel

29:00 – Outro: The vintage hustle isn't slowing down