Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Anthony.
Hi Tania, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
As a long-time NYC-based secondhand & vintage clothing shop owner, I’ve always loved anything and everything that’s old, but after taking a soap-making class, I became infatuated with the idea of handmade soap recipes. In combining these two passions, I began The Vanity Dish collecting antique teacup saucers and pairing them off with bars of handmade shea butter soaps to create lovely heirloom gifts that are also eco-friendly.
I had no interest in pursuing soap making as a business, however, I did want to do something cool with it. Slowly but surely the idea of making gift boxes and using antique and vintage fine China tea plates came to fruition. I started researching and, in the process, collecting old fine China myself, of which some I keep and others are purchased for sale purposes. While the soap-making process is decided by me, it’s all pure chance and adventure in sourcing my large curation of saucers to complete each set. Across flea markets, estate sales, and thrift stores, my finds are perhaps the best part of this new venture of reinventing the past for present enjoyment!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle for me is/was getting my product ‘out there’. Being a small business on an even smaller budget, advertising becomes very expensive. So, it comes down to social media, which is a lot of work and time growing your audience and dedicated client base. On the upside, I’ve learned a lot about creating visual content that’s right for my brand.
We’ve been impressed with The Vanity Dish, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Vanity Dish is a very unique and environmentally responsible gift that marries handmade luxury soap and upcycled granny’s China… all very beautifully packaged and presented.
The Vanity Dish Gift Box is a curated and meaningful heirloom gift with a personal touch which comes beautifully packaged with a one-of-a-kind vintage China tea plate (that’s been repurposed as a decorative bathroom vanity dish to display fancy specialty soaps), a thick-cut bar of handmade organic small-batch moisturizing shea butter soap, a soft cotton washcloth, and its own individual history card. It’s an eco-friendly sustainable gift with a story behind it and a history within it. Unique and environmentally responsible, it’s perfect for every occasion, and is guaranteed to impress that impossible-to-shop-for-person who already has everything!
My most proudest part about The Vanity Dish is that I created a product & brand that includes something that’s handmade by me & a repurposed (or upcycled) old object with a story to tell. It’s a truly environmentally friendly one-of-a-kind gift.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The most important thing for me is forming personal relationships with my customers. I go out of my way to get to know my buyers as people and have made many new friends in the process.
Pricing:
- Each gift box will run you anywhere from $52 – $65
- Includes free US shipping
Contact Info:
- Email: thevanitydish@gmail.com
- Website: www.thevanitydish.nyc
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.vanity.dish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevanitydish
