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Hi,
My name is Elle Marquis. I'm the owner of Marquis Moon; A little vintage store on York Blvd in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The idea for this fundraiser started after I made a post on the shop's Instagram looking for someone to take over my lease. Many of you reached out and encouraged me to do a GoFundMe instead. If you know me, you know I have a REALLY hard time asking for help. Which is probably how I got here in the first place. I'm the person who goes to a party and ends up doing the dishes, or cooking in the kitchen. I'm just more comfortable when I'm of service; but I'm working on giving myself the same love I'd give to a friend and so here it is, my GoFundMe!!! I'm trying to raise $10K .
Ok so hang tight. This is an SOS so it gets really dark in the next paragraph, but then if you keep reading it gets light-hearted again.
I signed the lease for the building in December 2019 with an opening planned for mid-January 2020. On January 12, 2020 I got the call that would change me to my core forever; My brother was killed. He was hit on his motorcycle by a drunk driver. I can try to explain that feeling but there are no words. Unless you've experienced a loss of that magnitude, you just can't imagine it. At a certain point, I was losing too much money and had to force myself to put on clothes and haphazardly open the store in February. It wasn't how I envisioned it but I didn't have the energy to make it cute or stock it with the inventory I'd dreamed of. All I could do was turn on the lights and put up the open sign. I truly felt like a shell of a person and was just wafting through my daily existence. I was also dumped during this time. He's not important but the compounded pain and loneliness I felt is a poignant part of this story. Then you all know what happened next... just a little ol' thing called a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Like every other little retail store, I was forced to close, and forced to be alone with that grief and my heartbreak (which is a story for another time). As soon as businesses were allowed to reopen, York blvd was a ghost town. The only stores people were going to during those first 8+ months were grocery stores and maybe Target. It's also worth mentioning that during that time, I was traveling back to Arizona often ( where I'm from- though I've been here for 12 years) to go to court on my brother's behalf. When someone you love is killed, that's just the beginning. There's an investigation, a prosecution, an arraignment, then finally sentencing. Every single time you grieve again and again and again. His name was Michael. He was my favorite human on the planet.
Long story short, over the last year and a half, I've spent all of my savings paying my personal bills and in those first few months, just paying the store's rent and bills. I'm not someone who lives hand to mouth. I've been working since I was 12! I have grit and work ethic and was able to get to a place where I felt stable enough financially to open a business. Who knew all of these unprecedented events would occur? I'd just opened so I didn't have enough of a sales history to qualify for any of the loans. I applied for every single thing I could. Last month, I'm proud to say, the store turned a teeny profit! Yet, it's not enough to live on and my savings is gone. You might think there so point in trying but summers are the slowest time of year for retail stores in Southern California and the Southwest. The holiday seasons sales are typically what get's small businesses through the summer months. If I can gear up for a killer holiday season, there's hope for me! Read on...
1.) I love vintage but it's not for everyone. To really make this location work, I need to have easy impulse buys and gifts and that was always my intention. I care deeply about the environment and my impact so I can't in good conscience just run to Santee Ally to fill the space. I need seed money (which I had but remember, but had to spend over the last year and a half) to invest in good quality sustainable, and locally made products. I want merchandise I'm proud to carry that is also from and in support of this community. Again vintage is great but it's a hard online sale too. With gifts that appeal to a larger audience, I could maximize profits with steady online sales as well.
2.) I desperately need to get an air conditioner. Before you say it's about to be September, remember it's LA and it's global warming. Do you remember how hot it was last October? Probably not because we didn't leave our houses but trust me, it was HOT ( it was 103 on Oct 1st ). It's not just for my comfort. I actually don't mind the heat so much ( I'm from the sunniest city on the planet- that's a fact, not an exaggeration) but customers do not want to try on clothes, let alone even stand in a store when it's 100 degrees inside. So no AC = no sales.
3.) This is probably the most important thing but it's the most vulnerable to admit so I saved it for last- As I previously mentioned, my savings is gone. If I don't make enough to cover my rent and my stores expenses this month, I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it. Yes, raising $10k would get me out of the hole and give me a fighting chance but honestly, if I can just raise a few hundred bucks with this thing, that will get me through to another month and that could be enough! Especially if this holidays season is a good one!
I've been HUSTLING this year. It's a miracle I've been able to swing it thus far and I hope you know, I couldn't have done it without you. I've always been a community-oriented person but HLP has really shown me the definition of community. So many of you return week after week to support the shop, some of you have modeled for me, some of you have become near and dear friends, some of you have shared my posts on social media, the list goes on. You're the reason I was able to work through my grief and build out this beautiful little space on a shoestring budget. You're the reason I have hope. Because of all of you, my store has survived during unprecedented times and I'm really hoping with your help, we can make it thrive!
I know most of us are struggling financially and even psychologically with the continued fall out of this pandemic and there are a million problems and causes to throw our money at right now. I know I'm just one sinking ship among a sea of ships, but alas, I'm throwing out my S.O.S. A few bucks helps. Sharing this helps. Coming into the shop and buying something helps. Honestly just a (sanitized) pat on the back next time you see me would be appreciated. The future of Marquis Moon is not guaranteed, heck, there is no such thing as a guaranteed future at all but I know that whatever happens, I'm so deeply appreciative of you and how much you've helped me accomplish thus far.
For every $1 you donate, I'll match it with a discount at the shop up to 25%. So if you donate $5 you get 5% off, If you donate $25, you get 25% off. Just show your donation at checkout and you're good to go!
My name is Elle Marquis. I'm the owner of Marquis Moon; A little vintage store on York Blvd in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. The idea for this fundraiser started after I made a post on the shop's Instagram looking for someone to take over my lease. Many of you reached out and encouraged me to do a GoFundMe instead. If you know me, you know I have a REALLY hard time asking for help. Which is probably how I got here in the first place. I'm the person who goes to a party and ends up doing the dishes, or cooking in the kitchen. I'm just more comfortable when I'm of service; but I'm working on giving myself the same love I'd give to a friend and so here it is, my GoFundMe!!! I'm trying to raise $10K .
Ok so hang tight. This is an SOS so it gets really dark in the next paragraph, but then if you keep reading it gets light-hearted again.
I signed the lease for the building in December 2019 with an opening planned for mid-January 2020. On January 12, 2020 I got the call that would change me to my core forever; My brother was killed. He was hit on his motorcycle by a drunk driver. I can try to explain that feeling but there are no words. Unless you've experienced a loss of that magnitude, you just can't imagine it. At a certain point, I was losing too much money and had to force myself to put on clothes and haphazardly open the store in February. It wasn't how I envisioned it but I didn't have the energy to make it cute or stock it with the inventory I'd dreamed of. All I could do was turn on the lights and put up the open sign. I truly felt like a shell of a person and was just wafting through my daily existence. I was also dumped during this time. He's not important but the compounded pain and loneliness I felt is a poignant part of this story. Then you all know what happened next... just a little ol' thing called a GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Like every other little retail store, I was forced to close, and forced to be alone with that grief and my heartbreak (which is a story for another time). As soon as businesses were allowed to reopen, York blvd was a ghost town. The only stores people were going to during those first 8+ months were grocery stores and maybe Target. It's also worth mentioning that during that time, I was traveling back to Arizona often ( where I'm from- though I've been here for 12 years) to go to court on my brother's behalf. When someone you love is killed, that's just the beginning. There's an investigation, a prosecution, an arraignment, then finally sentencing. Every single time you grieve again and again and again. His name was Michael. He was my favorite human on the planet.
Long story short, over the last year and a half, I've spent all of my savings paying my personal bills and in those first few months, just paying the store's rent and bills. I'm not someone who lives hand to mouth. I've been working since I was 12! I have grit and work ethic and was able to get to a place where I felt stable enough financially to open a business. Who knew all of these unprecedented events would occur? I'd just opened so I didn't have enough of a sales history to qualify for any of the loans. I applied for every single thing I could. Last month, I'm proud to say, the store turned a teeny profit! Yet, it's not enough to live on and my savings is gone. You might think there so point in trying but summers are the slowest time of year for retail stores in Southern California and the Southwest. The holiday seasons sales are typically what get's small businesses through the summer months. If I can gear up for a killer holiday season, there's hope for me! Read on...
1.) I love vintage but it's not for everyone. To really make this location work, I need to have easy impulse buys and gifts and that was always my intention. I care deeply about the environment and my impact so I can't in good conscience just run to Santee Ally to fill the space. I need seed money (which I had but remember, but had to spend over the last year and a half) to invest in good quality sustainable, and locally made products. I want merchandise I'm proud to carry that is also from and in support of this community. Again vintage is great but it's a hard online sale too. With gifts that appeal to a larger audience, I could maximize profits with steady online sales as well.
2.) I desperately need to get an air conditioner. Before you say it's about to be September, remember it's LA and it's global warming. Do you remember how hot it was last October? Probably not because we didn't leave our houses but trust me, it was HOT ( it was 103 on Oct 1st ). It's not just for my comfort. I actually don't mind the heat so much ( I'm from the sunniest city on the planet- that's a fact, not an exaggeration) but customers do not want to try on clothes, let alone even stand in a store when it's 100 degrees inside. So no AC = no sales.
3.) This is probably the most important thing but it's the most vulnerable to admit so I saved it for last- As I previously mentioned, my savings is gone. If I don't make enough to cover my rent and my stores expenses this month, I honestly don't know how I'm going to do it. Yes, raising $10k would get me out of the hole and give me a fighting chance but honestly, if I can just raise a few hundred bucks with this thing, that will get me through to another month and that could be enough! Especially if this holidays season is a good one!
I've been HUSTLING this year. It's a miracle I've been able to swing it thus far and I hope you know, I couldn't have done it without you. I've always been a community-oriented person but HLP has really shown me the definition of community. So many of you return week after week to support the shop, some of you have modeled for me, some of you have become near and dear friends, some of you have shared my posts on social media, the list goes on. You're the reason I was able to work through my grief and build out this beautiful little space on a shoestring budget. You're the reason I have hope. Because of all of you, my store has survived during unprecedented times and I'm really hoping with your help, we can make it thrive!
I know most of us are struggling financially and even psychologically with the continued fall out of this pandemic and there are a million problems and causes to throw our money at right now. I know I'm just one sinking ship among a sea of ships, but alas, I'm throwing out my S.O.S. A few bucks helps. Sharing this helps. Coming into the shop and buying something helps. Honestly just a (sanitized) pat on the back next time you see me would be appreciated. The future of Marquis Moon is not guaranteed, heck, there is no such thing as a guaranteed future at all but I know that whatever happens, I'm so deeply appreciative of you and how much you've helped me accomplish thus far.
For every $1 you donate, I'll match it with a discount at the shop up to 25%. So if you donate $5 you get 5% off, If you donate $25, you get 25% off. Just show your donation at checkout and you're good to go!