Today we’d like to introduce you to Victor Peel.
Victor, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Joined the Navy (1976) out of Chicago to see the world! Did that for 20 years. Traveled extensively and even stayed in the US long enough to be on the ‘Price is Right’ back in 1995! Retired in the Mojave Desert of California. Travel bug hit again and moved to Japan for several years. During all these years of travel, I was collecting various items from everywhere I went and became an early participant in a little site called ‘eBay’. While in Japan, I ran several eBay virtual ‘stores’ selling Japanese antiques and collectibles to all areas of the world. Returned to the US and opened a vintage store here in Athens; continuing to sell world-wide. Along the way, I have garnered several contracts supplying set design pieces to independent and major films ~ the latest being ‘Office Christmas Party’ and the forthcoming Planet of the Apes movie “WAR”. My wife and I are heavy world-travelers and continue to travel. As a surprise to me (literally I found out at the airport!) she booked us for a vacation in Spain. Visited Madrid to see the cathedrals as-well-as the world’s third oldest flea market so I could ‘pick’ it for unique items! This is just a bullet point snippet of the things I’ve done (did I say I climbed Mount Fuji?!!) as my craft of ‘picking’ vintage and unique items from around the world continues – daily!
Has it been a smooth road?
Oh No! Being a Black man in the ‘picking’ world – there are ALWAYS obstacles! Some are overt and most covert. Sometimes it’s a feeling when in an area ‘picking’ and sometimes it is right in my face that I am not welcome / or otherwise knowledgeable of a subject or item. Kind of hard to put into words but the obstacles do crop up – just not as much and mostly overlooked by me as I continue to not let anything hold me back from the ‘pick’!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Vic’s Vintage – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the sole owner of Vics Vintage LLC. I source the eclectic item for resale to the general customer as well as the elite collector. If ‘it’s’ out there, I will find it. I have found a Nakashima table at a Flea Market for $30 and flipped it for over $4000 – this can be the norm for me at times. While in Japan and using limited Japanese to navigate, I routinely went into prefectures that had never seen a black man in person and I interacted as a respected ambassador of the US as well as continuing to ‘pick’ unique items – it was a BLAST! I am well-known for my ‘eye’ for the unique. I am usually free with my information to help others as, at times, it is a huge world and we can all prosper in it. I am an owner that has a single employee at a time that I groom to excel not only in business but also in life. My last employee has joined the Navy and is currently on his own track to ‘see the world’. My current employee is from Simi Valley in California and is a great ‘fit’ for my store and clientele.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The people are awesome! I have dispelled most, not all, of the myths I learned of as a kid on the Southside of Chicago. The least thing is the lack of any semblance of a transit system. I have traveled the world – Atlanta is the least enjoyable to drive in and near the bottom as a place to fly in and out of (I think I have walked over a mile from my gate to baggage claim when coming in on a late flight – just a terrible experience).
Pricing:
- $1 to $10000 – depending on YOUR tastes/style. You want it – I will find it!
Contact Info:
- Address: 768 West Broad Street
Athens, Georgia 30601 - Website: www.vicsvintage.com
- Phone: 706-389-5900
- Email: vicsvintage@hotmail.com
- Instagram: vicsvintage
- Facebook: vicsvintageLLC
- Twitter: vicsvintagellc
- Yelp: Vics Vintage
Image Credit:
Victor and Christopher Peel
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Maria
June 20, 2017 at 2:06 pm
This is an outstanding article. I applaud the owner and business for sharing the journey details and notable achievements. Quite inspirational and motivating.
Bob Gorman
June 20, 2017 at 5:38 pm
Great article! Proud of you Vic. Original Maple Parker for life!
Lorna Montgomery
June 20, 2017 at 8:02 pm
Loving the article & the owner…
The World is his “pick”.
Love the helping of others & not letting anyone or thing get in the way of finding the unique pick
Congrats
Mike peel
June 21, 2017 at 5:59 am
That’s My lil Brother and as All Older Brothers Say ” I TAUGHT HIM EVERYTHING HE KNOWS !!! Keep up the Pickin Bro !!! Love Ya…
Kenny C
June 21, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Learned a lot of something new today from someone I thought I knew!!! Great article and great insight “young” Mr. Peel!
LA Foster-Hubbard
June 21, 2017 at 9:33 pm
Living life to the fullest and sharing the love all over the world. Well done Vic. God bless and continue to ‘pick’ your way to happiness
LA Foster-Hubbard
June 21, 2017 at 9:35 pm
Living life to the fullest !! Well done Vic. God bless and continue to ‘pick’ your way to happiness
Paul Belger
June 22, 2017 at 1:32 am
I just happen to be part of Mr. Vic Peels Navy time. We were in the same Fighter Squadron together VF-24. With his magnetic personality we quickly became friends. Still to this day Vic is someone I hold in high regard. I can personally tell you, he had a knack for “Picking” and “selling” long before Ebay! Ha Ha.
James Daniels
June 22, 2017 at 5:18 am
Great article. Another brother from our hood Maple Park. Doing GOOD. Proud of you.
Betsy
April 5, 2018 at 11:53 am
This man is truly one of the kindest men I have ever known. My business partner and I enjoy doing business with him. HE will tell you, of all his accomplishments, and he has many, his wife and his children are his greatest. He loves them fiercely. He is truly a great man.
Naimah Latif
April 5, 2018 at 11:55 pm
Wow! What a fun, exciting life you’re living! Congratulations on living your dream! By the way, I have so much old stuff my parents wouldn’t throw away, I might be a supplier for Vic’s Vince age! I’ll have to send you photos of some of my antiques! 😄
Victor W Peel
October 2, 2018 at 1:16 am
Hey Neighbor!!!! Great to hear from ya! Yep Yep – I’d definitely come up for some kewl stuff from right next door!!!
Leon Foster Jr.
April 6, 2018 at 2:18 am
My man! Well done article and well done life!Glad to know you and have you and Steph as a role models!! As my Mom used to say, “Keep it going”! Onward and upward my brother!
PS – Thanks for keeping it real, as the young folk say, 100%!