Today we’d like to introduce you to Claudia Paksi.
Hi Claudia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started thrifting when I was really young. My family didn’t have a lot of money, so thrifting allowed me to get more clothes for the price of what one piece might cost somewhere else. I’ve also always had a pretty unique style, so I loved being able to find pieces that not everyone else had.
Over time, thrifting became more than just something I enjoyed doing for myself and eventually turned into my business, thriftswithclaud. It has grown so much over the years and honestly way more than I ever expected. I’ve shipped pieces to all 50 states and overseas, and recently started doing pop-up events as well. One of my favorite parts has been meeting so many amazing people along the way who share the same love for thrifting and finding unique pieces. It’s crazy to look back at where it started and see how much it has grown into what it is today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. Every year when school starts back up, I notice myself posting less and, as a result, making fewer sales. I wish it wasn’t that way, but balancing being a student-athlete, studying nursing, and running a business by myself makes it really difficult to give my business the same amount of time and attention consistently.
There have also been plenty of moments where running everything on my own feels overwhelming, and I question what I’m even doing or if I’m completely in over my head. But honestly, I think those moments have taught me a lot about myself and have helped me grow.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m currently a nursing student, and I’ll be graduating this December, which honestly still feels a little crazy to say. Nursing school has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. There have been plenty of times where I’ve questioned myself, felt completely overwhelmed, and wondered how I was going to make it through. At the same time, it has also been incredibly rewarding and has reminded me why I wanted to go into nursing in the first place.
I think what I’m most proud of is simply not giving up when it would have been a lot easier to. Nursing has challenged me in ways I never expected, but I’ve grown so much because of it. I’m beyond excited to graduate this December and finally see all of the hard work pay off. I don’t think I have everything figured out, and I’m still learning constantly, but I genuinely care about people and want to be the kind of nurse who makes them feel heard and comfortable, especially during some of the hardest moments of their lives
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always involved in sports and honestly loved being active. Outside of that, I was also really crafty and creative. I loved sewing, painting, and pretty much anything where I could make something myself. I’ve always loved animals and have always had a really deep care for other people, which I think has stayed consistent throughout my life.
Personality-wise, I think I was very uniquely and unapologetically myself from a young age. I’ve always had my own style, interests, and way of doing things, and I was never really interested in trying to be exactly like everyone else. Looking back, I think a lot of the things I loved growing up are still a huge part of who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriftswithclaud/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EHCyHEjAs/
- Other: https://depop.app.link/3sl8evre25b
