Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Becker.
Hi Whitney, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It all started with really good music, a love for finding preloved garments and things, and the idea of bringing all of that together. I’ve always loved the feeling of finding something that has a story behind it—a vintage piece that you know you probably won’t see again, a record you’ve been searching for, something handmade by someone who poured their heart into making it, or simply stumbling across something completely unexpected.
And then there’s the music component…
Music has always been apart of my life growing up with musicians in the family and heavy record collectors. But there’s just something special about timeless. music playing in the background while you are digging through crates, moving fiercely hanger to hanger, enjoying the vibe, and discovering new things with your homies.
In April 2023, I decided to do my vend at a small pop-up event. It was simple, a little scrappy, unorganized and honestly, the turnout wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. But standing there and looking around, I realized something.
I saw the vendors who had drove from all over the state, taking a chance to come to this event, setting up their presentation, hauling in their creations, their sourced finds, their art, and doing this because it’s their PASSION. Not only did I make just one sale—which, at the time, felt a little humbling—but I walked away realizing that the connections I made with the vendors in that building were worth FAR more than what I sold that day. And I knew that was when I saw the beginning of something. I felt like I had been gifted a seed to grow something way bigger than just a small pop-up event.
So to the drawing board I was. Planning. Plotting. Designing. I loved the idea of creating something that was thoughtfully organized and could be brought together by curating culture with even more creative mediums—DJs, artists, makers, and the people in the kitchen who pour their heart into their food. An awesome food truck on site, henna artists, live artists painting incredible murals to raffle off to everyone, and really just bringing all of this awesome-ness together under one roof.
I knew I didn’t want Vinyl & Vintage GR to just be another market. I wanted it to feel like a community gathering around all the things we love. A place where you could come for the records and vintage, but stay for the music, the people, the conversations, win a prize, grab a bite, and just enjoy that overall feeling of being part of something. A family. The Vinyl & Vintage Family!
And over time, that little seed started growing. We went from 10 vendors, to 15, to 22, and now we’re at over 30! Along the way, I also gained two amazing co-hosts, Sophia and Steven, who help bring everything together. I truly couldn’t ask for a better team—not only them, but all of our incredible volunteers, my uncle Jon who helps with print and advertising materials, our new MC-Dan, and of course, my mom, who has officially earned the title of our “Raffle Lady.”
At the end of the day, what I’ve come to love most is creating a safe space where my community can come together, feel safe, welcomed, and know that their ideas, creativity, and individuality have a place. Seeing people connect, support one another, and feel like they belong is what fills my cup every time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course, there have been challenges along the way, and I think those experiences have played a big part in shaping Vinyl & Vintage GR into what it is today. Every obstacle has taught us something new, helped us become better at planning, preparing, and creating more successful events. One thing I’ve learned quick is that you can plan as much as possible, design 37 different floor plans, but life happens. People have things come up, vendors or food trucks sometimes have to cancel, and things don’t always go exactly as mapped out. We’ve learned to be flexible, adapt with the motion, and roll with the punches.
Our mission has always been to create an experience where our vendors are set up for success. That means being willing to adjust when things don’t go according to plan and making sure that, no matter what comes up behind the scenes, we can still create something meaningful for the vendors, artists, food trucks, and community who show up to continuously support Vinyl & Vintage GR.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My professional background is rooted more than 15 years in marketing, graphic design, branding, and event planning, with creative direction at the center of it all. I’ve spent my career taking ideas from concept to solution — developing the vision, building friends and small businesses brands with custom logos and brand kits, creating the 12 week PR plans for events, designing websites, and bringing the entire experience together.
I take pride in creating experiences and visual identities that are unique and intentional. That can mean developing a brand from the ground up by designing and implementing all of the pieces that work together to tell a story.
But what I’m most proud of is my ability to truly make something from nothing. I love starting with an idea that may only exist on paper and turning it into something people can actually experience. There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes — the creative direction, branding, vendors, marketing, sponsors, volunteers, safety and medical concerns, logistics, atmosphere, and all of the little details that people might overlook — and bringing those pieces together is what I enjoy most.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m not limited to one creative discipline. I can look at the big picture while still caring about the smallest details. I’m equally comfortable developing the concept, designing the visuals, creating the marketing strategy, coordinating the moving pieces, and being hands-on through execution. I’m a very resourceful, figure-it-out kind of person, and I think that comes from years of working across different areas of marketing, real estate, event planning and creative work.
Ultimately, I’m proud of being able to turn ideas into something tangible — something that has a personality, creates a feeling, and gives people a reason to connect with it.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is family, connection, and the sense of unity that comes from bringing people together through creative outlets.
Over the years I’ve created a family of my own through Vinyl & Vintage—the Vinyl & Vintage family. It’s made up of the vendors, volunteers, artists, DJs, musicians, friends, long time supporters, and all of the people who continue to show up and become part of this little community I’ve built.
Event days are honestly some of my happiest days. There are moments during the shows when I’ll look around and find myself crying tears of joy because I’m just so proud—not only of the event, but of everyone who helped shape it into what it has become. Seeing people laughing, dancing, connecting, discovering something new, winning a raffle prize, the art auctions, and simply enjoying being together can be incredibly emotional for me.
I started Vinyl & Vintage with an idea, but my community is what has given it a life of its own.
I think that’s what I’m most grateful for. I didn’t just create an event. I created a family.
Pricing:
- Vinyl and Vintage events are always free to attend
- To become a vendor is $65-$85
- Prices of items for sale at the events vary per vendor
- Raffle tickets are $5 or 5 for $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vinylandvintageGR.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/vinylandvintageGR
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/vinylandvintageGR
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneybecker/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/whitney-becker?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1&si=A2097AD04085455CB6754E2C0672C51E&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
