Noteworthy with Nan

Elizabeth White Cook: Estate Sale Secrets & Making a Living as a Creator

• Nan Philip • Season 1 • Episode 9

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Former publicist Elizabeth White Cook shares how she reinvented her career as a content creator while teaching Nan her favorite estate sale strategies, online auction tricks, and the business behind affiliate marketing.

Find links to everything mentioned on our Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/nanphilip/p/nwn-podcast-109-elizabeth-white-cook

In this episode, Nan sits down with Elizabeth White Cook, an Atlanta-based content creator and former publicist who has built and sold two businesses. Elizabeth first launched a hair accessory brand and then launched Domino Media Group, an Atlanta PR agency she built over six years to champion Southern brands. From there, Elizabeth switched gears and is now a content creator focusing on thrifting, estate sales, and finding beautiful items for your home and wardrobe (often at a discount!). She jokes that she has “Veranda eyes without the Veranda budget.”

The women chat about how they use affiliate platforms like ShopMy to turn their side hustles into full careers. In fact, Elizabeth shares how her affiliate earnings even paid her legal bills during her recent divorce. She and Nan explore the power of Substack, Elizabeth’s weekly Marketplace Monday’s newsletters, and the line between authenticity and oversharing.
The conversation is chock-full of great advice, with Elizabeth's full playbook for shopping estate sales and online auctions – from searching for the best zip code on estatesales.net to decoding the buyer's premium. The episode closes with Elizabeth’s Noteworthy Tips and a quick-fire round of her favorite Atlanta restaurants and shops.

Stay tuned for more Noteworthy with Nan episodes every Thursday!!


Follow Elizabeth:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth.w.cook

Substack: https://elizabethwcook.substack.com/

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Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Elizabeth White Cook

00:46 Highs and Lows of the Week

06:08 Selling Two Businesses: Hair Accessories & Public Relations

10:13 A New Career as A Content Creator

11:55 Divorce, ShopMy, and Affiliate Earnings

15:23 How To Shop Estate Sales and Online Auctions

36:47 Elizabeth's Three Noteworthy Tips

41:42 Quick-Fire: Atlanta Favorites


Credits

Host: Nan Philip

Executive Producer: Julia Aubuchon

Technical Director: Drew Downing

Guest: Elizabeth White Cook



SPEAKER_01

Hi everyone. Welcome back to Noteworthy with Nan. I am here with my friend Elizabeth. I mean, I feel like we've probably known each other for like 10 to 15 years. I was thinking before when I walked here this morning.

SPEAKER_00

And a lot of different capacities in life chapter. So this is so much fun to be sitting here with you today.

SPEAKER_01

I'm so excited that you're here. Elizabeth is in from Atlanta and she's here in the city and she was texting, like, let's grab a coffee cover. And I sort of sprung this on her because I was like, well, we could grab a coffee or you could come on my podcast. We could talk over a camera.

SPEAKER_00

Um, no, I'm so happy to be here. And I actually I love the premise of the podcast, Life After Your Business that you've started. And I always wondered the same thing. What are these women doing today and how have they managed? Like, I just think that there's so much about the early years of someone's business.

SPEAKER_01

But I'm like, no, but what's happening right now? Like there's still just new challenges and new things that are happening. And you have had many a businesses, which we'll be we will get into. But first, I like to ask everyone for a high and a low from the past week, like just sort of to set us where we are where you are in life.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, love it. I think a high that would be this morning walking through New York City in my floral loafers and my white sousard dress, and everybody's in monochromatic, walking to work. I just felt like a city girl again walking to work. I love it. But also felt like it was it, I was sticking out like a sore thumb, which we we we want to stand out.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. I always, anytime I wear color or anything like that, yesterday I was wearing a red gingham dress, and I see like a lot of people were giving me like a double take. Yeah. It's summer, it's New York City.

SPEAKER_00

I can wear red, you know. I mean, I love it. Oh yeah. Yeah. And um, and I think that that was a major high. And just even I went to something last night and I didn't really know many people, and I love meeting strangers and just like are you good at that?

SPEAKER_01

I have to say I'm not great at like walking up to people at sort of an influencer type event. I get a little intimidated, but then I feel like I can talk to a wall.

SPEAKER_00

But are you good at just like walking up to a group of people? I think before I got there, I was a little timid. I had I had flown in from Atlanta and I changed in the LaGuardia bathroom and I actually put on the off-campus music playlist in the bathroom. And I feel like everybody was jamming with me. So that lifted my spirits. But I texted you, I was like, are you going to this? Yeah. So if I knew if I'd have a buddy when I got there. And um, but I walked in and came in with my luggage. I love that. And it was outer, was it out outer banks? Is that what that place was? Yes, it was at Outer Banks. And um, it was really lovely with Petite Plume, but I didn't know many people, and there was a lot of people over social that I feel like we've seen from afar. Totally. And it was so fun to meet people in in person. And I just introduced myself. And I think in New York, you can get away with that.

SPEAKER_01

I do think it's easier when I'm like, oh, I see someone from afar and I know I follow them, or I have something to talk to them about. I can be like, oh, Elizabeth, I follow you. I love your content. If I don't know that person at all, I'm kind of draw a blank, but I should work on that. It would be a good skill to practice. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00

I feel like you're such a great conversationalist. I'm surprised. I feel like you would be really good.

SPEAKER_01

I think I try to hide it sometimes, but I think we all get intimidated or a little nervous. Big time. Yeah. Um, any lows from the past week?

SPEAKER_00

I think I don't know if it'd be a low, but I'd say I was just like really exhausted more than anything. And I feel like I'm getting my energy back. Love. And feeling rejuvenated. And um, it had been just the end of the month with school is so busy for anybody that has like young children. It's like what do you guys call it? May December, May December. I feel like I see people say that on social media because it's just so hectic. Yes. And so I think I was just trying to like do a ton and stretch thin. And um, I really believe your body keeps score, and I could just feel it. And so I think that was my low, but I'm coming out of it.

SPEAKER_01

Awesome. Yeah, you're here in New York, re-energized. I love it. Yes, definitely. Um, I realized I totally forgot to ask you before we totally dive in for a quick little intro to tell us that you have two kids, all the things. So, will you just give everyone who's listening a little overview of who you are in case they don't already follow you?

SPEAKER_00

Yes. My name's Elizabeth Cook or Elizabeth White Cook. White's my maiden name. I have two children, Louisa and Hayes. Um, they're both under seven years old. We live in Atlanta, Georgia. I've started and sold two businesses and really believe in optimistic evolutions. And, you know, the most interesting women have had a lot of life chapters, and um I certainly hope to be part of that group. And, you know, I have been just trying to lean into opportunities as I see them and open spaces and kind of figuring it out. But one business has led to the next, which has then led to the the next. And I would consider this kind of my third rendition of um and I don't know how long I'll do this for or what it'll lead to next, but I'm really enjoying where I am right now. And I've been sharing content online and especially on Substack and talking about thrifted finds. I love secondhand treasures.

SPEAKER_01

Elizabeth is like, I think you're the best person I know to find anything amazing, antique, thrifted, a sale. Like, if you love a discount, you have to follow Elizabeth because she finds the best deals. It's such a skill. Like you must love the hunt.

SPEAKER_00

Do you like I love the hunt, but it's so funny because I grew up my mom's like superpowers, so she could tell you where every thrift store was in the United States or like every TJ Maxx in the Southeast. Oh my god, amazing. And so I grew up like going to all these thrifted stores throughout my childhood, and my grandmother is somebody that would go to like the DD building in New York.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, love.

SPEAKER_00

And we would never walk into a thrift store. And so I feel like she had this educational component. Yeah. And my mom had the hunt, and then you put them together. Yeah, and you get older and you realize how expensive life is. Oh my God.

SPEAKER_01

And like you have beautiful taste. Elizabeth loves beautiful interiors, like I do, beautiful fabrics. And like that stuff just gets so expensive. You know, like a headboard, an upholstered headboard can kill you. Yes.

SPEAKER_00

But we're both PR girls. And PR, you're very resourceful. And so you kind of figure things out. And I feel like that is kind of how I got into it a little bit too, because yeah, I felt like I had veranda eyes without the veranda pocketbook. Yeah. And I'd be like, I need to decorate my living room, but I have $200. How can I make this happen?

SPEAKER_01

Well, I feel like you sort of always knew how to do that. And now that you've moved into your sort of content creator chapter, you're just telling all of us. Like I feel like you've been doing it for years, but now we all get to follow along and learn.

SPEAKER_00

So it's been fun kind of demystifying that world and hopefully empowering others to shop secondhand.

SPEAKER_01

So quickly, just so people we can set the scene, your first business, remind me of the name, was a jewelry business, right? Elizabeth Heard Flair for the hair. Okay. And you had that for how long?

SPEAKER_00

I had that for probably four years, maybe. But you were young when you started it, right? I was. I was really young. I was um living in New York and I was working for a magazine and I was going to Parsons at night school. And I always loved hair barettes and I loved the idea of making something cool that's really not considered that cool. And I always wore berrettes. I used to go to Clydes in New York back then when I was like in South Georgia. And um and went through a breakup when I was really young. And it's interesting how that like kind of redirects you in different ways. I was working, but I wasn't working to the level that, you know, I was later in life. And one of the best things that ever happened to me is that I called my dad and I said, Dad, you know, can I borrow money for for rent in Atlanta? And he said, No, Wibba, calling me Wibba because I couldn't pronounce Elizabeth when I was younger. And he'd say, No, but your childhood bedroom is is free. Okay, that's a good answer. I moved to South Georgia. I had these like homemade hot glue hair brettes that I like to do. And I was like, I'd see my friends in San Francisco and New York, and I'd go, gosh, I really need to start earning an income to live the life that I want to. And um, and I think that really like was this fun propeller in the world. Yeah, to need a plug. Yeah, it was a great push. Totally. And so I just really enjoyed, and um and the biggest thing with us hair barettes is you know, the PR side, we're used to pitching, and I was seeing what was resonating with sales back then because I worked in PR in New York and um and I'd emailed Good Morning America. I was like, I was watching the Kardashians with my first business and I was like, that's what I need to do, Elizabeth. Get them on television. Yeah, and you did, right? Yeah, I ended up getting them on television, but um that what was what enabled me to move back to Atlanta and I put six months down rent and cash because I was like instead of the monthly payments. Yeah. And I um did somebody's public relations for free for a while in order to have an office space and electricity and like a printer. And that's kind of how I got started with the PR thing. And people would call and at trade shows, I would book time slots for Kurt, like, and and I thought it was a really good psychological thing for buyers. They would always see my booth really busy at trade shows. Yeah. But it was a lot of these young entrepreneurs that would be like, How do I do a desk side? Or can you help me write this pitch email? So while you were doing the hair accessories business and all that, you were also doing PR, sort of doing both. Well, I was doing both for a little bit, but also, you know, because of my background in public relations, it catapulted the brand so much faster than it probably would have. Yeah. And my product was really a subpar product. I just enjoyed the storytelling component so much. And so people would be like, How did you get your hair berettes and teen vogue or wherever? Yeah. And I would start um helping these other, especially like female entrepreneurs, but I would book these time slots and then it became a domino effect. And so my second business became domino. And that was really also seeing this white space in Atlanta, Georgia at the time because there was a lot of creatives, but it going to New York or LA seemed out of budget and it seemed intimidating for a lot of people. And there wasn't this middleman that could really help them get on a national platform, even though the services and the products behind them. You are great.

SPEAKER_01

Like there's so many good Southern brands that you wrapped. And so Domino Media Group, how long were you running it before you sold it? I think I was running it for six years. Yeah, I mean, you built an awesome business. I feel like you had amazing clients. I love the girls that you worked with, and then you sold it to them, right? And they continued it.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. So my number two, Sarah Slaughter, runs it today. I love her. She's a gym. She is a gym. And we both worked for the same PR agency in New York. So we both had a very similar like um training. Yeah. And it was just so nice that I feel like when I left, I just really wanted the team to feel like in good hands and the clients. And um And she's continued to grow it really well. I feel like does she now have a whole social media arm? And she just acquired another business and so proud of her.

SPEAKER_01

That's awesome. And so then all of that's happening, you're having kids, and then how did you sort of get into the content creating world? Posting on Instagram, all of that. Or I guess more so, like when did it start to feel like a bit more of a business and that you started to make money from it and rely on it?

SPEAKER_00

I did a home tour with the pot of boxwood. Okay. And did that sort of like set you off? A little bit, yeah. I did it this tour in my last house in Columbus, Georgia, and so many people would reach out and they'd be like, I've watched that tour. I remember all the different rooms. It was such a beautiful house. Yeah, the house I loved. It had good bones. But I they'd be like, Where did you get your rug? And I would just send them the rug link without it being commissionable. And I um had worked on the PR side, so I'd seen what these girls were doing on the back end a little bit. Yeah, you definitely knew some of the inner workings. Yeah, and um, and it's grown so much more since I was there on the content side on the PR, but I'm fast. My marketing mind is fascinated seeing what brands are doing today. Yeah. But I basically, when ShopMai came around, it's changed the game, I think. It it truly changed the game and and honestly changed my life. That's amazing. Yeah, it was so um. Did you use LTK at all? Or did you have you always been a Shop Mai girl? So I'm a huge Amber fan. Yeah. Oh SMU? Yeah. Okay. And I used LTK, but I honestly never really did. Like I would, I had it, but I found I do find Shopmai easier to use.

SPEAKER_01

Um there's something about the way the these are two different affiliate platforms that I feel like most of our followers will be familiar with of how influencers make money. And it allows you to make a unique link that then when you're following Elizabeth and you click on her link that she posts on Substack or in her Instagram stories, it's tracking that Elizabeth gave you the link. So you don't have to pay anything as the follower or the consumer, but Elizabeth would get a little commission or I would when I'm sharing these links. And that's how most, you know, there's tons of different ways, of course, to be paid as a content creator. You can have a paid partnership or all that. But I think both of us love just like a good commissionable sale completely.

SPEAKER_00

And I love, I think I saw them on your podcast, you were like, instead of giving it to Amazon, please just give it to like a younger. Yes, like a mom who has two kids, like this money makes a difference, you know? It it is so um, so true. And I, so this last year, Nan, I went through a divorce, and that is probably the other thing that really catapulted me trying to figure out how to make this into a business because the funds that I was making these funds and um and I was seeing the return. And I was like, if I just think a little bit more strategically, maybe about like I'm going into Goodwill and love going into Goodwill. I'm there, but now I'm putting on a tucker neck dress. Yeah, looking cute, can link to the dress. Yes. And so I've started to do that. And you know, I've A, I've been having so much fun. Totally. I love seeing what brands are doing, and I love talk chatting with people. And also, the work that I've been doing that doesn't always really even feel like work to me. No, it's just like chatting with friends has paid all my legal bills this past year and just been so much from your divorce.

SPEAKER_01

They've yes, that's huge. Like, so a woman going through a divorce can use this platform, like this new job category and pay your legal bills. I mean, I think that's amazing.

SPEAKER_00

And I'm home with my two children, and so it is the neatest thing to me. And that's also um just so empowering.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I love that. I think it just what I've learned too with doing my account is like you just have to, I think if someone's a new creator or a younger creator, and I still feel like I'm new and I have so much to learn, but I think you just have to put in the time. Like I found that I would make a little bit of money here, it was sort of supplemental income. And then once I really started to do it consistently, that's where I saw like the tables turn a little bit. And I was like, oh, okay, this is income I can rely on. Yes. That once I'm posting consistently and my followers can know to expect my posts, uh-huh, then I can start to rely on this money.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, I completely agree. And sometimes it feels like the more you put in, the more you get out, which I love that kind of internal game.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I feel like that's been interesting from the PR realm. Because if as we're both publicists, I feel like there used to be a lot of what you do as a PR, as a publicist is you're sort of waiting a lot. You're kind of like, okay, I'm gonna check in with the editor. I'm doing this for my client, but you're kind of a middleman. And I love that I can be sitting here as a creator and be like, I want to make a little more money this month. Okay, let me just go post another Substack, make some more content. Like it feels like it's really in my control. Yes. Where I feel like when you're a publicist, it's not really all in your control.

SPEAKER_00

And Substack's wonderful because it feels like it's owned land versus like a rented space. 100%. I've really been trying to get people into my Substack. How often do you send a Substack? So I've been doing marketplace Mondays, which I do consistently. And that goes back to what you were saying of just people knowing to expect that once a week, where I give them the sale breakdown in Atlanta, give the online sales. It's like every sale you need, every product you want to buy. I love it. I call it the daily candy of the South.

SPEAKER_01

And I'm Daily Candy. That was so good.

SPEAKER_00

And so I've just been having so much fun doing that. But then I went to this like incredible estate sale later on this or right before I came here this week. And um, so I was like, I've got to send out another email because I want to be a trusted source for all of the sale info. And just because I'd sent out my email, I was like, I gotta let people know they've got to go to this one.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, no, I think I send out a few. I sort of get worried about should I am I sending too many? Will people get annoyed? And I'm like, it's just an email. If someone doesn't want to read it, they can delete it. I know like it's no big deal. Um, I have so many things to ask you, but let's talk about estate sales because I feel like you, in my mind, are the queen of figuring out an estate sale, finding all the good things. So it's sort of a double-edged sword, right? Because you could go to an estate sale in person, or you can also now there's so many online auctions.

SPEAKER_00

Totally.

SPEAKER_01

What do you recommend for the newbie? Let's say someone who doesn't live in Atlanta, doesn't live in New York, maybe they live in Texas and they want to go find estate sales. How would they go about finding them?

SPEAKER_00

I'd go to estatesales.net. Okay. And you can also download it on your phone. I find that easier to use. And you put in the nicest zip code in your city.

SPEAKER_01

Nicest zip code, key. I love that. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

And it'll populate all of the estate sales that are happening. Amazing. And then that way you can look and you can see with up with up to 14 days ahead. Okay. And usually most sales are posted on like a Monday or Tuesday. Okay. They're live on a Thursday. And then the prices will go down.

SPEAKER_01

In person, or is it are the products listed online?

SPEAKER_00

So a lot of times people will do photos of the estate sales. Okay. And then the address is posted the evening before the actual sale. Oh, so you can see a little preview of like what you can see a preview. And I will say that's an industry that needs better, like needs a it needs just disruption.

SPEAKER_01

Like someone needs to be.

SPEAKER_00

It needs a publicist behind it because the photos are not very good, which I also kind of love because I'm like, there's a lot hidden in here. Yeah. They don't see that baccarat, like, you know, hurricane behind there, but I do. And um, and so what I do is when that when I know the address is that sometimes I'll Google the address and then I find out these stories of these homes, like who the interior designer was or the architect. And I love learning about the history behind where I'm heading in. But the best thing to do if you're unfamiliar with the state sales is go in with an open mind and download the app, go to the sale to find an item. You basically just pick it up. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

If it's a large place, I'm interrupting you, but so the sale, let's say it starts at 10 a.m. Like, do you need to be there at nine to get in line? How important is it to be first into the sale?

SPEAKER_00

So I think it depends on the sale itself. Like if it's gonna be a sale that has a lot of um promotion behind it, you want to get there earlier, especially if there's a piece that you you know you're going after. Okay. I would get there probably around like eight, eight thirty. And wait in line. Yes, I would love to do this um big estate sale in Atlanta recently. And it was so funny. I was in like my mom was going after two chandeliers. One was an Urban Electric and one was a Paul like Ferrante that she had found at this estate sale. And so we were like, we gotta get there early. She was the front front of the line, and there was men that had spent the night there, and they were going after porcelain, and there was like a silver dealer, like these characters. I was like, this needs to be a reality show. This is a good thing. Oh my gosh, that is crazy. All these different characters, but and then you people would be like, What are you going after? And everybody would just go silent because you didn't want to share.

SPEAKER_01

So you walk into so that opens. Let's say your mom, you're your mom going after a chandelier. She's sort of like going as fast as she can through the house to wherever hopefully the chandelier is.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, exactly. So my mom, she, my brother-in-law, just my sister and brother-in-law just moved to Atlanta. And I think she was colluding with them the evening before. And so my sweet brother-in-law was there to go after one chandelier while my mom went for the other. Oh, and then I was back up. Oh, so she just like was covering all of her basis. But if you do know a designated piece, I would go directly towards that first, hold it. And if it's a larger piece, you're gonna need to put your name that says sold and get with somebody that's from the estate sale company to have them write up your ticket. Do you have to bring your own tickets or are there sort of tickets? They have their own tickets. Okay. Now, sometimes I have custom sold like Elizabeth stickers with my with my number on them. But I think that that probably wouldn't fly everywhere. Yeah. They know me, and I think at the Atlanta like estate sale world that they'll She's the queen of the Atlanta estate sale. No, I say that in the sense that like they'll be able to find me and they'll be like, you need to pay for this figurine or trinket. But um I would wait until somebody from the estate sale company like flags it, which they'll do right away. And they're like used to the to the craze in the morning. But if you really like to take your time, like debate over a piece, estate sales are not necessarily gonna be the your favorite way of shopping. Okay. But I think I, man, kind of get a thrill out of it. Oh, I bet.

SPEAKER_01

It's kind of like a high.

SPEAKER_00

You would it is a total dopamine high.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And so um, for better or worse. This is so fun. Okay, so you go at estate sales generally, can you sort of heckle the price, or is it really that one price that they've decided?

SPEAKER_00

What I have noticed is really on that first day, it is that price. And then as the weekend goes on or as the estate sale goes on, you can then there's a little more negotiation power. And the best is like the very end of the very last day of the estate sale, typically it's 50% off the re the price that they put there. That's huge. Okay. And then also if it's like the last hour of the estate sale, sometimes I'll be like, This place is closing. Like, would you be open to X? Okay. And most people are. And it really depends on what agreement they have with a consigner. Okay. And how strict they are. But you know, they want to sell it just as much as you want to buy it for a deal.

SPEAKER_01

So if you get a small trinket, you can probably buy it right then, take it with you, right? Exactly. What about if you're buying the dining room table? Do they have a shipping company there, or is this one we need to refer to your good list of all the shipping companies that you can use?

SPEAKER_00

So if you're doing an estate sale, there are so many like local movers that can help you. Okay. And um, and I'm trying to think of like there's some bungee, there's like some different apps that it will help you, but usually most estate sale companies have a list of preferred shippers. Great. So it's pretty convenient to figure out how to get at home. Exactly. They can help you get at home in Atlanta. I have so many movers, um, like on speed dial that I use, especially now as like a single, you know, lady. Right, you can't move it yourself. I can't move it myself, but even like I'm always rearranging furniture and doing different things. So I'll call like my mover and I'll be like, Charles, like, can we move this dresser from here to here? Or I need to set up this playhouse with my children, like, you know, just a lot of everyday tasks that are a little bit harder. Always happens to me as a single woman. I'm like, I really just need another set of hands. Yes, yes. And um, and so I know all the folks in in town, but if you're doing an online auction, yeah, um, online auction houses usually on their designated websites, not on live auctioneers. Okay.

SPEAKER_01

Um they're on like Stare Galleries website. Okay.

SPEAKER_00

You go to Stare Galleries and you go to like their shipping, which is usually on the very bottom, underneath, like on the about, like the about contact shipping is usually one of the subheaders. Okay. You click on it and there'll be a list of um national shippers, a list of white club, and then a list of small miscellaneous items. Okay. Most UPS stores will ship small miscellaneous items and pick it up. Okay. So if you're like doing an auction in Detroit, yeah, somebody from uh UPS can pick up those items and then ship it to you. But you have to be cautious. That's why I love estate sales so much is that with an online auction, Nan, say you found a great set of China for 200 and it's a 28% buyer's premium, you know, you're spending another like six. I don't understand that.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so let's switch gears because I want to be more of a thrifty shopper, like you go to all these estate sales, buy online, but I'm new to all of it. An online auction. There's a few things that confuse me. So first, if it's on what's the website that live auctioneers, live auctioneers. Or, but more so if I was just on stair galleries or some of these different things, you have to pre-register. That's the first thing that confuses me. Is that right?

SPEAKER_00

Yes. So I think it's helpful to pre-register. Okay, I don't always do that, but if anything, it's nice if you pre-register on the auction website because then your buyer's premium is less. What is the buyer's premium? It's just a they take all of these different, just like when you pay taxes and you're all just different meaning on top of it. Yes. But like instead of it being 28% on live auctioneers, because live auctioneers is getting like another 4%. Okay. You could pay 24%. And if you're spending a fair amount, it ends up being a lot of money.

SPEAKER_01

And so it's just something to So you basically, when you're buying these things online, you have the price that's listed or whatever the winning bid is that you end up paying. You have the what did you call that?

SPEAKER_00

I call it the buyer's premium.

SPEAKER_01

The buyer's premium and then shipping. These are the three things you need to prepare. So it's really a different price than what you see right there. Like you've got to be ready to add a lot more to it.

SPEAKER_00

And sometimes the shipping can really be a doozy.

SPEAKER_01

And so do you usually at reach out to a shipper in advance to get, will they do an estimate for you?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, they do. Okay. That's a great question. And um, and that's a wonderful thing to do to get a get a feeling if this is something that's within your budget to do. Okay. So how I've gone about that in the past is that I'll go to a list of shippers that's usually on the auction website. Yeah. Or if if anybody's listening and they live in um Texas, Connecticut, Palm Beach, Atlanta, I can tell you the different shippers.

SPEAKER_01

And I know that you have that on your Substack too. And it's also in my Substack. Yes. So we will make sure. One thing I actually want to plug for everyone listening is with each episode, there's an episode description that you can read on YouTube or see in your podcast app. And there's a link there to our Substack. And for every podcast episode, we have a coordinating Substack post that links to everything we talk about. Because I've found one of my biggest pet peeves when I'm listening to a podcast, you know, they might say, Oh, I'm wearing this Sue, how do you pronounce her brand? Sarter. Sarder. Sue Sarder dress. And it's beautiful. And then I'm like, wait, what was the dress that Elizabeth was wearing? So we will give you the link. So anything that we mentioned, stare galleries, Elizabeth Substack, all of that will be linked and provided for you, hopefully, unless we can't find the link because it's, you know, a one-of-a-kind piece you find at an auction. But um, we'll provide all of that for you. So shippers, we have a few favorites that Elizabeth can share. Yes.

SPEAKER_00

And um, but but if you're trying to get that estimated shipping, yeah, I go to the shipper, I send them an email and I say, hey, I'm looking at lot 67. Okay. I put the link. Yeah. And then I say it's pickup with the address for the auction house. And then the and be careful that it's you're actually picking up at the auction house and not like a warehouse, you know, straight away. Okay. So it'll tell you on the on the auction website. Um, and then you put in your address of wherever it's going, and people will give you an estimate, and that's really helpful. And sometimes, like, especially with stare, I've gotten, yeah, like where I'll, if I'm getting one big piece, I'll be like, well, I should just have a lot of fun and just get a bunch.

SPEAKER_01

Right, get a few things, add it all together. Do you ever like get two bids for shipping and sort of price shop two of them? 100%.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

Always do that.

SPEAKER_01

It's a lot of work. I love it because I love shopping that you really have to dive in, but there's a lot of moving pieces. Like, you're not just going on the real, reel, buying something, checking out. There's a bit of more of a hunt, which we like the hunt.

SPEAKER_00

Because of that extra piece, I think it deters a lot of people. But it's also um, you can find incredible items. And and in Atlanta, where I'm living right now, I really do feel like they're having this design moment in the secondhand market. Yeah. Kind of similar to what Palm Beach did maybe a decade ago. And because there's not as many dealers reselling. Yeah. But there's so many people that have invested in their homes and had these beautiful homes. And like great interior designers who've kind of done the whole thing. And completely that lucky person's moving to a new home and they're not taking it with them. They're starting from scratch. And so I have found like I am finding better things in Atlanta at estate sales. And it makes more sense for me than paying for shipping to Connecticut. But during the pandemic and pre-pandemic, I used to do a ton of online auctions because I was living in a city that didn't have all these estate sales. And also, this was before the pandemic, especially, online auctions, things were just going so they were, it was crazy what I was finding for the price point. Okay. And um just, and then more people became aware of them.

SPEAKER_01

So I'm thinking if I want to ease into the world of online auctions, I should probably start with like smaller. Maybe it is the silverware or like a something sort of tabletop-y decorative. Is that a good way to start before I buy something big? Like it feels like a big commitment to buy a chair or buy something.

SPEAKER_00

So living in New York and say stair, which is one of my absolute favorite auction houses or Doyle's here. Yeah. But you can really, it's not that far from Hudson, New York. Like you could go see it. You could go see it. You could go to the preview, but you could also have that um moved for you. Right. And it probably wouldn't be crazy expensive. Okay. So I'd almost even be tempted to get something larger because we're bucked. Yeah, it could be like a, you know, a $20,000 table that you're buying for $400 and you're like, this is great. And um, and Stare, especially, I'm obsessed with Colin Stare. The Oh, is he one of the founders or owners? Yes, okay. But he's so funny. He's like, this is like a mermaid moment. Everybody, like the things he says as these lots come up is just such a uh mood booster. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Well, this adds okay, so you're inspiring me. I'm definitely gonna work on it more. I would say my mom is not as thrifty, but we both like it in concept together. So she definitely does a bit of online auctions.

SPEAKER_00

So And both of you all have such a great design eye that I think you'd appreciate just seeing what people have done in the past.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I think that's how I've slightly gotten into it because I've seen people promoting different, you know, a sale with stair gallery that's a woman's name that I recognize. That's how I've started to look. I'm like, oh, is it, you know, Bunny Melon's sale of this or that? That sort of was what draws me in. And then I'm like, oh, look at that, like bow wood fabric on this chair. Maybe you need that. So it's fun to see. And I love how on your social media I think you've done a really nice job of sharing videos about all of this and how it works. Because I feel like that's sort of your niche in a nice way. Like there's not a lot of other girls sharing that type of content.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. I think it's nice to have a niche and have something that people can expect to find from you. Yeah. And that consistency. And that is something that I just genuinely really enjoy. And it's really fun to empower women to shop for their homes maybe in a different way. And also in a way that feels more accessible.

SPEAKER_01

Do you find are there certain things that you like you wouldn't recommend to someone to get secondhand almost? Or I don't know, I'm just thinking like, I don't know, a sofa or something. You obviously wouldn't want something from a home where someone was a smoker. Like, how do you deal with just certain things that are a little unexpected?

SPEAKER_00

I mean, I look for quality. So if you're looking at a uh, you know, George Smith's chair, like I would I would buy it and reupholster it. Okay. But also at the same time, if you're in an estate sale and it's like a pottery bar in Ottoman, like I would not buy that. Right.

SPEAKER_01

Like not worth the price. Exactly. Totally. What do you do you have a list on your website of I think the other thing when people don't have an interior designer, getting something reupholstered can sort of be a barrier for people? How do they find that workroom? Do you have any tips on that front?

SPEAKER_00

Well, in Atlanta, I have like a black book of of sources that people can use. But outside of that, I really find that um there are a lot of people that will upholster, even if you're not a your non-trade. Okay, great. So just sort of calling people, you have to put in the work, I think. I think you have to ask around. Yeah. And most people are are apt to like share content. Some people will say, like, no, this is my special drape designer, gotta go through me. But um, but I think people are also open to share and you can just Google too.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and it also never hurts to ask.

SPEAKER_00

Like the worst thing someone could say is no, I'm not gonna tell you. And it's like, yeah, okay, I'll ask someone else. It's fine. Yeah. And I think you could call um also like the design centers in your city. Oh, that's a good idea. And ask who they would recommend. Right. And they would be much more open because it's not like their individual business.

SPEAKER_01

Like the shoemacher showroom could maybe tell you where to go because they'd want you to use the shoumacher product.

unknown

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so switching gears, now that we know a little bit more about the content that you're sharing, what you're doing, tell us what a day in your life is like, which of course is probably always changing. But with two kids creating all your content, what's like an average Tuesday like for you?

SPEAKER_00

Well, it's wild.

SPEAKER_01

So um, let's say a Tuesday when your kids are in school.

SPEAKER_00

So like a Tuesday and night. Okay, so I feel like we wake up and it is my kids go to two different schools. And so I'm doing one drop-off, and then I take for my daughter goes first, and then I drop my son off. Does he come with you though? Like they're both in the car. They're both in the car, and I'm trying to get them dressed. And so by the time I get them both dropped off at school, yeah, I'm already like, I feel like I've done a lot. Yeah, like the days are you're like making lunch and getting them to two different places and um getting them dressed. And so once they're out the door, I feel like I do a like a big like once or once they're at school, I'm like, do this big like I have like a moment of breath of being like, okay, where to start my day. And then I'm like, yes, exactly. That overwhelming where do I start? Because usually my to-do list is miles long. Yes. And um, but I have a coffee and on Tuesdays, a lot of times what I've started is is going to preview these estate sales in Atlanta before they go live on a Thursday. And so a lot of times I'll drop my cent off and then I'll go to this estate sale and um then I'll do work on a substack or anything I need to do. Working from home, I'm guessing. Yes, working from home. Okay. And um, every day is so different. And a lot of days, too, you know, somebody's sick or a doctor's appointment that you have to take them to just randomly, whatever, something pops up. So I really appreciate the flexibility that I could work at 9 p.m. or I could work at 9 a.m. And um, and something else with the links is that it's a it's this has been the biggest thing over the last two years is that there's been this two-hour gap between when I pick up my son. I used to pick him up at one o'clock. Okay. And then I'd go pick up my daughter, usually like around three o'clock. Okay. And so I'd pick him up and he would sleep in the backseat, man.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_00

And so um, I was sitting in my daughter's school parking lot. Working, working. He's asleep. Oh my gosh, you're a hustler. I love it. And that is really what I've done the last two years. On just your phone, or do you have at least like a Oh, I have my laptop. I like a hot spot. And um, but that has been like basically my dedicated work time because usually before I'm running around all the places I need to go that I can like sit down and focus, and I'll have like Chick-fil-A usually ready and like a fat diet coke, and I am just ready to sit there in the parking lot, get what I need to done, and then I go around, I can pick up my daughter, and then I'm with them.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, diving back into mom mode till they go to sleep, probably. And then I feel like there's always more to do probably after they go to sleep.

SPEAKER_00

Definitely.

SPEAKER_01

Do you ever feel like I definitely fall into a category of sometimes I'm like, am I spending too much time on my phone, too much technology time? Yes. Do you worry about it, or maybe we just can't worry about it? I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00

I don't know. I do worry sometimes, but I also I'm at the stage where I feel like there's so many like other things to worry about. Okay, like that's a small fish. That I just don't want my cortisone levels to go up any higher than they already are. Yeah. That I I know that I'm on my phone too much and that my daughter probably sees the technology and feels like it's too attached. So I need to be more conscientious, but I'm also making a living and paying her for her education through my phone, which is like the coolest thing to me.

SPEAKER_01

Right. No, I think that probably that seeing her mom working hard, paying bills, doing all these things to make her life better. I think that will be.

SPEAKER_00

I don't, I'm not one of those people that puts my phone away in another room when I sleep. Yeah, I'm sure I was one of those people.

SPEAKER_01

But um It doesn't like once I decide I'm going to sleep and I put my phone down, I'm not really going back to look at it until I like really decide I can't sleep and it's just morning or something. So it doesn't overly distract me, but I do think it probably would be healthier if it was in a different room. But maybe in time. Yes. What has there been anything that's like what's something you love about your job and something that's a bit more of a challenge that someone might not know about your job that you know would be interesting to learn?

SPEAKER_00

So I've really loved um demystifying the design world, but kind of educating love, breaking things down on where they can find and where they can source and um and not necessarily sharing these trade secrets per se, but everything's open nowadays. Like it's it's it's out. We all have the same resources to learn. Yeah. And so what's used to be very unavailable to most people, you know, if you wanted to find those sources and get those pieces, you can. And so I think it's very fun to empower women to shop differently and shop smarter, especially if you're on a budget, you can still have this beautiful like aesthetic or home. Right. With whatever um budget you do have. And I always tell people to like buy within their budget and buy what you love. Love. Um, but that has probably been my favorite thing. I also just love having this community out on Instagram.

SPEAKER_01

I feel like it's crazy. It's so fun that like you feel like you know these other people, but you don't really know them. It's definitely a weird parasocial world, but it's really amazing.

SPEAKER_00

I think it's wonderful. Yeah. Usually they're all like really lovely people.

SPEAKER_01

I always feel grateful that I'm in like a good little corner of the internet. I feel like it definitely seems like there's bad parts out there, but it hasn't found me.

SPEAKER_00

100%. And um, and I think that that support I've loved. And then the the thing that I'm maybe a little bit more um hesitant about is sometimes I like the bridge of the line of I always want to be authentic and share, but you don't want to overshare, especially with maybe the stage I'm in right now with the divorce. I don't want to, you know, say anything that would feel um too private or whatever. Private where it would harm like my children or not be something that my in-laws are would would ruffle their feathers. And so I just I really I feel like you're so thoughtful with what you put out.

SPEAKER_01

I can I always worry that I post the wrong thing too. But I think in the end, if you're worrying, your content's probably fine. Like just having that little thing in the back of your head. And I think people have such short attention spans. So I just like kind of Yeah, most people don't even see it, right?

SPEAKER_00

If you do say something you don't want to say, it's like, oh, it's over. Yeah. Completely. And so I think that's the biggest thing is just trying to be conscientious, knowing that it's going out to more people than you know, my girlfriend Nyan as I'm sitting here over coffee.

SPEAKER_01

No, I always sort of think like, oh, it's my mom and her best friends. And then I'm like, oh, it is some random people. Nan, bringing it in a little bit. It's the the line of like privacy to public is tricky, but I think we're all walking aw.

SPEAKER_00

And it's nice to, I always like appreciate when women are like way more raw and honest, and I hope to be that way.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, I think that's all we really want from the internet. It's like no one's life is perfect. We're all Elizabeth was joking when she walked in. She's like, I spilled my coffee on my yeah, it's ready. But it's like that is life. Like we're not perfect. I think that just makes everyone more relatable. It's like, yep, we've all been there. 100%. Um, let's switch gears and I want to ask you a bit about your noteworthy tips. Okay. The things that you do in your busy days that sort of just help streamline what you're up to and take care of your kids, run your business. Do you have any tips for us?

SPEAKER_00

I love chat GPT. I'm such a chat GPT girl. I feel like it has really helped me. I'll honestly spitball my to-do list and it they'll help me organize it. Oh, amazing. And then I'll even say what should I conquer first and they'll go through my to-dos. Um are you talking to your chat GPT or typing it in?

SPEAKER_01

I am typing it in, but I should talk. That would be really wonderful. I've noticed some people have definitely started to do that. And I something I read, maybe it was even Thomas Earlsheimer. I feel like he does a lot about AI.

SPEAKER_00

That's a great follow for tests.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I've always like I'm picking up, you know, seeing what he's talking about. I think he mentioned that he thinks a lot of what we're doing with our computers and everything will move to voice. And he mentioned, I think, an app called Whisper, which you can talk into and it will make a to-do list. It will draft your Substack post for you. Like there's really going to be a change to a lot more audio versus sitting and typing. That's amazing. Yes. Okay, so ChatGPT you're using on your phone and your computer and sort of like your Google too. Are you asking it questions or do you still use Google separately? I use Google separately.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. But um I need to get more better arsenal of tools. I really feel like that's why we have the podcast.

SPEAKER_01

I know I'm compiling them all together.

SPEAKER_00

I'm so excited. I um I think though the ChatGPT has like revolutionized my world in the sense that it's like this little assistant that I can ask questions to, especially now that we know each other on Chat GPT. Right, they know what you're looking for. They have that like history that they're building, right? Of you. Yeah. Okay. And um, and so I have just really enjoyed having that. And I feel like it's one of those things that has made things easier. And bottom line, you want any of these tools to make your life better and um and save some time somewhere.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's what we're always looking for. Okay, so chat GPT, anything else at the top of your list?

SPEAKER_00

So at the other top, I think, I mean, I love like estates, like my estate sales app and live auctioneers app. Um, okay, so let's live auctioneers and is it the other one just called estate sales or what is it called? Estatesales.net. Okay. And then they have an app for it. But estatesales.net, um, I can heart and flag everything I'm doing. Great. And then I also will sometimes just like send that over to my Outlook. And so that way I'll know when all these sales are happening and it helps keep me organized. Okay, great. And that is the biggest thing. I feel like I just live off my online calendar.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's crazy. But that I love when something like corresponds well and works well, and also when there's a good app. So we will be sure to link both of those apps. Okay, great.

SPEAKER_00

I but really, I mean, I just love AI.

SPEAKER_01

I think it's so cool. And do you have any fears about it? I think there's definitely people out there who are, you know, ringing the alarm. And so I'm always trying to balance both. I don't want to get left behind, but I also want to be cautious. Do you think about any of that? So I don't. I think that's which I love. Like, let's just be honest.

SPEAKER_00

Sometimes you can't, right? Like you're living life. I think it's gonna happen and it's here, and it's nice to figure out how you can use that to um elevate whatever you're doing. Yeah. And that's the way I've looked at it. I think that um, like you saying you're gonna take a class on Claude, we were chatting, and and I would love to do something like that to better educate myself on the options out there. And a friend of mine actually went to this three-day intensive in um Santa Fe. Oh, that's right. Where she did like an AI boot camp. And basically it was like having a wealth manager go through all of her finances and it's just all AI. And I'm like, this is the coolest thing.

SPEAKER_01

If you really knew how to um the finance, the one of the pieces that I haven't figured out yet that I need to do more research on is like, okay, I've downloaded Claude on my computer. I have Claude Coworker, but I don't really need it to see my finances yet. Like, I'm not ready to jump into that barrier. So I've moved those folders to a different part of my computer. So hopefully Claude doesn't have access. That's like the line I've drawn, which I don't we are not experts clearly, so I don't know if that's the like right line to draw, but it is just interesting to figure out like how much info do we give to these platforms or not? But I think we've got to just test it and figure it out. So I am intrigued. I use Claude instead of Chat GPT. So I did, I signed up for some class on Thursday this week, a two-hour sort of boot camp on how to use Claude cowork, which that is where they can sort of like run things in the background for you. Yes. So I want it to like run a report on all my Substacks. Every time I send out a new Substack post two days later, you know, tally up all that data for me so I can start to see what's working well, what's not. Or I'm sure there's things that could help me with for the podcast. Just sort of my mindset is like, let's lean into what I'm not good at. Let's use AI to like I can be the creative self and that can be my data.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, like you're that I don't have. Assistant, kind of like that's crunching that. I think that that's really helpful. Yeah. Even if there's like a sensitive email that I'm sending to the school, or like I've had text messages from boys that I'm like, what do I say back? How can I ask you briefly? Are you dating? Um, I am. Oh my god. How's it going? It's so much fun. I feel like it's been so long since somebody's been like, How are you doing, Elizabeth? Let me buy you a glass, like a Chardonnay. Right. Someone's treating you, taking care of you. So I think it's really fun dipping my toes back into that world.

SPEAKER_01

Good for you. Okay, so in that vein, quickly to ever end everything, I want to ask you a few quick fire questions about Atlanta. Okay. So if we're coming to Atlanta, what hotel should we stay at?

SPEAKER_00

Um, if you're coming to Atlanta, it I think it depends on your budget. But I would say stay at the St. Regis. I used to do their PR. Okay. And I love the St. Regis.

SPEAKER_01

And if we're just in town for, you know, a weekend or something, where should we go to dinner?

SPEAKER_00

Um, I would go to La Clonial and shops at Buckhead.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'm I'm not a good Atlanta girl, but that's where I've been one the few times I've been to Atlanta.

SPEAKER_00

And what shops must we go to? Like, what do we have to hit? Retail shops. I would go to Miami Circle and I'd go to Peachtree Battle Estate Sales. Okay. I would I would hopefully there's one of their like warehouse sales, which is the most fun thing to hit. And then there's also a great antique store across the street called William Word that's open every day. Okay. And I William Word is one of my favorite places to go for inspiration. Like Casa Gusto was like it's the best antique store in Atlanta.

SPEAKER_01

We love Casa Gusto. We will link to that. And they're in Palm Beach. Actually, this little, if you're watching on YouTube, my little faux rose plant is from them.

SPEAKER_00

Well, they, I always go into William Word and I'm like, what is William Word looking for at the estate sale or at Goodwill? Like for Good Inspo. For Good Inspo. Okay. And so an Interiors Market is next door, and they have a bunch of different um like little vignettes set up by different tastemakers in town, and you can find just some incredible pieces. But I'd be tempted to go to some of those places because again, like Atlanta has its outpouring of uh beautiful secondhand furniture. Okay. And then I think Anne Mashburn. I was happy to be around. And I I love the um Ann and Sid. And I'd go to their store at Westside Provisions. I was gonna say it's a whole little area that you can get a meal at, go shopping of different places. It's a great area to walk around. It's a Jamestown property um area. So there's uh Wheezy Towels now has like an office there and you have Ann and Sid, there's a Serena Lily, like a Hudson Grace.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so a good little I love when you can mix of physical and and like hit a few spots at once. You're not driving from one to the next to the next. Okay, amazing. Well, Elizabeth, thank you for coming on the podcast. We're so grateful. We will, of course, like I said, link to everything, but where can people follow you? Will you just tell everyone who's listening?

SPEAKER_00

Yes, you can find me at Elizabeth.w.cook on Instagram. I'm also on Substack, and I have a website, elisabethwcook.com. Awesome. I'd love to connect. Yeah, so we will link to everything and thanks for coming on. Thank you so much for having me, Nan. I really appreciate it. It was fun. I mean, we could chat forever.

SPEAKER_01

I love it all, but you have definitely inspired me. I am gonna work on my thrifting and antiquing. I feel like when I go to Maine this summer, there'll probably be some good things. Yeah, there'd be some great things. I'm gonna pull up that app and see what I can find. Yes, you'll have to let keep me posted. Yes, I'll report back, of course. All right. Thanks, Nan. That's a wrap. Do you have a noteworthy tip? Leave it in the comments below. Thanks for listening.