We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kelsi Biondo. Check out our conversation below.
Kelsi, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
There’s really no such thing as a ‘normal day’ at Branded. Right now, I split my time between our Pennsylvania stores two days a week and our Kent location three days a week, where I also live. Mondays are usually dedicated to warehouse organization where we clean, sort clothing, and prep inventory for all three stores.
Tuesdays are spent either at Branded In Butler or Thrifted By Branded, where I focus on pricing inventory, rearranging store layouts, and checking for any maintenance or cleaning needs for the week. Almost every day, I also help oversee our online operations and fulfilling orders from our website, managing two Depop pages, and maintaining our eBay account.
Wednesdays through Fridays tend to be my more structured days. I oversee daily operations at our Kent location, handle scheduling and staff notes, price inventory, and update our website and social media for all three stores. I also manage our brand ambassador program, coordinate influencer collaborations, and plan events across all three locations.
It’s definitely a fast-paced schedule, but I thrive in organized chaos. The flexibility of being able to handle most tasks from my laptop also allows me to stay productive no matter where I am.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelsi Biondo, and I’m the Operations Manager for Branded. We opened our first location, Branded In Butler, in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2019, and I joined the company shortly after in 2020 as the first employee. Not long after, we launched our own textile recycling facility, often called a ‘rag house’ in the vintage community, which allows us to process around 50,000 pounds of clothing each month and fully self-source inventory for our three storefronts. That’s something pretty unique in the vintage industry.
Following our success in Pennsylvania, we expanded to Ohio in 2022 with Branded In Kent, and later opened Thrifted By Branded, a thrift-style store featuring newer, in-demand brands at affordable prices, similar to Plato’s Closet.
Our mission statement, ‘Turning clothing waste into sustainable fashion,’ is at the heart of everything we do. In 2023 alone, we diverted over 1 million pounds of textile waste from landfills, and we’re continuing to grow our impact every year.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was curious, fearless, and full of big ideas. I didn’t care if they were ‘realistic.’ The instinct to make the most out of what already exists has followed me into what I do now at Branded. Sustainability and creativity go hand in hand for me. I love the challenge of transforming what could’ve been waste into something stylish and giving it a new life. Somewhere along the way, life tried to make me more practical, but I’ve found my way back to that creative, driven version of myself. That’s who I am at Branded, someone who still believes that passion and purpose can coexist.
Do you remember a time someone truly listened to you?
What makes my job at Branded so enjoyable, and why I honestly couldn’t see myself working anywhere else, is how valued and heard I feel. Our owner, Lance, and I work hand in hand every day, often having five to ten check-ins or meetings daily. Over the years, he’s become not just a colleague but one of my closest friends, largely because of how genuinely supportive he’s been. He treats me as an equal, not as someone to just take direction.
I’m naturally a planner and love creating structure, so I’ve developed binders for each store that include daily cleaning tasks, opening and closing checklists, social media guidelines, and step-by-step how-tos for common procedures. I also design most of our store layouts and handle the pricing for about 90% of our inventory. I’m always coming up with big ideas, and Branded is the first company I’ve been with that not only listens but helps me bring those ideas to life.
It’s such a rare supportive, creative, and collaborative environment. I’m incredibly grateful to be part of a team that truly trusts and believes in me.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
I think one of the biggest misconceptions in the vintage industry is the idea that you have to fit into a single niche to be successful, or that competition is inherently a bad thing. There’s this notion of the ‘vintage bros’ who focus solely on tees and sweatshirts, while many women in the industry stick strictly to women’s vintage and accessories. There’s also the ongoing debate about what counts as ‘true vintage,’ with some collectors discounting 80s and 90s pieces even though, by definition, vintage is anything 20 years or older.
I’ve always thought the idea of fitting into one box is absurd, which is why we intentionally incorporate a wide variety of items into all of our locations. And competition isn’t necessarily negative; in fact, I’d love to see more vintage shops open nearby. It only makes the area a bigger destination for shoppers, and honestly, after five years in this industry, I can say it’s incredibly rare to come across the same item twice, especially when businesses source in completely different ways.
I wish the vintage community as a whole was more supportive and collaborative rather than negative or argumentative — there’s room for everyone to thrive, and we’re stronger when we work together.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I wouldn’t say every day is glamorous and there are definitely moments, like sorting through uncut donations in the warehouse, that can be less than fun. But overall, I have a very positive outlook on work. Everyone has good days and bad days, but being able to structure my own tasks and create what I want to accomplish each day is such an underrated perk. Some days can be monotonous, but the highs like seeing everything come together, running a smooth operation, and bringing big ideas to life make it all worthwhile.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brandedinbutler.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandedinkent/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brandedinkent/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Brandedinbutler
