Meet Morissa Rothman-Pierce | Vintage Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Morissa Rothman-Pierce and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Morissa, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work life balance has been one of the hardest things for me to get a hang of in my 10 years in business. I think I have a somewhat better balance these days but its definitely still a struggle. Its hard when you work for yourself because you pretty much always feel like you can be doing more. But I have found that putting my mental and physical heath first, actually improves my business in nearly every way. I put in some serious overtime early on in my career (working 7 days a week, 10-15hr days) and that burnt me out. But it also set me up for the luxury of having a work life balance. So now I get to be a little easier on myself and take more time for vacations, socializing, and being outside (which all improve my mental health!). When I am in a good head space and getting what I need out of my personal life, I can be more focused and creative when I am at work, which leads me to be more productive. my motto recently : Work smarter, not harder!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started selling vintage clothing online when I was a teenager. I have just always been drawn to old things, specifically textiles, and I grew up in a part of San Diego that had a plethora of thrift stores and vintage shops so I got hooked at a young age. I not only love the clothes and the history, but I have always loved designing spaces and curating collections which just doesnt translate the same way with an online platform, so I knew I needed a storefront. The storefront is the part of the business I love the most. Creating a space that people can walk into, feel comfortable, listen to good music, and have a good shopping experience, is so important to me.
I also sell the work of contemporary artists from all over the country that fit the aesthetic of the shop, and are in line with the values of vintage (i.e. sustainability and timeless, high quality design)

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Even though I am not currently living in San Diego, I go back often and absolutely love it. I have a few stand-bys in San Diego that I always visit and recommend to folks from out of town. The Turf Supper Club, Mama’s Bakery, and El Zarape are my favorite spots for food (and I would lump Turf Club into an “experience” as well 😉 ) . Livewire is a cool dive bar that will always have a special place in my heart. Walking around North Park and South Park are always fun….great shopping, coffee shops, and people watching! I also love the beach so spending a day at Windansea is a must for me as well as a hike at Torrey Pines Park. But there are so many new things popping up in San Diego and I am always checking out new spots around town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have to dedicate this shout out to my mother. Both my parents have always been massive supporters of my business and encouraged me to follow passion above all else. My mother is a business professor and a lover of art and travel. I got to see a lot of the world growing up and we went to museums everywhere we went. I like to think of my shop as a nod to those experiences in some ways. The curation of antique and vintage textiles from around the world and the creation of an immersive space, as well as a business mindset, are definitely all things I own a lot to the way I was raised. My sister also deserves a shout out because although we are in slightly different businesses, we are always able to bounce ideas off each other and get each others opinions on things which is invaluable as a one-woman show!

Website: www.shopbottleofbread.com

Instagram: @bottleofbread