Fabulous Finds invites locals to shop vintage, make memories

photo by Dania Mian

Fabulous Finds lived up to its name at its most recent event, both providing customers with unique vintage pieces and also awarding local vendors with recognition. From March 6-8, the store hosted its Vintage Shopping Event, featuring store-wide sales and a variety of new vintage items for customers to admire. The semi-annual Vintage Shop Hop features over 400 vintage, secondhand, boutique, and home decor shops throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. 

Fabulous Finds owner Sandi Ziebell has run her furniture refurbishment and vintage sales business for over 13 years, starting out of her and her late husband’s own garage. The shop was later located at the corner of Otter and Mill and open only on Saturdays, before she relocated to the current location on Oregon Street two years later.

“When we moved, we bought this building, the one I’m at now, and we started on the first floor because there was a whole bunch of remodeling that we had to do. When we looked at that second floor, we realized, ‘oh, this is perfect to have vendors,’” she said. “After we were able to get the first floor done, we had to put in the little half walls because the full walls were already there, and then we were able to open it up for vendors. It’s just kind of grown from there.” 

Ziebell was officially involved in the Vintage Shop Hop when she opened Fabulous Finds, but later broke off to run the sales on her own terms. While the sale may happen at the same time, Fabulous Finds is not officially affiliated. 

“It’s our goal to get people in the store, because we run sales throughout the year, and it’s just to get more people in,” she said. “A lot of the vendors can put their booths on sale anytime they want, but we try to do these sales at least four times a year to get more people into the store.” 

One facet that makes Fabulous Finds stand out from the variety of secondhand stores in Oshkosh is their extensive list of vendors. Ziebell’s business continues to grow, featuring over 10 booths and counting. Vendors’ booths include vintage clothes, refurbished furniture, handcrafted candles, customized Christmas ornaments, Midwest-themed apparel, fabrics, and faux flower arrangements. 

“I like seeing all the vendors coming in with all the different stuff that they have. I like seeing what their eyes pick out and what they like to resell,” Ziebell said. “I love doing the furniture, but I also like to see what everybody's interest is, because everybody sees something differently.” 

Another goal of the shopping event is to raise awareness for small businesses in the area. With big corporations taking over most aspects of shopping, especially online, it is important to shop locally and secondhand, reducing negative effects on the environment, according to Ziebell. 

“Supporting local businesses is important because the money stays in the area and it helps, especially for small businesses that are out there,” she said. “And when we shop secondhand, we’re keeping everything out of the landfills. Plus, everything has a history to it, and you don’t have to use something for what it was made for. Why not reuse it for something else? I have so many pieces in my house that it’s not being used for what it was made for, and I love finding new ways of using old things, and learning the history that comes with these objects.” 

Fabulous Finds employee Beth Schleich, who has worked at the store for a year and a half, understands the difficulties that small businesses face in the modern consumerist world.

“Small businesses keep the money here rather than in some of the big corporations. It’s putting bread and butter on the owner’s table, and all the vendors that you know are here,” she said. “It’s a little extra income for themselves and the artists that actually make their own products.” 

 Amanda Russum attended on Friday, March 6 in hopes of finding fabric to use for her various crafting endeavors. She appreciates the unique shopping experiences that small businesses offer. 

“I love shopping locally for a lot of reasons. I love supporting our community. We have a lot of really cool and interesting people in the community. The more local you shop, not only are you doing the obvious, supporting our local businesses and keeping the community going, but every time we walk in, we’re meeting new people, and I'm learning new things about the community,” she said. “I am a big, big believer in secondhand for a lot of reasons as well. Pretty much everything in my closet and most of the things in our house are secondhand, either thrifted or, handed down from someone in the family or friends.” 

Russum values the environmental benefits of thrifting and how customers will never know what they’re going to find. 

“There’s so much left at the thrift store that still has a really good life and potentially it was made better because it was made in a time where it wasn’t as mass produced and the idea wasn’t to just get it out and sell more and more of them,” she said. “So I appreciate the quality, sustainability, and just the fun of the, you know, we call it like the thrill of the hunt.”

Overall, the Vintage Shopping Event brought in customers new and old to appreciate the workmanship of local artists and the importance of shopping secondhand. 

“Even if you don’t have something specific in mind, you need to at least come in and look around, because you never know what you're going to find. Something may just grab your eye, maybe you find a gift for somebody else,” Ziebell said. “I have had so many people come into the store that remember their mom had this or their grandma had that, and it brings back memories for them, so they have to buy it. So, come into the store. Find your next happy memory.” 

by Kathryn Scheivert and Dania Mian

Published March 20, 2026

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue VI