NORTH SYRACUSE — While living in pricey New York City, Rebecca Fuller often scoured thrift shops for vintage treasures she could flip on eBay and Etsy for extra cash. By day, Fuller was — and still is — a registered dietitian, but in her off hours, she snapped up cast-off designer clothing and “pre-loved” mid-century modern furniture.
Fuller moved back to her hometown of North Syracuse four years ago, and she brought her thrifty talents with her. She and her partner, Brian, founded Red Devil Antiques two years ago. They sell their wares on the third floor of the Syracuse Antiques Exchange and out of their home in North Syracuse.
“A lot of what we do is just our taste. We’ve been lucky enough to cultivate a following around that,” Fuller said of her kitschy secondhand business, which has nearly 3,600 followers on Instagram. “You might find a taxidermied albino squirrel one day, and the next day it’s a pink spaghetti poodle.”
Red Devil Antiques — named for the Red Devil brand of spray paint and the “Hot Stuff” cartoon devil popularized by tattoo artists in the ‘60s — specializes in “items as strange, unusual, kitschy, funny and weird as we are.” If quirky knick-knacks aren’t your thing, Fuller also sells plenty of vintage religious icons, holy water fonts and crucifixes, or Syroco mirrors, vases and sconces.
“We love our local heritage,” Fuller said of her Syroco finds. “Growing up, we had a camp down the street from the factory in Baldwinsville. I find the history fascinating, and the fact that it has changed so many people’s lives in Syracuse.”
Fuller regularly hits up garage sales, estate sales, auctions and even secondhand dealers on out-of-state trips to bring unique vintage pieces back to Syracuse. She and her partner then carefully repair, clean and photograph each item to post to Instagram. For non-local sales, they package and ship items across the country.
“There’s a lot of steps involved in selling [online],” Fuller said.
The pandemic pushed much of Red Devil Antiques’ sales traffic online, but the Syracuse Antiques Exchange helped bridge the gap for its vendors by featuring individual sellers and helping with shipping.
“We were lucky that the antiques exchange was as adaptable with what they did,” Fuller said.
Fuller offered some tips for those venturing into thrift-shopping for the first time. Be sure to look over prospective purchases for any defects or issues, especially when it comes to vintage furniture.
While many sellers are open to haggling, Fuller urges shoppers to consider the durability and craftsmanship of vintage items, as well as the time and elbow grease sellers like her invest in their offerings.
“Sometimes things might seem expensive. These are things that have withstood the test of time,” she said. “Do you want to pay $25 for an end table made out of particle board, or would you like to pay $25 for one made out of wood?”
It’s often the early bird that gets the worm when it comes to sealing the deal.
“If you like something, buy it when you see it because there may be only one,” Fuller said.
The pandemic has led to an uptick in the number of secondhand sellers, but Fuller said more sellers will attract more buyers.
“There’s a lot of really fantastic vintage dealers in the Syracuse community right now, and if you really want to keep your money in the community, I would seek those out,” she said. “A rising tide lifts all boats.”
To browse Fuller’s finds, follow @reddevilantiques on Instagram or visit the Syracuse Antiques Exchange, located at 1629 N. Salina St. in Syracuse.
