Cheyenne Woman Trades television Beat for Vintage Finds, Outearns Former Career
CHEYENNE, WYOMING – A cheyenne woman has discovered a lucrative path trading news reporting for retro threads, earning more income selling vintage clothing than she did during her decade-long career in television journalism. Sarah Aegerter successfully pivoted too a full-time vintage business after winning a gender discrimination lawsuit against her former employer and completing a one-year noncompete agreement.
Aegerter’s story highlights a growing trend of individuals finding financial independence and fulfillment through entrepreneurial ventures in the increasingly popular vintage and upcycled clothing market. Her success demonstrates the potential for notable income generation outside traditional employment, especially for those leveraging niche markets and online platforms. the shift also underscores the evolving landscape of work, where passion projects can translate into enduring careers.Aegerter recounted facing gender discrimination at her previous job and ultimately winning a lawsuit.During that challenging period,she was offered a position at a competing television station,but a one-year noncompete clause prompted her to explore other options.”I had a one-year noncompete,so I thought,’Well,OK,I’m going to do this vintage for a year,sit out my noncompete,and then go across the street,'” she said. Though,upon completion of the noncompete,Aegerter found herself captivated by the vintage world. “Well, when the year ended, I was just in love. I was like, ‘No, this is it. This is what I was meant to do.’ And I didn’t go back to television.”
Currently, Aegerter operates her business online and through pop-up events, including a recent sell-out at Cheyenne Frontier Days. She sold all 40 vintage T-shirt blanks she’d printed with slogans from her grandfather, Frank Norris Jr.’s, tenure as Wyoming’s travel and tourism director in the 1960s and ’70s – “Big Wyoming” and “wyoming is What America Was.” “I was very happily surprised by that, because I am actually working fewer hours now than I did as a reporter,” she said. “So, I’m making more money and enjoying life.”
Aegerter’s next pop-up is scheduled for the Born in A Barn artisan market in Sheridan,featuring upcycled,vintage,and handmade items. She currently has no plans for a brick-and-mortar store but remains open to the possibility.
