In this premiere episode of From Scratch, we sit down with Denise, the heart and hustle behind Mixed Market Thrift in Oswego, Illinois. Her journey starts in a home with little money and even less direction when it came to education.

Denise never really liked school, and after trying her hand as a nail tech and eventually becoming a nurse, she faced a turning point — one rooted in a deep fear of death and loss. That realization pushed her to leave the nursing world behind.

But Denise was always hustling — throwing garage sales, helping local dog shelters, flipping finds on Facebook Marketplace — until one day it clicked: thrifting could be a business. Now, she owns and runs Mixed Market Thrift, a vibrant secondhand store where every item has a story — and so does she.

📍 Visit her store at: 27 StoneHill Rd, Oswego, IL 60543 🛍️ Check out her website: mixedmarketthrift.com