The Post Trading Co.
“I’ve always loved the hunt - finding special pieces that nobody else has. There’s something about older furniture, the soul it carries, the quality, the story behind it.” Emily Read, the owner of Post Trading Company, has been drawn to collecting vintage furniture for as long as she can remember. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she moved to Salt Lake City in 2013, bringing with her a lifelong love for design and a deep appreciation for unique, well-crafted pieces.
Although Vancouver was beautiful, it was too big a city for Emily. "I immediately fell in love with the small town feel of Salt Lake, and I especially appreciate the way the community continues to come together. I find myself connecting with people in different ways."
Before opening her shop, Emily worked in real estate marketing. When COVID hit, it forced her to reevaluate what would come next. “Like everyone else, I had that moment of reflection - what do I want to do with my time? What do I want my life to look like?” The answer was clear; she wanted to own her own business. "Even as a child, I dreamt of having a toy store or a pet shop."
Emily also knew, however, that opening a store was not something that could happen overnight. She gave herself a five-year goal, planning to build her collection slowly and thoughtfully. Then, about a year and a half into that timeline, she found herself at The Green Ant, buying a set of shelves from owner Ron Green. She mentioned her dream of opening a shop and asked if she could intern with him. “I had been collecting for so long, but I wanted to learn the business side of things. I asked Ron if I could work for him on Saturdays, and he said yes.”
For six months, Emily worked at The Green Ant, gaining hands-on experience in the vintage furniture world. Then, as if it were meant to be, a space just a few doors down became available. By that point, her garage and attic were overflowing with inventory, and she was ready. “My five-year goal turned into two years. It was showtime.”
Three years later, in 2025, Post Trading has become a fixture in the neighborhood. Emily’s approach to sourcing is simple: she collects what speaks to her. “I’m not strictly mid-century. I love Art Deco, I love postmodern. It’s about how a piece feels, how it fits into a space.” Her eye for design is evident in her carefully curated selection of furniture, lighting, and decor. “Lighting is my deep passion,” she shared. “Anything that adds light to a home - chandeliers, lamps, fixtures - it just transforms a space.” Her love for lighting is so strong that she dedicated the entire basement of her shop to it. “I started with no space for lighting, then a small ten-by-ten room in my first shop, and now an entire floor.”
Emily’s customers are as varied as her inventory, ranging from seasoned collectors to young professionals furnishing their first homes. “The neighborhood has been so welcoming,” she said. “People are drawn to vintage because they want something unique, something with history. And I love helping them find that perfect piece.”
Though her shop is downtown, sourcing happens everywhere. “A lot of it finds me,” she laughed. “But I’m always buying, trading, looking for the next special thing.” Unlike Ron, who built his business by scouring thrift stores and garage sales in the pre-Internet days, Emily has had access to online resources, estate sales, and private sellers. “I’ll go to a yard sale once in a while, but I stay out of in-person estate sales.”
For Emily, Post Trading Company is about more than just selling furniture. “I want people to feel something when they walk in. The energy should be good, a little bit of magic.” That is why she always has candy at the front. It is a small gesture, but she wants everyone to feel welcome, safe, and valued. “My goal is to bring light into people’s homes - literally and figuratively.”
