Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Barney.
Hi Sandy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Sandy’s Magical Treasures started with my love of collecting blind boxes, and selling my repeats on FB marketplace, but the story really began with a content creator I followed. I used to watch Taylor and her friends unbox blind boxes in their cars, and I thought, “Why don’t I reach out and offer them some of the ones I have?”
I reached out to her, and she was so incredibly sweet. She invited me to be part of her very first hosted pop-up in Winter Garden. The funny part is, I had absolutely no idea what a pop-up was or what I was supposed to do! My husband and I drove there with products in the trunk of our car. When we arrived, I saw everyone setting up tables and thought, “OMG, I had no idea!” So, I literally sold everything from the trunk of my car—and I ended up having a line! It was right in the middle of the Labubu craze, so things took off very quickly.
At that point, I didn’t even have a business name or business cards. I was actually handing people my real estate business cards and telling them, “I’m going to create an Instagram for these collectibles!” 😂 I had also asked Taylor for advice because she was a content creator, and she helped me so much. That experience gave me the confidence to take the next step, and Sandy’s Magical Treasures was born.
I started attending all of the pop-ups Taylor was hosting around Central Florida, and through those events I began meeting so many incredible people. Other vendor friends introduced me to local markets and events that I didn’t even know existed. Those markets became such an important part of my journey—not just for growing the business, but for the friendships and community I found along the way. In fact, one of the most amazing people I met through this journey started as a customer and became my best friend Earl. Today, he is part of my team and helps me create magic in this business along side my husband who has been nothing but supportive.
But at the heart of everything I do is my daughter. She is my biggest “why.” Everything we do is ultimately for her, and she inspires me every day to keep dreaming bigger and building something meaningful.
Today, Sandy’s Magical Treasures has grown from me selling blind boxes out of the trunk of my car into a business with a website, pop-ups, markets, Instagram Lives, custom bag charms, and an amazing community of customers and friends. But what means the most to me isn’t simply how much the business has grown—it’s the people I’ve met and the joy we get to create.
There is something so special about watching a child or an adult open a blind box and get the character or treasure they were hoping for. Seeing that excitement, that little moment of pure joy, is what makes all of this worth it.
I truly would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family, my team, our amazing vendor friends, the markets and events that welcomed us, and especially the customers who have supported us since day one. Because of them, we get to keep creating a little bit of magic through trinkets, collectibles, blind boxes, and memories.
I never take any of it for granted. What started with a few collectibles in the trunk of my car has become something I never could have imagined—and I’m so excited to see where the magic takes us next. ✨💖
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! When I look back at where I started, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. I went to my first pop-up without even knowing what a pop-up was, sold products out of the trunk of my car, used my real estate business cards because I didn’t have a business card for the shop, and figured things out as I went.
One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to run and grow a business while balancing my full-time career, my family, and everything that comes with life. There have been plenty of moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed and wondered if I was doing things the right way. Inventory, shipping, preorders, events, social media, finances, creating new products, and keeping up with the constant changes in the collectible world can be a lot!
Another challenge has been learning that growth doesn’t happen overnight. There are amazing markets and events where everything sells out, and there are other days when you work just as hard and the results aren’t what you hoped for. You have to learn to celebrate the wins without letting the harder days discourage you.
I’ve also had to learn to step outside of my comfort zone. I never imagined I would be doing Instagram Lives, building a website, creating custom products, networking with other vendors, or running a growing community. So much of this business has been learning by doing—and sometimes learning from my mistakes!
But honestly, those struggles are part of what makes this journey so meaningful. I’ve had an incredible support system along the way, from my family my best friend, my vendor friends, our markets, and especially our customers. I’ve learned that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes you just have to take that first step and be willing to learn along the way.
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth, but every bump, mistake, and challenge has helped shape Sandy’s Magical Treasures into what it is today. And I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything. ✨💖
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Sandy’s Magical Treasures is probably best known for our blind boxes and collectibles, but custom bag charms have become a huge part of what we do as well. We carry a variety of fun, unique, and sometimes hard-to-find collectibles, and I love being able to bring collections to our customers that they may not see everywhere else.
Creativity has always been a big part of who I am. My background is actually in Industrial Design, so designing, creating, and working with products has always been something that comes naturally to me. Sandy’s Magical Treasures allows me to bring that creative side of myself into something that people can enjoy. Our custom bag charms are a perfect example of that. I love coming up with ideas, putting different pieces together, and creating something that feels personal and unique.
The funny thing is, this is actually my side business. My full-time career is real estate, which I absolutely love. So building Sandy’s Magical Treasures while continuing my career, taking care of my family, and being a mom has definitely been an adventure! 😂 But I think having that creative outlet has been incredibly rewarding.
I’m most proud of how much we’ve grown. When I started, I was selling blind boxes out of the trunk of my car. Now we have our own website, attend amazing markets and events, do Instagram Lives and Rip & Ship events, offer custom creations, and have built a community of customers and friends who continue to support us. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how far we’ve actually come.
One thing I have always believed is that “there is always business for everyone.” There are so many talented people and businesses out there, and I don’t believe success means taking business away from someone else. What sets you apart is the service you provide, how you treat people, how you make them feel, and whether you make their experience memorable.
That philosophy is extremely important to me. I want people to remember how they felt when they interacted with Sandy’s Magical Treasures. Whether they are purchasing something from us, visiting us at a market, joining one of our Lives, or simply stopping by to say hello, I want them to feel welcomed, appreciated, and excited to be part of our community.
From a product standpoint, we also try to set ourselves apart by keeping our prices at retail pricing while bringing in collections that can be difficult to find. Sometimes we are able to get new collections here before other shops, and occasionally we carry collections that aren’t widely brought into the U.S. I love the thrill of finding something new and being able to introduce it to our customers.
And then there are our custom bag charms, which have grown into such an important part of the business. They allow us to be creative and offer something that feels a little more personal and different.
At the end of the day, I think what sets Sandy’s Magical Treasures apart is a combination of the products we carry and, more importantly, the experience we create. We also offer the opportunity to trade if you don’t pull the one you want from the blind box, for the one on display “The products may bring people through the door, but the connection, service, and memories are what I hope make them come back.”
I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, especially knowing where we started. And I’m even more excited because I truly feel like we’re just getting started. ✨💖
How do you define success?
My definition of success has changed so much over the years.
I used to think success was about reaching the top, being popular, making more money, or accomplishing certain milestones. But life has a way of changing your perspective. I recently lost one of the most important people in my life—my best friend, my dad—and he was one of the greatest examples of what I believe success truly is.
To me, success isn’t about how quickly you reach the top or how many people know your name. It’s about how you feel about yourself and the life you’ve built. It’s about being happy with what you’re doing, being proud of what you’ve accomplished, and appreciating everything you’ve experienced along the way.
I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that success isn’t just the destination. “It’s the journey you take to get there.” It’s the people you meet, the lives you touch, the lessons you learn, and the memories you create along the way.
And accomplishments don’t have to be big to matter. Sometimes success is something as simple as making someone smile, being there for your family, helping someone, creating something you’re proud of, or ending your day feeling grateful and fulfilled.
My dad taught me so much about being humble, kind, and genuine. I carry those lessons with me every day. We all started somewhere. Nobody begins at the top, and I believe we should always remember that as we grow.
I’m still learning. I’m still growing. And I don’t think that ever stops.
For me, success is being true to yourself, believing in what you’re doing, and creating a life that brings you joy. Because when you genuinely believe in what you’re doing, people can feel that. They see your passion, they see your heart, and they want to be part of it.
So today, I define success a little differently: “success is being able to look back at the journey, knowing you stayed true to yourself, treated people with kindness, created something meaningful, and left a little bit of goodness behind you.”
And if, at the end of the day, you can say you’re happy and your heart is full—that, to me, is success. ❤️
Pricing:
- We have prices that vary from 5.00 all the way up to 85.00 depending on the product. We have something for everyone
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sandysmagicaltreasures.com
- Instagram: @sandysmagicaltreasures
