About Rare Finds Only

Rare Finds Only was built for brands that take their positioning seriously — even when inventory pressure is real.
We work with brands that understand excess inventory is not a failure, but mishandling it is. The question is not whether product moves, but how.
Rare Finds Only connects decisive, brand‑aware buyers with product presented in the right context, at the right moment, with clear standards. This allows brands to move inventory efficiently while protecting long‑term perception.
For partners, Rare Finds Only is a smarter option.

image of clothing display (for a clothing boutique)
Founder

Kate Downing

Kate is a two-time founder and CEO with a track record of building profitable, margin-disciplined businesses. She brings deep experience in brand strategy, pricing discipline, inventory risk, and channel execution.

Kate understands the Rare Finds Only customer because she is the customer. She is a high–net-worth, brand-literate buyer who shops decisively, replaces and upgrades intentionally, and purchases across categories for herself, her household, and her family.

Rare Finds Only is built around how this customer actually buys: when context is clear, standards are met, and value is evident. The operating decisions, pacing, and presentation reflect lived buying behavior — not theory.

Rare Finds Only reflects Kate’s belief that long-term brand value is protected through clarity, restraint, and judgment.

Team

Melissa Heer

Brand & Style Advisor

Melissa Heer brings deep fashion and luxury retail expertise to Rare Finds Only. She holds a PhD in Art History, grounding her work in rigorous scholarship on design history, visual culture, and craftsmanship.

Her career spans senior styling and client-facing roles within global fashion houses including Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Alice + Olivia and Akris. She currently works as a Stylist in Highland Park Village, Dallas, where she maintains a million-dollar book of high-net-worth clients and builds long-term wardrobe strategies through thoughtful curation.

Within Rare Finds Only, Melissa advises on brand selection, styling perspective, and presentation standards, ensuring every category reflects design integrity and long-term relevance.