Emma was one of the first pin traders we properly got chatting to back when we started the Pin Trader Club Instagram account (she is @shesdeadly on Instagram, and you should follow her!). We were delighted that she agreed to this interview, enjoy!
Emma! aka ShesDeadly
Thanks for taking the time Emma, can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Emma, and I’m based in the UK. I’m a fraud analyst - I love my job! I have around ten tattoos, eight are Disney-themed, and I have a lot more planned.
I’ve never heard of a fraud analyst before. Can you sum up your job in a couple of sentences? Sounds cool!!
So my job - I basically look for fraudulent orders that people are placing with other peoples card details - then have the orders cancelled.
People will bulk buy card information on the dark web and spend other people’s money on our products - if we miss the orders, we’ll end up being without our merchandise and without the money for them.
That was more than a few sentences. 😬
That is super cool. When and how did you get into pin trading?
Oh god, this is so embarrassing! I actually got into pin trading by accident - I was eating in a restaurant back when it was Downtown Disney, and I’d got my food down my top. I bought this Minnie Mouse pin to cover the stain on my top! 😬
Minnie the stain hider!
That is incredible! Best origin story we’ve heard! What are your main collections, and why?
I collect Haunted Mansion and Mickey - specifically vintage or spooky Mickey. I collect these because they’re my favourite; the Haunted Mansion/Phantom Manor are both my favourite rides by far, and because they’re so old, there are so so so many designs, so I know I’ll be collecting forever! As for Mickey, it all started with a mouse - need I say more??
Some of Emma's Haunted Mansion / Phantom Manor collection
Which do you prefer, Haunted Mansion or Phantom Manor?
And if I had to choose between Phantom Manor and Haunted Mansion, I would probably pick Phantom Manor because I like the look of it outside.
However, the Haunted Mansion at WDW has the Hitch Hiking Ghosts, so it’s a tough call!
I still can‘t decide on my favourite between the two! How many pins do you have?
I have around 200 - I’ve got the entire Mickey Mouse memories pin collection; I waited outside the Disney store at 3 am to get those bad boys. 😂
Ha, and out of those 200-odd, what is your favourite pin?
Picking a favourite was really difficult!! I slimmed it down to these two - the dangler is LE1000, and the gatekeeper is LE750. I love a pin-on-pin, and the gatekeeper is a pin-on-pin-on-pin. Try saying that after a few boozy dole whips!
Two of Emma's favourite pins
Lovely pins, I'm jealous! What do you like most about pin trading?
I love seeing the artwork that’s gone into them - there’s a design for everyone.
It also gives me the confidence to approach strangers to ask about trading. I don’t really like speaking to strangers, so it for sure pushes me out of my comfort zone.
If you could change one thing about pin trading, what would it be?
I’m picking two again - sorry! I would make it more accessible in the UK, we don’t get even 10% of the pins available in the US, and the selection is a bit pants too.
And secondly, as a follow on, I think it’d be rad to have the in-store cast members pin trading in the UK.
In-store trading would be amazing! Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into pin trading?
Don’t buy any Haunted Mansion pins; they’re dead rubbish; if you come across any, send them my way so I can add them to my collection; I mean dispose of them.
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Because we‘re such nice people, I want to let you all know that you can send me your Haunted Mansion pins so save Emma the bother of disposing of them.
Thank you so much for chatting with us, Emma!
If you‘re a pin trader and would like us to interview you, please feel free to get in touch.
