I'm going to be starting on my fall/holiday craft show inventory and I'm just wondering what is really hot and moving in your booth these days. I sell a lot of Shabby Chic pink/white/robing's egg blue stuff along with a number of one-of-a-kind odds and ends. I'd really like some unique stuff for our area and wondering if you gals might be able to help me.
Any ideas?
Thanks - Sue
My BIL gave me a a tri fold luvered door last yr. I worked on that sucker for several weeks cleaning then got a pink and white(victorian colors)and started painting it. Not knowing till I went to open the paint it was oil based. But any ways All I had left on the one side was to hand trim with a small brush the pink edges. We put it up in the rafters to get it out of the way for our family xmas party. Well anyway DH was putting something else up there and knocked the doors down and broke them...(sob) I havn't gotten them down yet cause DD has her furiture and stuff in there right now...
Callef
Member
What a good question - because it's completely unpredictable what will sell and what won't. Often something I think is SO cool it will fly out of my booth, (and I feel I have it priced very reasonably) will sit there forever. Something else that I think I might have a hard time getting rid of, WILL sell quickly. Go figure!
Usually anything white "shabby chic" sells well for me. I love to find dark wood mirrors, picture frames, etc, paint them white & distress them a little bit. One of my recent projects was two different pairs of very ornate candelabra from an estate sale. I wish I had taken pictures because they turned out SO pretty. I thought they were brass when I bought them, but they turned out to be some other metal (cast aluminum? they were heavy) - not sure what the metal was, but it didn't matter because I painted one pair white and the other ivory. They had the chandelier crystals hanging on them and a few were missing, but I had extras on hand. I sanded off the white paint on all the carved ornate places to let the silvery/brassy tones of the metal show through and they were gorgeous. I think I more than tripled my money on these.
Anything black & white toile also (usually!) sells quickly.
Carol
Right now things are super slow in our mall. Really scary too with the slumping sales. One thing that is hurting our mall is even with the a/c going it is hot as blue blazes in there. It would help if the a/c was bumped up at night and left running so it wouldn't run the next day trying to play catch up....not going to happen in the heat down here. Like Carol it is hard to predict what is going to move in the booth. Some of us even add altered projects to our existing items just to give it some extra bling but the folks around here seem to have lost more than "bling" from their minds....they just don't get it! LOL. Jan
I wish I had the opportunity to look forward to the future of reselling. The store in town that I had been consigning at, she has decided to (from what I hear- she still hasn't contacted me yet) not take consigners and only be open occassionally.
She still owes me $150.00 for my garden chairs, and I need to get my stuff out of her store, I guess. Really bums me out because there is NO WHERE to sell within a 45 min radius of me. The only antique mall is closing in a month.
I wish she would sell me the store or rent it to me if she's not going to be open... with an unemployed husband for a year, we could have it open and make some money....
So here I sit, working on projects for my flea market, but no where to sell after that... unless I have a fall yard sale, but I don't know how I'd attact the people...
Why don't you talk to her about it...She may like the ideal. Or maybe sell from you house. Maybe once a month have a sale... Colorful advertising to build up to your one weekend, that way people will start looking forward to that one weekend...
Leveta- I have thought about that... 6 years ago I had a shop on my front porch... then had to get a real job. My dream is to find an old building and move it onto my back lot and have a little shop there, especially during the summers when Mike is off from teaching...
May have to take the plunge now...
That would be a great idea to lease the building or whatever and DH could keep it open for you during the day and also study towards his degree at the same time. It costs nothing to ask and I am sure you have been told NO before but go for it and keep us posted. We had one place close down here but their business was almost dead anyway...wrong location for one thing. The thrift stores are thriving though! Good luck! Jan
Hillbilly I sure am rooting for you...I pray bountiful Blessings for you...
csudderth
Member
Hillbilly, sorry to hear about the shop closing--that's a bad break. BUT, maybe this is going to open up even better opportunities for you. Hope everything works out.
Christy
thanks ladies... you may be the inspiration I need!!!
Maggie
Member
Nothing is moving for us right now! I heard this week that one store here is going to let most of her renters go & concentrate on selling furniture. She has already cut back on her open hours.
Hillbillie, I agree with the others......go for it.
lovecrafting
Member
Things are so slow here that I am closing one of my booths and only signed a 3 month lease on the other and if things don't pick up I may close it too and have a yard sale with the leftover stuff.
Just came back from the booth and thrift store. Thrift store was booming with business and the mall was dead as a gnat! I have sold one thing all week, actually all month of July. Thank goodness for my Etsy store to take up the slack on the booth! I may start bringing some items in later from the booth and putting on Etsy. Going to donate a bunch to the church too for their upcoming rummage sale in August. Hopefully things will pick up soon! Jan
Thanks for the info gals, I hope that the Arts & Crafts Shows are better in the fall.
I hope that your business picks up - are summers usually this slow for you? The consignment shop that I have stuff in has had a record May/June this year with sales out the door. I think a lot of "Chicago" people stop on their way up north in Michigan from what the shop owners tell me. Maybe they still have money!
Sue
good luck..hillbillies...i like the idea of a store and just being open once or twice a month....sounds fun...if you could get the building...we are open 6 days all year and its really tough...
ive heard of some good shows....but not many....and im real dissappointed in my mall sales.im in 2.......im selling garden iron fairly well in them....and then country..good antiques? not at all.....
im in borkholders and they dont even have a sign at their turn.....its pretty frustrating.....they had to take it down and never replaced it....
this has sure been a hard year to figure out....
ann
www.magpiecottage.blogspot.com
Callef
Member
Dear Hillbillies,
I'll be praying for you, too. How about if I call you Billie? It seems funny to say, "Dear Lord, please help and guide that hillbilly woman" :) I hate smiley icons, but what else can ya do in print??
Seriously, prayer is of course the #1 thing to do. My other suggestion for advertising if you have your own sale is Craigslist. I've never sold stuff on it, but I think it's free, isn't it? I've bought lots of great stuff that way, and I always check out the garage sale and estate sale listings. I just know people would flock to your sale if you wrote it up in such a way to grab their attention, and posted some great photos of a sampling of your stuff.
Blessings,
Carol
yes, craigslist is free! I too, look there for garage sale/estate sales! and Free stuff too!
We all need to be prayerful that the economy will soon pick up again and we can once again roll with the flow. I think if Kim can get a lease on the building and have hubby tend shop and study while she maintains her fulltime job it will work out for them. I think it would be fun too! Good luck and hang in there! You can make this work. Jan
Blossom Lane
Member
After being a long time devotee of antique malls, yard sales, consignment stores, estate sales, home decor clearance sales, and the occasional *DUMPSTER*, last month I surprised myself. Against all economy-based sense, I dipped my toe into the murky waters of proprietorship. I am now the occupant of an 8 by 12 space in an antique mall.
My journey started in late May with a rented "showcase" and a fellow vendor who allowed me to add eye-catching "baubles" to his furniture-dominated booth. I soon saw the folly of the "showcase" (most of what I sold came from the other fellow's booth). Less than two months later, I am now ankle-deep in filling my allotted space with trinkets and treasures that are intended to electrify the eye, ply the purse and wheedle the wallet.
So far, the water seems fine and I am enjoying the "tide". June washed in enough sales to cover July's rent. I do not have delusions of instant or eventual wealth. I understand location (good), advertising (good), diversity of booth items (good), fellow vendors wares (good), "traffic" (good),and my own ability to judge the collectibility, worth, and value of each item I buy will play a tremendous role in whether I sink or swim.
I have set my sails...and am saying a quick prayer for wind.
Welcome Blossom lane, What part of Ky fo you live in?
Blossom Lane
Member
Thank you for the greeting! I have truly enjoyed this website. I live in Ashland in the northeast part of the state.
During the past five years, I have watched several antique malls "take off". We have an annual "Pot of Gold" show that brings vendors from different parts of the state. We have also gained a few flea markets just recently.
My knowledge of antiques has come through collecting. Red (and green) transferware, pink depression glass, china pieces, plated silverware, cut glass,vintage linens, antique light fixtures, and furniture pieces are my passions. Each item I collect, I have a habit of exhaustively researching my interest. I also collect less than perfect pieces. A chigger bite, chip, scratch, or dent not only give the piece character, they also serve to make the piece more affordable! Although this is fine for me personally, I try to sell only perfect pieces.
I agree with the comment that the pricing of antiques in your booth should reflect what YOU would pay for them. In general, antiques in this part of the state sell for MUCH cheaper than their actual value.
The same pieces found in Lexington or many places in the country (so say many out-of-towners) would be "out of reach" for collectors such as myself.
In our mall, we are not restricted to "antiques only". Our most successful vendor sells mostly "new" primitive items. It has been primitive items that have sold quickest in my own booth. "Shabby" also tends to be a decent seller.
Personally, I lean toward selling shabby items, architectural salvage, with a strong bent toward Country French. I am a yard sale and consignment store junkie and gain most of my inventory by this means. I am constantly painting and upholstering. I have been doing this for my own home for years.
Our area hosts an annual Route 60 yard sale. This year, we had a Route 23 sale. These sales tend to be bumper to bumper and span for miles. My friends and I have truly enjoy shopping such sales.
A trend I have noticed and grieved over: the new generation of homeowners are "Target" decorators with little interest in antiques. Because of this, I stay on top of quirky items--items from the 50's-60's that don't really appeal to me. Convincing this latest generation to shop vintage for their home will be a challenge.
Hi Blossom - welcome to the Revolution. Thanks for sharing your trials of taking on your own booth. So far so good, eh? Glad to hear that your sales in June paid your rent for July. Is there a trend to what is selling in your booth or is it just an eclectic mix of items?
Sue
Blossom Lane
Member
Good Morning Chiccottage --and thank you for your greeting! So far, I have used my past experiences as an avid antiques/uniques shopper (with an average budget) to dictate the item selection for my booth. I am basically eclectic with a bent toward Country French items. I group items by their genre (Cottage, French, funky,etc) and try to create a mood.
As a shopper, I always walk into an antique mall and go straight to my favorite vendor. Typically, my favorite booths seem to be staged well, reflect a lot of personal style, and have lots of eye-candy. I can spend an hour in one booth!
Florals, pictures, mirrors, and...believe it or not...pillows have been my big sellers to far. My both contains smaller pieces as I am still working my way to buying larger ones. I am now on the lookout for cheap pillows to re-cover.
I have two vintage maple Adirondack chairs in my garage that I am currently repainting and reupholstering. They are in mint condition and I bought them at a yard sale for five dollars each. They will be cottage. I am using consignment bedding to upholster them. (I can find beautiful bedding at a fraction of the cost of fabric of the same dimensions)at my favorite local consignment store. Many of my florals come from there, too.
One particular vendor makes great money with cottage/Victorian decor.
She buys smaller pieces, adds salvage, and shabby's them. Her colors are always off-white, soft greens, and pinks. She has a knack, the experience, and resources to buy small furniture pieces cheap and dress them up. Such pieces have become her bread and butter. She also has a gift for display.
The biggest "repeat-customer draw" for our mall has been the vendor with the primitives. He sells signs, stars (huge seller), candles, lights, and all types of smaller primitive items. He also has some larger pieces. My booth is close to his and I am glad.
The advice I have received is to try to have a few dazzling larger pieces to pay the bulk of your rent while using smaller to ensure sales.
Oh, and one piece of advice that I love...if you find a deal on something you really love...keep it. You may never find that item at that price again. This has already happened to me. For over a year I have been scouting a swag mini-chandelier with prisms. Found one at a neighborhood yard sale for (gulp) ten dollars! I am still drawn to selling it...simply because I KNOW I can make a great profit from it. Time will tell.
Best wishes to you. I like your fall/holiday craft preparations. I am already buying for fall and Christmas!
Wow, Blossom, thank you SO much for taking the time to help me out with trends, displays, and info in general. Right now I don't have a booth, but I do place items in consignment shops and do spring & fall craft shows. I sold on Ebay for a year and a half, but took a break for a cruise in May and just have not felt like listing on Ebay since then. I've been busy with my flower gardens (8 or nine beds to take care of) and enjoying the warm weather and just haven't been inside to be creative.
Thanks again for your help!
Sue
sue , etsy is nice because there is hardly a time limt..we mostly gave up on ebay.....
blosson lane...love your report..all information helps....its a crazy year for those of us in business....
ann
www.greenoakantiques,com
Ann, I've signed up for Etsy, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I got burnt out on Ebay and I'm tired of paying them so much money between listing, final value, and then the Paypal fees. I have to admit though - I do love the thrill of watching my auction items go up and up sometimes!
I do like to see my stuff in one local shop that I work with. Actually, I like it more when I go in there and DON'T see much of my stuff - then I know I'll be getting a good paycheck that month.
I guess I'd better get working on more stuff instead of just talking about it! : )
Thanks, Ann
Sue
Callef
Member
Went out to my booth today and took some pictures, so I'm going to try to post them. It's small - only 4X6, and the aisles are narrow. I couldn't get the whole thing in one shot. My favorite latest "find" is the green Universal scale on top of the ivory suitcase. Is that cool or what? And I got it for an extreme bargain price!
BoothRt.jpg (39.8 KB, 1 downloads) 3 years old booth.jpg (39.8 KB, 1 downloads) 3 years old Boothfloor.jpg (38.1 KB, 3 downloads) 3 years old I just passed up that scale (or one real similar) at the auction the other night... I think I bid it up to $15.00....
paintwife
Member
Your booth is very cute. I love the scale. I have found a couple over the years but none are that cool green color.
Linda
Maggie
Member
Your booth looks nice & I sure do like that scale!
Oh, this is cute. It looks like you have a lot in your space so that the eye travels from one thing to another. I'd love to spend some time in your booth looking things over a couple of times so that I didn't miss anything!
Sue
She is making me want to downsize my booth again! Right now mine is down to a 10 x 11 but I still may scale down one more time. I just love that green scale! Spied some other goodies too. Jan
Welome Blossom Lane! Your booth looks very nice. I'm new to having a booth too but it's just shelf space and I really don't want to share pictures until I feel it's cohesive and looks better! It will be a process. The mall I'm at has had it's slowest month ever that I started. I did make rent with about a $24 profit! I guess I'll be doing this for the love of junk and not money. They gave me the first month's rent free so more profit! There is road construction in the town and that has affected the business more than the economy the owners think. You can tell they're stressed.
Blossom Lane
Member
Callef --Love the virtual tour of your booth! What great items! In taking the plunge into selling antiques, the greatest hurdle for me has actually been "booth size". Like most malls, I am charged rent by square footage. I asked for half the space or for someone who would like to share space. No go.
Furniture is one of the best sellers and is the biggest draw at our mall. People seem to love painted pieces. Last week, a lady brought in about 6 pieces and four sold within two days. Her prices were reasonable. The painted ones sold like hot cakes.
I just sold an antique ice cream parlor chair. I am hoping for the other to sell. If the other sells, I will almost have my rent paid for July. So, furniture pieces are where my focus needs to be. With an 8'x 12' booth, and the rent that accompanies it...my focus HAS to be there.
Like any seller, my goal is not just to cover rent. Covering rent, in reality, is taking a loss. Rent coverage does not account for travel mileage, hours spent working on pieces, documenting, pricing etc. And...when you throw in paying the government its share...
Gee, I may have just talked myself out of business. HA HA
So, I just came back last night from a 12 hour day of buying. My focus is always on seasonal - so I am picking for autumn right now -with plans to have that up and running yet this month. Now, when I say "seasonal" -- I still follow my rule that I have to like it & I am truly working off a style plan...and the items also need to integrate well for the rest of the year in a home (or my booth). So -- I'm snatching up black, turqouise, off white, tin and a tiny bit of orange right now. Most of the fall oranges will come from seasonal add ins: Indian corn, pumpkins, etc. And I will switch out the reds and yellows already in my booth to compliment what I bring in. I tend to have repeat buyers and sell to dealers too...so price point is a factor as is always keeping it interesting and fresh. And, since I sell to dealers -- I am always trying to be one extra step ahead of their buying trips!
Kari
Blossom Lane
Member
Kari,
I, too, spent yesterday buying. Your mode of operation sounds similar to mine (your booth features a definite personal style; black, turquoise, off white pieces, color coordination). You sound like you are achieving success (repeat customers and other dealers). I love home decor and my booth is dominated by it. I was a Realtor, so I love the art of staging.
But, like being a Realtor, a person can spend a lot of time doing something they enjoy...seeing homes, working with people, helping clients decorate-to-sell.etc,... without making a fraction of the profit that their many hours of hard work should reward them with. Both are a risky business. In a sense, both professions are a bit like fishing. We are angling for buyers! And ALWAYS looking for bait.
Do you invest much on furniture pieces? What items serve as your anchor in paying your rent? How long did it take to build a style reputation and following?
I said I wasn't buying anything until more items sold from my booth but I ran across these items in one antique mall and the prices were fantastic! I love the white chippy corbels and will just spray a clear sealer on them and try to sell on Etsy. Also love the water faucet picture holders...too cool and how many has DH thrown away!! I love the color of the blue enamel lid too. Just fun stuff I DID NOT NEED....! Hope y'all had fun today! Jan
DSC07692.JPG (152 KB, 2 downloads) 3 years old Jan...you did indeed find some goodies...love the Garden sign.
Blossom Lane...You have such good business sense. So, here's the deal with me --- I would be out at flea markets and antique malls as a source of pleasure - so why not have a business where I can write off my mileage (believe it is still at .58 cents a mile). I also commute a hefty number of miles to my regular job (300 miles round trip once a week) -- so, if I can add in an antique purchase -- those miles are written off. I set a goal to at minimum, double my rent --- I have never been disappointed with meeting -- and generally far exceeding that goal. However, as much as I would like to take credit for my sales, the mall I sell at is in an amazing location -- visible from the interstate - halfway between Chicago and the Twin Cities. Regarding what I anchor my sales with -- wish I had a crystal ball on this---I buy what I like at a price that, with my mark-up, I still feel I can sell at a fair retail price. I base my purchases on a display idea --- for instance, this summer I knew I wanted a garden display and I really wnated to highlight McCoy & Shawnee pottery in a chippy green cupboard I have. I was just about giving up on making any profit on the pottery -- when low & behold when I stopped today at the mall to straighten - two gals had about $100 of pottery in their hands from my booth. Go and try to figure it out. I just stay true to myself and what I like, and it works for me.
Kari
Kari - That is amazing sales especially on the pottery. I managed to sell most of my McCoy pots with the saucers attached earlier in the spring and really was glad to see them find new homes! I still maintain my LLC when I had my antiques shop so I get to write off stuff too...even my company owns DH's pickup! I am going to put the garden sign in the booth along with the vintage clippers. Somewhere in my stash I have a vintage looking flowers sign to add to the one I got today...I hate it when I forget where things are stored! Some of today's stash will find its way to my Etsy store. I managed to find 2 vintage souvenir postcard books from around 1910 in France that will make it to Etsy too. The weather is so hot down this way and not many people are out stirring to buy anything and really I hate to get out too...it is 95 in the shade right now on the covered patio! Agree too that location is a major key in businesses. Our mall is on the main drag and gets a fair amount of traffic for such a small town of about 12,000. The majority of our buyers though are from out of town and hit on the weekends passing through. Hopefully I can start doing a few small shows to see if that will help with getting rid of stuff. I love to create things from junk and maybe shoppers at a show will get the idea of them and make a purchase. Can't ever seem to figure out what will really fly off a shelf lately. Jan
Jan...
I don't do shows (not yet anyway)...but do find that when I am working in my booth (which I try not to do when customers are around) -- I actually do better in sales. Hmmm...maybe the personal touch of being right there at a show is the ticket.
Kari
Lots of our vendors seem to "hang" in their booths when customers are out and about on weekends but I personally don't like the idea myself. I usually step away from my booth if someone comes in while I am placing things in it and give them a chance to do their own "looking" without interruptions. It irritates me when I am in a vendor's booth and immediately they offer to give me a better price on anything in there and I haven't picked up a single thing. Makes me think their sales are slow and they are grasping to make rent. The shows I am talking about maybe doing would be small ones in adjacent towns and nothing big...maybe a craft type show (maybe a little upscale) that lets you mix a little touch of vintage with refurbished items. I would love to get some other exposure with my items and prices and then they could come shop with me. LOL. Worth a try anyway in this slow economy. Jan
Blossom Lane
Member
Kari and Jan- Very much enjoyed reading Kari's reply and the subsequent posts between the two of you. Location seems to a key factor. The antique mall I am at is right off a major interstate that runs between two cities...Lexington, KY and Charleston, WV. We tend to have a lot of out-of-state weekend traffic, too. Last week I witnessed a couple with a small pull-behind UHAUL loading up many purchases from our mall. They were out of state buyers and, from the amount they purchased, I knew our mall has prices that are appealing. They mainly bought furniture.
I also liked your "take" on vendor attendance in booths. I can see both sides of the issue. In college, I worked at a retail store and had two types of customers--those who wanted help and those who were offended by my very presence. So, if I happen to be adding to or rearranging my booth, I gauge what my presence based on the behavior of the customers.
I have been seized by a strong urge to pretend to actually BE a customer and rave about the incredible value and rarity of the items in my booth. Perhaps I could create a mad rush and total buyout. I have seen such mad dashes at yard and estate sales; would love to see one in my booth. Ha Ha
Kari--I would love to double my rent...perhaps eventually. As far as knowing what will appeal to who and when...I realize it takes the right person at the right time for most items. The other day I was amazed at an out of town gentleman who said he collects novelty button pins..like Garfield, Disney characters, vintage political buttons, etc. He says he has built a successful ebay business and has done so for years by selling... pins. Go figure.
One word, "smalls".
Anything under 20.00 and easy to carry.
Margo
I try to price most items in the booth $ 9.95 and that ends the 10% discount. A few larger items are $ 20.00 and discounts are offered on them. I agree with you that "smalls" add up in a hurry especially if they are driving through with a smaller vehicle. Small tables fit well on the back seat! I still want to hit your booth in Noonday...it looks so fun and it isn't that far from here....just let the weather get cooler! Jan
Jan, if you come to noonday, LMK and we'll meet up.
Margo
Done deal ! I think it would be fun to prowl around to some of your favorite haunts! Looking forward to it. I'll give you plenty of notice so we can meet up. Jan
Jan - me too me too! I would LOVE to meet you!!!
Hey this is going to be fun! Just let me get this month behind me and I think I will be on a roll. Can't wait to meet you two! Jan
any updates on what is moving? and how business is going? mid century mod seems to be big with the rise of Mad Men...
Maggie
Member
Mad Men???
I've found anything mid-century that I list on Ebay sells no problem and has been that way for about 2 years.
I have no clue what Mad Men are either - LOL.
Sue
Blossom Lane
Member
I too am clueless as to who or what mad men are....other than guys whose favorite sports team just lost a game. ; ) (Like my husband and son!)
Daisy-- Primitive is moving in my booth. I have a lot of cottage and traditional type decor, but prim sells best for me.
I have about six great items I will take to my booth tomorrow. I don't know if I will have room for them. My booth over-runneth --but I am trying for my biggest sales month since I started several months ago.
I have a small wooden bench w/ large Raggedy Ann doll and two Americana heart pillows.My mother-in-law gave them to me to sell. They are great items!
I finished painting a one dollar brass hobnail chandelier last night. Painted it sage green. Am going to add some primitive touches or maybe a prism or two and hang it from the ceiling of my booth.
I found a wire/wood wine rack for a dollar... the paint design was outdated. Painted it black. Looks kinda sharp, now. Hope it goes quickly.
I am trying very hard right now to attract repeat customers by constantly adding and rearranging.
That is the technique that worked for me when I was on the buying end.
For years, I would make a bee-line for one particular antique booth in the mall I am in right now. Sadly, my favorite vendor relocated. So, now I just browse other booths...but none have the amount of nifty merchandise or the great prices that my favorite vendor did.
This is good for me. I would be spending all my profits at her booth!
I finally made the move out of the booth and hope to finish packing everyhing today. The thrift shop (next door to the mall) was fortunate enough to receive 3 large boxes plus a huge grocery cart of unwanted items from the booth. I am bringing a couple of large tubs full of items home and that's it. Nothing is coming in the house and will be listed in my Etsy store over the next week. The booth was a hobby for me and it had become a very expensive one lately so I am going to do Etsy full time from home now. I want to concentrate spending more time with my family too...my mom lives 25 miles south of here and I would love to spend 1 day a week with her. She is in amazing health, will turn 80 in Oct. and still works in her yard. DH and I both joined a fitness center and will be able to workout together and that will be fun for us too in between all his hunting. At least I can still haunt the mall for Etsy finds and visit my friends out there. I don't regret the move either as I began to lose interest in the booth this past spring. Anyway good luck to everyone with their booths! Jan
Best of Luck to you Jan...I think it sounds like you made a good choice...
Thanks Leveta...I think I will enjoy working from home again and not have to fret over rent and such either. Etsy is so much fun and I have already gained several repeat buyers too. I have a twin sister in the same town as my Mom so it will be fun to spend more time with her when she is out of school too. DH and I will have fun hitting auctions and garage sales too. And of course he will enjoy all the hunting....and believe me he doesn't miss any type of critter either! I am ready for the first cool night and a large pot of deer chili ! Jan
Blossom Lane
Member
Jan,
The antique life is time-consuming. I don't take it too seriously. I am enjoying myself right now but don't depend on it for serious income.
I think it's the act of trying things in life that makes people well-rounded and interesting. I think it's great that you are going to exercise with your husband and see your mother. Your new plans actually sound more gratifying if your booth kept you from such enjoyment.
Greta
Mad Men, the TV show on A&E!
Thanks Greta. I just did it to have fun and didn't need the money - I just use it to play with. I didn't take it seriously and have had booths off and on for the past 20 years and just decided it isn't for me anymore. I will still hunt treasures for my Etsy store and hopefully continue to find bigger ticket items for some of the auction houses. Tomorrow I have some civil war letters being auctioned at Cowan's in Cincinnati OH so that is always fun. This will be my 3rd one through an auction house too! I enjoy the thrill of the hunt ! We are going to Canton TX the end of October and will enjoy the trip...don't need anything but it is a nice getaway. Also want to head up to see Maggie (just north of here less than 1 hour) and go over to Noonday TX one day to visit and shop with Margo too. I am heading to the booth this morning to finish packing what is left (not much!) and stack it in tubs in the garage until next week. It will all go on Etsy and hopefully find a new home. Jan
Josie
Member
I'm new to this site & really enjoy everyone's input. I thought of starting small - maybe selling a few items around the house I've accumulated but are in boxes as I do not have the room. I have basically two questions...
(1) I wouldn't break even with a yard sale, so thought of selling on-line. I know of E-Bay but there are fees whether an item sells or not. Do you know of a site that wouldn't charge until you sell an item? My other thought would be to set up a free/cheap website and wondered if you have any tips.
(2) PayPal is popular, but see that the fees with Google checkout are less. Was wondering if anyone had any experiences with Google.
This is a sort of a dipping my toe in the water kind of thing. I love to shop but just do not have any space left. If I sell a few things, I may try accumulating more! - - Thanks, Josie
Maggie
Member
Thanks Courtney for answering that. I watch A&E a lot, but have never seen that show.
Jan, I'm looking forward to your visit.
Josie, Welcome to JR! You will enjoy it here. I'll let the ones who know more about selling online than I do answer your questions.
josie you can sell for free on craigslist.org everything is free and it's local-so no shipping. It's also a great place to buy and get things for free.
Josie, a lot of us sell on Etsy. There is a thread with everyone's etsy shop addresses. It's really easy to sell there and there are lots of guides on how to do it on the site. $.20 to list an item and then a percentage when it sells. You do have to relist though so it may be more than $.20. Browse around Etsy and then if you have specific questions you can let me know.
www.etsy.com
my shops www.jillruth.etsy.com
www.jillruthandco.etsy.com
I've sold quite a bit of my jewelry and some other items on etsy. I liked it alot. It's easy to use and you get your own little store. I don't have anything listed right now but I'm planning on listing some items soon. Good luck & have fun!
huggybear38
Member
I live in small northen kentucky city, and the little city right next to me is called Bellevue, Kentucky http://shopbellevueky.com/
check out this web site.. they have little shops every where.. some place you would not even think off.. they have a man who grows plants like bamboo and etc. in the back yard of one of the stores.. it is cute as heck.. they use the side yards of the buildings .. so think outside of the box when thinking of a shop.. maybe one of the little stores in your area has just a back room or a side room or even a storage area that has some space you could make into your shop.. you could call it The STORAGE SHED.. OR THE LITTLE SHOP.. I am just thinking.. it is funny but I would never have guessed this little town would have all these little shops and if you get something small may not cost to much.. these shops are small, med and large sizes.. but all packed full and so much fun to go into..
I love it too and they only charge 3.5% of the final selling amount which is great. I just closed my mall booth to concentrate on Etsy fulltime now. So easy and good profit! Jan
cowpalace
Member
I live in Texas, and I can validate the out-of-state vendors story that Greta shared. We recently had a dealer from Ohio come through, pulling a U-Haul. She bought so much stuff that she had to rent a storage unit and will have to come back to haul the rest home. I was in Ohio a couple of years ago and brought back a few items to sell in Texas. Go figure....
I guess one states trash is another states treasure...LOL...
Josie
Member
@ Huggybear38 - I just checked out Bellevue - What a wonderful place to spend the day (or two!) :-)
Thanks to all for your suggestions ... (A booth might be an idea down the road, but for now I'm thinking online.) I will definately check out Etsy and craigslist.
Josie if you don't mind me asking, are you from Ky also??
Josie
Member
Hi Leveta,
I grew up in KY (near Louisville) then spent several years in FL. Due to the economy, I'm in the process of boxing-up and moving back to my parent's home in KY. Where are you from?
I live in Lewisport. 90 miles west of Lousiville, 20 miles East of Owensboro...
Josie
Member
It truly is a small world! Seems like there are a lot of nice people in this community & I shall enjoy visiting often!
There is...I love it here... Everyone is great...So then your moving near the ohio border? Just trying to get an ideal how far you. Then maybe sometime who ever is in that area can make plans to meet up...
Josie
Member
Not too terribly far from the Ohio River, but closer to Louisville (near the Jefferson / Oldham county lines.)
In the wintertime when the tree's are bare and the river(ohio)is high I can see it from my livingroom. I live about a mile maybe a little less from it. It looks funny to see the barges going down it from my rocker...LOL Have you ever been to the Flea Market at the convention center by the amusement park in Lousiville...
huggybear38
Member
I too, can see the barges go down the river.. just too cool , Huggy
You must log in to post.
