Hello to my viewers and fellow antique and vintage enthusiasts! I’m excited to present my first monthly blog, an informal look back at events, sales and collecting trends, fun finds and happenings in the antique and vintage community.
I’ve been so thrilled and pleasantly surprised at the response to The Antique Nomad channel on YouTube and my postings on other social media! It’s become so overwhelming, I can no longer always keep up with all the comments and response I get. I want to use this blog (at least monthly) to review and answer some of the broader questions and respond to topics suggested in the comments I receive.
I plant my feet in both sides of the antique and vintage world, both online and real world. Sometimes we’ll talk here about YouTube, eBay and other aspects of the e-vintage universe; other times, we’ll talk about the ins and outs of brick and mortar antique venues, shows, appraisals and estate sales.
I’ve been so thrilled and pleasantly surprised at the response to The Antique Nomad channel on YouTube and my postings on other social media! It’s become so overwhelming, I can no longer always keep up with all the comments and response I get. I want to use this blog (at least monthly) to review and answer some of the broader questions and respond to topics suggested in the comments I receive.
I plant my feet in both sides of the antique and vintage world, both online and real world. Sometimes we’ll talk here about YouTube, eBay and other aspects of the e-vintage universe; other times, we’ll talk about the ins and outs of brick and mortar antique venues, shows, appraisals and estate sales.
Had a blast doing the appraisal fair at the New Harmony, Indiana antique show last week! It felt great to be able to meet people one-on-one and help evaluate their items once more. People brought in some great things; a woman who saved a stack of prints from going into a hospital incinerator years ago found out that her 19th century French surgical prints should bring $4000-5000. Another brought a late Edo Period Japanese sword that valued for a similar amount. Dealers and collectors came from as far as Alabama to sell and shop!
The Highway 41 Yard Sale is 150 miles of yard sales, garage sales, flea markets and the like, happening Fri–Sat, June 25–26 between Evansville, IN and the Kentucky-Tennessee border! We will hold an Estate Sale near the mid-point of the route in Earlington, KY that weekend, liquidating a large variety of antique and vintage wares, from cameras and clothing to a retro bike and a Japanese slot machine! We hope to see you there.
A reseller viewer recently complained that their sales were slowing sales online in June. What can be done about that?
June is an exciting month of transition each year in the antique and vintage business! Antique shows, flea markets and highway sales start to proliferate across the northern and central tiers of the US (and particularly this year now that things are reopening again). A lot of the business moves from indoors to outside, and traveling collectors flock to tourist destinations, where antique shops and malls often thrive and experience their peak seasons!
All this merriment can have the opposite effect on the online antique and vintage world. Sales on places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Etsy may slow with people being outdoors, on vacation and otherwise distracted. What can an online seller do to keep momentum in Summertime? Here’s a few hints that may be helpful:
Keep listing new things in your online stores! It’s tempting in slower times to focus on other things and wait for another season; but serious collectors look for things year round. If you have fun things that people haven’t seen, they’ll keep coming back to you regardless of season.
Cultivate your serious collectors. Keep track of your buyers and how to reach them again with their favorite things. Direct contact through e-mail to repeat buyers of specific items you carry is a great way to maintain sales in the off-season (and avoid listing and selling fees).
Tailor your stock for the season. June brides, Father’s Day, July 4th decor and back-to-school (think vintage apparel) are used by traditional retailers to focus attention on certain products. You can use this to your advantage as a seller by doing the same!
Think beyond borders! it’s not summer in half of the world! The new global antique & vintage market makes it possible to sell year-round. It’s possible (using eBay completed sales, for example) to see what people in the other hemisphere like to buy while they’re cooped up inside.
June is an exciting month of transition each year in the antique and vintage business! Antique shows, flea markets and highway sales start to proliferate across the northern and central tiers of the US (and particularly this year now that things are reopening again). A lot of the business moves from indoors to outside, and traveling collectors flock to tourist destinations, where antique shops and malls often thrive and experience their peak seasons!
All this merriment can have the opposite effect on the online antique and vintage world. Sales on places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Etsy may slow with people being outdoors, on vacation and otherwise distracted. What can an online seller do to keep momentum in Summertime? Here’s a few hints that may be helpful:
Keep listing new things in your online stores! It’s tempting in slower times to focus on other things and wait for another season; but serious collectors look for things year round. If you have fun things that people haven’t seen, they’ll keep coming back to you regardless of season.
Cultivate your serious collectors. Keep track of your buyers and how to reach them again with their favorite things. Direct contact through e-mail to repeat buyers of specific items you carry is a great way to maintain sales in the off-season (and avoid listing and selling fees).
Tailor your stock for the season. June brides, Father’s Day, July 4th decor and back-to-school (think vintage apparel) are used by traditional retailers to focus attention on certain products. You can use this to your advantage as a seller by doing the same!
Think beyond borders! it’s not summer in half of the world! The new global antique & vintage market makes it possible to sell year-round. It’s possible (using eBay completed sales, for example) to see what people in the other hemisphere like to buy while they’re cooped up inside.
Happy hunting! We hope you find something fun to add to your collections this month. If you’re seeking anything you’re having trouble finding, send us an email with your requests, and we’ll keep our eyes out for you.
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