Art Nouveau furniture

As I was going through the boxes of Christie's and Sotheby's auction catalogs I recently snagged, I found this great ceramic fireplace. It was listed in Christie's London sale from Nov 1999 as "Celadon green overglazed with sang de boeuf red, decorated in relief with fronds and blossoms... Designed by Emile Mueller and signed in relief..." The estimated selling price was $20,000- 29,000.
This brought to mind the old tv show where the crew took an expensive decorator designed room and brought it to life for the customer at like $4,000.
Just my luck I like the expensive stuff!

These next photos were taken at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris from the art nouveau collection. I think they would look great with the fireplace!

Here's a photo of what I can afford: a pix of my booth at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell Mi exit 133 from I-96 on Burkhart Rd.

BOKS BOOKS BOOKS

I really miss Borders Books! Yes I have a Barnes & Noble within 10 miles and most books I've recently purchased were thru Amazon, but Borders book store was there for me in Ann Arbor as a college student and the affection had continued. I loved their magazine selection where I could find The Magazine Antiques, Maine Antique Digest, BBC House and Antiques etc. Now my library has stopped subscribing to Mag Antiques as well as Antiques and Collectibles--so my Amazon wishlist is growing.
Two great books I recently read and want to recommend are:
The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk, a hand book for any business dealing with the public

(image from Amazon)


and Isabel Wolff's A Vintage Affair

(image from Amazon)

Just reading this book inspires me to look for great designer clothing and add it to the booth. The only clothing I've sold has been aprons, Hawaiian shirts, and 1 cotton 50's dress!
Too bad I sold the dress form, just have to find another great vintage one.

(image from Amazon)
Found a copy of this book at an estate sale and now have it at the booth just in time for Easter. Wouldn't a basket of these be a surprise.

Found this great dinnerware pattern at www.replacements.com

Great resource found

As I was searching my library's catalog I had to go to the statewide catalog and there I found a book I wanted but it was listed as an electronic resource--what was this? I found it was part of the Hathi Trust digital library collection (also partnered with Google) of digitized books etc. Found the book I wanted and was able to create a login and setup my "collections". For old books about antique categories I found several with full view of text and pictures. WOW! I don't need to buy these just return to collection whenever I want. Also found some titles for those doing genealogy and found a few books published by relatives.

This chaise was a quick seller at full price--I was at booth the day the buyer came to pickup and assisted to load it into his SUV! I knew it would fit because I carted it in mine.

Booth had a great December, January OK--but the snowstorms don't help with visitors/purchasers.

2 months of Retirement

Can't believe 2 months out of the rat race and I'm still trying to learn to relax. Of course I've been on the road to the market at Elkhorn WI, the Blue Water Yard Sale Trail, Springfield OH Sept extravaganza and TriState Market in Indiana.
For 2010 the spring extravaganza at Springfield was better that the fall. Blue Water was reduced in size and road construction didn't help. Elkhorn was forecast for 30% chance of afternoon thunderstorms--It rained for almost 3 straight hours in the morning so the majority of dealers were wrapped up!
TriState was small but good variety and some dealers were exceptionally reasonable--of course overcast and temp in low 50's after a full day's rain on Saturday made the browsing unpleasant especially for the dealers.
I did get some "good" stock and hit several new to me antique malls.
I happened upon Volo IL --prices so-so, interesting setup with park, retail bldgs and museum. I visited Miami Valley Antique Mall just off 275 near I-75 north of Cincinnati--lots of great small booths with pricing at all levels. Heart of Ohio off I-70 just near Springfield was an experience--lots of floor help and multi sales stations, also a snack bar!
Now I have to inventory, price, wrap and pack stuff to get my house into shape for Thanksgiving dinner in NOV. Yes it will take me that long. Just keeping the kitchen table clear is on going battle. I managed to get pantry door painted and all but 1 kitchen cupboard repainted with new knobs etc.
Have to keep busy so I don't regret retiring early.

Spring sprang! Now it's napping

Feb was so-so in the booth and March was downright dismal. Forget beware the ides of march--just beware!

April has started strong with a 25% off sale and rent plus has been made.

Only small items sold--but they add up quickly. I need to get out and purchase low price stock so I can get a 3x or 4x return. This weekend has promise--one auction and a dozen garage sales/estate sales to visits.

I know sales have been down for many but what are the larger ticket items that sell? There is no rhyme or reason on the smalls. Seems like any vintage camera or globe sells eventually but most other items it's hit or miss. If there's a booth sale things go that sat last month collecting dust. I try to rotate out every 3 months.

Looking forward to retirement when I can take this on full time to hit more sales and auctions and perhaps work on framing items and creating themed displays with more stock rotation. Still want a 2nd booth in a 2nd location to rotate between but time is a problem now. Are malls off expressway exits best or a booth in smaller shop in a small city where there several shops?

EBay has gone flat--those shipping costs eat into profit too much if offer free shipping (as part of initial pricing) or once packaged and distance adds up. The 1 box 1 price doesn't work well for the variety of shapes and sizes. What about dolls--what really sells a particular brand--or age-- or composition? So many out there and the last few auctions have had large collections. I never liked dolls and wouldn't have any affection to "KEEP" one but the jaded attitude doesn't help when looking at them to know what will sell at a profit. Seems it's mostly collectors bidding.

Winter can go says the groundhog

I hope that rodent is correct. Though as I look out the window those pesky white flakes are swirling down!

These photos are from January and today. Then we had a decent snow cover but the river was clear. Today very little snow but the river is jammed with ice flowing down.

January at the antiques mall was BAD! Another dealer confided to me that she was nowhere close to rent by the 19th. Our neighbor across the aisle moved out and on. A new dealer was moving in yesterday, busy constructing shelving units and bringing in tubs of stuff. Another dealer working yesterday was chatting about the unknown of what a customer wants. There's just no rhyme nor reason. Everyone has that special someone they are seeking whether they are articulate it or just know it when I see it. As I went over my inventory listing I realized we are in need of fresh stock. Of course this weekend's auction listings don't show much promise for the box lot bonanzas. I'll have to check out any estate sales nearby. Last weekend I attended 2 in the high real estate areas and was amazed at the firm prices half way though the 2nd sale day. Needless to say not much was brought home!

The last few auctions had many newcomers and as one of the dealers who's been around awhile noted: this is so high "I can't even get in the game!" A banjo went for $800 that was only worth $500 retail!

2010 may become the straw that broke the camel's back. Thinking of looking for space elsewhere, but this mall is clean, well lit and appears to have traffic. I've identified a few I will not go to and others have closed down or have reduced floor space.

Yardsaletrail.com

The bluewater area around the thumb of Michigan's lower peninsula hosts an annual miles long yard sale along M25/M29. This the prettiest sale in America. Even prettier than the World's Longest Garage sale. Heat is the same on either trek but the amount of cool blue water can't be beat!
visit teir website at yardsaletrail.com for 2010 dates and info.

Hearts and flowers

Now that the florists have increased prices for roses especially and other bouquets, too bad antiques malls can't have a time to artificially raise prices!
Over the weekend I visited 2 malls in Indiana. One was just outside of Indianapolis off s 65 and I can't remember the name. Nice multidealer shop with lots of different merchandise.--Oh yeah It was Southport. Nice people and most of it was easily accessible if one had a walker or wheelchair.
Attempted to visit Knighstown--after seeing all the advertisements and hearing them mentioned, unfortunately they are closed until weekend of Feb 28/Mar 1. this was a bummer as we maneuvered through town pulling a boat.
Then stopped at Webb's in Centreville off I-70 the billboards told the story of the market--1st sign over 500 dealers, next sign over 400 dealers within a matter of a few miles. Once there I'd say it may even be fewer that 400. Once again big ads that didn't live up to hype. All on 1 floor, lots of empty spots and water dripping so many places at one point I thought I was outside listening to a running brook! Good parking, great people! Some booths had deals though.
Almost partway through month and only half way to rent. Blast it!
Weather just has not cooperated this season, too cold, too snowy, too icy, too foggy!
I need to find better stock or I don't know what else. I move items around, i remove items and bring in fresh. I change prices, we tried a sale for January--not much results. Yes overall the traffic is down so shouldn't complain, but I want this to be a going profitable venture for a nearing retirement. How can one gross $1000 a month, I'm trying to start low to cover all expenses and take a profit monthly. I want to supplement future income at the very least. I try eBay but those shipping costs are getting too high for larger items! Come a nice warm April or May weekend a grand yard sale will be held. Even at yard sale we seldom make more than $300.
My thinking cap is on and I'm open to tips.

Make a million in ANTIQUES

Just listened to a great book on CD-- “Cracking the Millionaire Code” by Hansen and Allen.
Yeah right, as if I could earn a $1,000,000.00 in my antiques business. But still maybe there could be hope using some of the principles.

One-- was get a team together.

I do know that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And a sum of two is better than one etc.

I hope this blog could be a springboard to bring together others who want to open an antiques business, or are active in antiques or maybe just love antiques and want to buy antiques or even learn more about antiques.

So if you are out there. I’ve “built” this blog and am waiting -- “they will come!”
We could form a team to volley ideas back and forth, trade experiences, give insight, creative ideas even just words of encouragement. Maybe even start our own organization that could lend some legitimacy to being a part-time, lower volume antiques dealer.

Another paraphrased principle was to focus on the end result—antiques business, and expand your group for potential allies—this might compute to helpers such as accountants, auctioneers, delivery people, cousin Janie’s mother-in-law who has a bridge club or book club that are looking for a chance to have a day trip etc.

One principle I really liked was that of philanthropy—giving away 10% of profits to others in need. This might be sponsoring an appraisal fair for the museum, giving money to a library to purchase books about antiques and collectibles, being a sponsor for a community event on vintage boats or old cars, maybe even as simple as buying jerseys for a basketball, hockey or baseball team. Or how about a donation to local PBS station as a thank you for airing Antiques Roadshow!

Maybe we need our own shirts to advertise us! How about someone coming up with a logo a slogan and we can sell the shirts and profits go to the organization or you get a t-shirt with your membership at xx level. Or just for fun! I have a contact for inexpensive cotton shirts and another for screen-printing, another for embroidery so other than design not too difficult a task.

Do you love antiques; do you wish you could have a positive experience discussing antiques with like-minded people?
Then visit here and comment and link to others who could become part of our own millionaire team!