The Need to Cultivate Young Collectors To Keep the Antique Market Alive, Latest WorthPoint Article

I love the comments that are coming in on WorthPoint.com on this particular article. I just goes to show that many people are reluctant to change and that is why antique shops are closing left and right.

Enjoy and as usual I welcome your comments.

http://www.worthpoint.com/article/antiques-businesses-survive-cultivate-younger-customer-base

I have been very surprised by the comments that this article has garnered. You can see the comments just below the article on the above link.

Working on a New Article About Where to Sell Antiques and Collectibles

Hee Hee, I can peek in and see what article most people are reading and it appears that everyone is interested in where and how to sell your antiques and collectibles.

I am working on updating my post on this very topic. It changes quickly these days.

Stay tuned.

Take Advantage of Slow Winter Months to Reconsider how you Run Your Antique Shop | WorthPoint

For all of the antique shop owners both storefront and online. Here is my latest article on WorthPoint.com with a few tips on what you can do to pump up the sales.

Take Advantage of Slow Winter Months to Reconsider how you Run Your Antique Shop | WorthPoint:

As always, I welcome your input.

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Looking For Antique Shopping In Springfield, MO ?

Here is my latest WorthPoint.com article about an antique mall that got started in an unusual manner. Actually it is more about doing what you have to do in this economy to make a living even if it involves stepping off in to uncharted territory.

Enjoy and as always I appreciate your feedback and suggestions for future articles.

Making it Work: Mike’s Unique Collectible & Antique Flea Market | WorthPoint:

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A Few Words of Caution About Antique Appraisers

** DISCLAIMER - This post by no means relates to ALL antique and personal property appraisers. It is based on observations and conversations with numerous people who are 'certified appraisers' and TV personalities related to the antiques field.  **

I am not a certified appraiser nor a member of an appraisal related association or group, all of my knowledge comes from 'field' work, I am out in the shops, reading publications, doing research for myself and others pretty much on a daily basis. I was raised around antique dealers and have been an active dealer for 30 years. While I do get paid for doing appraisals and my appraisals have been recognized by insurance companies, moving companies, courts of law, etc.

With that said, I want to warn folks about antique and personal property appraisers and how not all of them know jack about what they are seeing or saying. Due to my professional affiliations, job and interactions I have found a substantial amount of mis-information being given to people by "certified" appraisers.

I frequently do paid appraisals for people and also free appraisal services for non-profit groups and some non-profit thrift stores. The reason I felt the need to write this post is based on a recent experience I had assisting a group preparing to have a big boutique sale of donated item. I have worked with this group for about 20 years in helping them price items for their sales but this one in particular floored me.

Fighting Against the Misuse of the Rare, the One-of-a-Kind and the Antique | WorthPoint

If you have been following my blog for any period of time you are familiar with my rants. Here is a good one for you about the misuse of the words 'rare' and 'one of a kind' when describing antiques, collectibles or memorabilia.

For the new collector the use of these words are very misleading and it also shows the ignorance of the seller in most cases.

Read on and enjoy.

Fighting Against the Misuse of the Rare, the One-of-a-Kind and the Antique | WorthPoint:

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Thrift Store Shopping for Antiques, Collectibles and Bargains | WorthPoint

Thrift Store Shopping for Antiques, Collectibles and Bargains | WorthPoint

I am just pumping out the articles!!! Actually I am behind on posting links to them here on my blog.

Tomorrow I leave for Springfield, Missouri to interview a former construction contractor turned Flea Market / Antique Shop owner. I will get to work on that particular article right away and then will churn out another on running your antique business like a business. I am also thinking we need a comprehensive article on where and how to sell your antiques collectibles and the like.

See you again soon

Try Your Local Antique Store Shopping for Last-Minute Gift-Giving Needs | WorthPoint

Try Your Local Antique Store Shopping for Last-Minute Gift-Giving Needs | WorthPoint

Another one of my fab articles for WorthPoint. Of course I cannot take all the credit, my words would be nothing without my editor Greg.

Enjoy

Antiquing Across Western Kansas, My article on WorthPoint.com

In November I made a trek to Colorado, no timeline just me, the open road and what I hoped to be... lots of antique shops. Boy was I ever disappointed.

Here is my article on Worthpoint.com 

Oh, and by the by if you own an antique shop on I-70 or 50 highway I would love to hear from you because I am planning on going back out that way and would love to stop in and visit.

Do You Want Your Antique Business To Fail?

This is my latest article for WorthPoint.com it was prompted by a real life situation I encountered. I have to say that I see more antique shops/malls running their business in such a shoddy manner than I see shops run and treated as businesses.

Many people think they can open an antique shop or mall and they will start seeing money roll in like the tide. To be a success you must have a passion for what you are doing, a good working knowledge of the antiques and collectibles field and some business sense.

To assist those who own or manage antique shops, thrift stores, consignment shops and similar businesses I have started a consulting firm so that we can see more of these types of businesses thrive and survive.

I welcome your comments and questions.