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.

When Antique Shopping Is About More Than The Goods - Latest WorthPoint.com article

I so enjoy writing for WorthPoint.com, who would have ever thought that I would write anything anyone would care to read. It just goes to show you never know what life will hand you.

I had proposed a series of articles on antique shopping across several states one of which was Texas. Well, Mother Nature decided to burn my home State of Texas up therefore my travels have so far been pretty limited. I am hoping that a trip to Colorado and possibly Georgia will be coming soon.

Please enjoy my latest contribution to WorthPoint.com - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/antique-shopping-more-than-about-goods

How To Turn Your Antique Shop In To A Profitable Business - Blog Edition

I hope that you have read my articles on WorthPoint.com with the same title as this blog post. Here is Part 2 of the article - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/how-turn-antique-shop-profitable-business-part-2 , but I have so much to say on this subject that I decided I needed to add additional points here on the blog so that I can move on to other topics in my WorthPoint.com articles.

Too many antique shop owners, especially live store front owners are not treating their business as a true money making business. I get the impression that the attitude is "if we build it they will come" in a sense this is true but do you just want to get by or do you REALLY LOVE what you are doing and want to make it a success, you will be the expert, the go to shop for all that is antique and collectible.

I opt for the go to shop owner myself and that is why I have been successful in my chosen field as an antique dealer for over 25 years. I am not wealthy by any means but I love sharing my knowledge and sharing my wonderful finds.

My Latest Article On WorthPoint.com - How to Turn Your Antique Shop In To A Profitable Business

This article applies to store front shop owners, online sellers and even those who sell through venues such as eBay, etsy, etc.

Part 2 of the article will go in to using social networking, making educational videos, fun things you can do in your store front to make your shop a destination instead of just another antique shop.

I love doing this....

Preparing for a Short Shopping / Road Trip

Dear hubby has taken this week off of work and along with the usually 'honey dos' that I have planned for him he proposed a one day short trip. I picked Atchison, Kansas, it is only about 90 miles from home so we can get on the road by 9:00 a.m. and my first antique shop stop is only about 45 miles up the road.

I will take photos and tell you all about my great finds, the ones I purchase and the ones I wish I could purchase.

Until later....

Test One Two

I have to make a post with this VMDM4EAFT92S in place to verify my site for inclusion on a website.

What Amazing Items Have You Bought This Summer?

I loved show and tell when I was a kid in school and I love it even more as a dealer and collector. I enjoy seeing the wonderful items that others have found at sales and auction. By the same token I enjoy sharing my finds.

The half tester bed that you see is one that I have had my eye on for many years. You don't come across them very often but whenever I see one my heart skips a couple of beats.

Do I have a room with a high enough ceiling in which to put one of these beds? Yep, in the dining room. If I ever find one that is affordable it will be mine.

Please share your recent acquisitions, I would love to hear about them.

Finding Some Great New Inventory, Unusual Too

Anyone who has followed this blog is well aware of my issue with all the boxes from my antique shop. I have made some pretty good headway the past two weeks in sorting the boxes in to new inventory for the shop, donate and send to auction.

My eldest daughter and I had a garage sale last week with the first lot of boxes and I was actually able to part with some items I did not think I could let go. We advertised it as 'Antique Shop Liquidation & Garage Sale' so people came to the sale knowing that not everything would be priced at garage sale prices. Dealer's were able to find great inventory and still make a nice profit.

I like the unusual, and tend to purchase items that are a little odd looking. The item shown in the photo is an early stapler of sorts. It has a very sharp metal tip under the plunger and apparently you would place some sort of crimper item in the 3 circular areas, place your paper under the metal plunger and WHAP the plunger and your stack of paper would be held together by the little crimpers. Or at least this is what I think the process was.

If you know what this item is please let me know. It will be up for sale when I get the new website up and running in the next couple of months.

I Have Been Published on WorthPoint.com

Please be sure to read my very first article on Worthpoint.com - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/summer-antique-shopping-smarts

I am working on my next article for antique dealers. What I have learned over the years and how to survive as a dealer in this economy.

Please leave comments on the story and I really appreciate your support.

New Antique Show on the Horizon

Rumor has it that the infamous Keno Bros. from Antiques Roadshow are going to have a 'reality' show on Fox. The title is "Buried Treasure"

Here is the concept - "The brothers will travel the country hunting for hidden gems in peoples’ homes. Using their expertise and technology to determine authenticity and condition, the duo will reveal each item’s estimated auction value and gives the family a chance to sell. In some instances, the Kenos will bring the items to the world’s top buyers. At the end of each episode, you’ll learn if the item sold and for how much."

What do you think about this? There used to be a show with this very same concept and I personally don't think the Keno Bros. are going to make any difference.

I have heard rumblings of another American Pickers type show. In my opinion this is all getting a little out of hand. Come up with a new concept, of which I have seen many, and quit redoing what is already out there or has been done.

What To Do, What To Do

Have you ever just hit the wall with a big project? It is staring you in the face day after day and it just seems like it is just too massive to do anything about?

Well I am there. I still have a couple hundred boxes in my house and garage from the closure of my antique shop a year ago February. I believe I have already talked about the massive mess and it isn't getting any better.

Educate yourself before you buy antiques or collectibles

The description on this pair of "antique leather panels" read as follows; "Pair of 19th C. Framed Embossed Leather Panels
Continental circa 1800's-Leather Panels
Pair of fine leather embossed panels that are mounted on an antique gold colored silk background. The leather pieces are framed with the most exquisite silver leaf frames. These panels can be hung as artwork in almost any location of your home." The price for the pair, a whooping $7,500 and this was the sale price.

I was asked by the purchaser of these "leather panels" if the price she paid was fair and she asked me just exactly what are these "panels."

Once I recovered from seeing the price she paid I began my expert appraisal of the "leather panels."

My Antique Blog

For several years I have tried to maintain a couple of blogs related to antiques and collectibles but due to problems with Wordpress and probably my hosting company I have decided to keep only this blog up and running.

It is really a shame that you pay a company to keep your website - antique shop in my case, up and running on their servers but they don't take any measures to make sure no one can hack your site. This is what is happening on an increasing basis with my website and the blogs I had on my hosted server.

Now that I have the blogs off of the server maybe the hacking will stop and I will be much more productive in keeping 1 blog updated instead of trying to keep several updated.

Welcome to all

I will update the photos and template on here tomorrow

I am just plain bleary eyed from working on my hacked website and updating templates that are now pictureless, I love vintage photos.

I will get back on it all tomorrow.

Night all

Storage Wars TV Show - What Is Your Opinion

I will give any TV show a chance especially if it deals with antiques and or collectibles, even junk at times. American Pickers has been crossed off my list of must see TV shows, if they "picked" something other than the same old stuff it might be interesting, also the dark haired guy gets on my last nerve.

Pawn Stars, I will watch it if nothing else is on they do get some neat stuff. I have even been to their shop in Vegas.... talk about over priced.... WOW. Anything that has been on the show is marked "As seen on TV." There is lots of it around too.

Storage Wars... give me a break. I have bought a few storage sheds at auction and it is loads of fun, like any auction. Storage Wars has a shill, this is the rich guy who runs the price up on lockers he has no intention of purchasing. I don't think this is illegal but it is certainly unethical, and the auctioneer knows that he is running the bids up. Have you wondered why there is rarely anybody but those on the TV show at these auctions? 1) Made for TV, not exactly reality TV 2) the auctioneer has a piss poor reputation because he allows shill bidding.

I have seen auction houses go under when they get the reputation for shill bidding. This makes it no fun for anyone and if you aren't getting a bargain and having fun at an auction, why attend.

I would love your input on this show and whether or not you have ever been to a storage auction.

Happy collecting.