I Am in Travel Mode for the Summer

Here is my latest article for WorthPoint.com - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/michelles-antique-roadtrip-cruising-antiquing-southeast-iowa

A friend and I took a trip to Iowa and I just returned from a seven day trip to Texas. That story will be along shortly.

Please be sure to read the above article and check back here for photos that did not get posted in the story.

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.

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....

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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.