You probably have a houseful of stuff you've acquired over time, which means you are likely considering obtaining a booth at your local antique mall. If that's the case, you may take solace in the fact that the number one motive for becoming an antiques dealer is the desire to amass a “collection out of control.”
You probably didn't see a future when you would find it difficult to locate the things you love, since you've acquired so many that there is no space left for them to be displayed in. In order to obtain a single additional piece, you have to do something like conduct an environmental impact assessment, since you have to figure out how to move numerous objects, such as chess pieces, to make room for just one more.
This is followed by a startling moment of clarity, when you ask yourself, "Why am I doing this?"
Also, your children have shown no interest in your vintage TV trays, which is disappointing. So you've made up your mind to go out in a blaze of glory for fun and profit, have you?
What You Should Sell
Choosing to rent a place in an antique shop shouldn't be done without careful consideration. It is a company like any other, and in most cases it fails to cover its monthly expenses. The people here who are satisfied with a break-even result are merely content to keep busy, but you are here to make a profit.
If you want to use your products as a way to showcase your collection, you'll need to assess how varied your collection is first. You must provide a wide range of products to have a chance at making a profit or to avoid getting evicted. Those wanting old vacation brochures will only get you so far. In addition to anything you can gather today, you will have to gather more goods in the near future, and with your talent for gathering “stuff,” you should have no problem with this.
Locating an Antique Shop
You have a better understanding of what you plan to sell, so now you must make a decision on where you want to sell it. Many large municipalities have antique malls in their general vicinity. You want to be closer to home, right? Because I've seen folks rent booths two states away. It is likely that you will be back to your booth a couple of times a week, so it is worth the effort to be close and in a well-traveled area.
Village Antiques is in close proximity to Memorial City Mall, Beltway 8, and the 610 Loop, which are all located directly off I-10.
Renting a Display Booth
When you find a rental option that suits you, you should meet with the manager to discuss booth availability and prices. Rental fees will be a price per square foot, and the rates may change depending on the area.
Preparing Your Booth
And today is move-in day. You'll want to cram in as much items as possible every day. Your walls will probably feature pegboard, so make sure to fill the area up with your collectibles. Keep your booth neat and uncluttered; while cluttered is OK, you should avoid making your customers frightened to enter for fear of knocking items over. If you're going to be selling smaller, more precious products, you need to use a lockable display box.
Long-Term Gain
So far, I've covered the details of the setup of an antique mall booth, and to wrap up, I'll go through topics that are harder to explain. The success of your antique dealer career will be determined by your need for knowledge. Making a go of it has some intangible factors; there is a mystical “voodoo” to the whole affair that defies rationality.
This example is: As the pricing for your goods has been sitting at a certain price point for a while without being purchased, you lower the price. It takes two months before you decrease the price even lower, and yet no one is interested.
Raising the price to a level that's even greater than its original price will often boost sales!
While it may not make much sense, it does occur. It may be that customers see some value in the higher price tag, but that's just a theory of mine. It is also hard to predict what will sell well. It's only natural to tend to sell the things you like most. But remember, you'll need to take time to "get inside their brains" to fully understand what they're purchasing.
In the beginning, it can appear difficult, but I see it as a real challenge. Keep on with it, keep paying attentive.
When it comes to your company, the most important thing is experience.