I think my #1 tip to you would be to collect items you love, items you yourself would fill in your home. Your special space should be a reflection of you. I guarantee you, if someone who knew me walked into the antique mall for the first time in their life, they would know in their heart which space is mine.
When I shop an estate sale and find some crazy unique piece, that I, myself, am excited about I KNOW it will sell. (That's if I decide not to keep it for myself. )That's because your customers are going to have the same excitement when they see that special piece!
Yes, I do only buy items I love. But I keep myself aware of trends as well. I subscribe to multiple interior decorating magazines and also pay attention to fashion trends. From colors, patterns, and texture.....the two typically reflect each other. This Spring, pastels like mint green and lavender are HUGE and I incorporated a bit into my space.
Trays of all kinds have always been a hot seller for me. Painted, printed, funky or mirrored. I have one of every flavor. Old picture frames, and by old, I mean OLD frames sell quite often. Look for solid wood, and neat details like carving or chippy filigree plaster. Mirrors are always a hot seller. People like stuff they can use. And who doesn't like to look at them self?
PRICING
It's very important to have a wide range of prices within your space. You don't want people to pass by your space and think " She has cool stuff, but way over-priced." But you also don't want people to think "That's just a bunch of cheap yard sale crap" either. There is a delicate balance of having both. At the moment, I have items in my space ranged anywhere from $3.00 to $200.00.
You might be thinking, "I'm not going to waste my time with dumb, little, cheap things". But they really add up! At the end of the month, I take a look at my sales and typically items under $40 make up 75% of my sales.
How do you decide on price?
If it's something I purchase from a sale or auction and requires no love of repair from me, as a rule of thumb I at least triple my purchase price. Although, you can sometimes find a $1.00 item that is worth $100! (Junk jewelry grab bags are a gift from God.) If it is something I paint, like a piece of furniture, I factor in my purchase price, cost of materials, and typically charge $20/hr of my labor that goes into it. You sell painted and refinished furniture for the LOVE of it, and the reward comes to you when some happy customer wants it in their home. It's the greatest compliment of all.
I never factor in my actual treasure hunting time on the road. Like I said, you do this for the love of it. I feel very fortunate to finally be in a place where I can exercises my creativity and passion. Do what you love, and the money will come. As with anything in life, you get what you put in.
Can you actually make money at this? The answer is yes.
Before selling my stuff in an antique mall, I sold on Etsy. At first, I told myself I'd be happy if I at least was making enough to cover my car payment. Soon, I began making more money pushing vintage wares than I was working as a business banker. That place totally stressed me out and was the wrong environment for my creative soul. My space at Curiosities Vintage Mall has been very successful and has really given me confidence to even look for another space at a new vintage mall! It's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. There's no stopping me now, and there shouldn't be anything stopping you either!
