Fresh Picks: Halloween Happy

If you like your Halloween more fun than frightening, consider these nostalgic vintage finds and crafty handmade-with-vintage decorations for your celebration! Follow this link for more Etsy Vintage Team Halloween Items.

vintage cast iron black pot ImSoVintage $39.00	Set of 5 Decorative Hallowe... TheHeirloomBou... $2.75	Rusty Shabby Halloween Harve... suchandsortalt... $9.00
Vintage Chenille Bedspread P... chenillaholic $15.00	Vintage 1960s Printed Linen ... anothertimeant... $25.00	Halloween Black Cat Noise Ma... VintageInspire... $19.95

Treasury tool by whalesharkwebsites

Ahead of the Curve

Ever notice when you get a little itchy for something? It's often not when you'd expect to receive it. For example, I tend to crave a great breakfast around 10:30 at night. Those same feelings we all get also apply to shopping trends. Right now, things are really heating up for future events-and you need to be on the ball and ahead of the curve. 

Vintage Twig Broom offered by hurstdesigns

If you've been trolling the Treasuries on Etsy lately, you'll have noticed that Halloween is sprouting up. I even found myself making one last week and then this week I saw several more. Vintage Halloween is being searched on. This is the time of year for designing elaborate adult costumes, thinking about how to decorate for the big annual party, and planning what the kiddos are going to wear. 

Vintage Spider & Fly Pendant offered by myshangrila

Cater to it. List your Halloween related items now. Get your costume pieces modeled and photographed. Use your Featured Items to show off your items and if you have enough, change them out often. Even just rotating the order the featured photos are in can give your shop a whole new look. 

Vintage Halloween Cookie Cutters offered by jinxxy

I recommend having a Holiday themed category to make it easy for shoppers. Make it easy for those ornament, decoration & costume customers. I've found many people don't realize they can search within our shops, especially all the potential buyers coming to our shops straight from Google. Categories are critical in helping them find things. 

Antique Ankle Boots offered by designarchives

I found last year that Christmas ornaments began selling in late August. It's the time when buyers hope to score pieces before the main public begins buying. Don't wait to flood the market in late November because by then you'll have sacrificed all those early buyers. Late November is a fine time to relist, but do your initial listings in the upcoming weeks. 

Collection of Polish Ornaments offered by kowgirlkitsch

Isn't this anticipation fun? Fall is coming. Gear up for it and get ahead of the curve! 

Is There Really a Season For Selling?

I did a post on my Facebook page the other day, asking my group why they bought vintage. Was it for gifts, events, or just for their own personal collecting? Several people responded and several emailed me directly. Overwhelmingly I was told they bought to collect for themselves. If this is true, then we should cater to that mentality. Collectors don't buy seasonally. They look all year round.

Bottlebrush trees by VintageJunkInMyTrunk

I collect old Halloween & Christmas. I'm always searching, especially during the off season. Why? Because that's when I can find things easily. The market isn't flooded with reproductions, there isn't a lot of just "clutter" listings that don't apply, there is less competition and things cost less, often much less.

Vintage button upcycled necklace by calloohcallay

Don't fall into this trap. A vintage paper Halloween horn from the 1940's isn't worth any less in May. But I notice sellers discounting these types of items over and over. Collectors will find it and pay the right price-as long as the condition warrants it of course. (which brings up the point-know your prices!)

1950's Bombshell Swimsuit by hautecountryvintage

This same logic applies to items like swimsuits and other seasonal clothing that appeals to everyone, not just collectors. That client who marks it as a favorite in October is planning to fit in it by January. She'll come back for it! I've had this happen several times in my shop-things get marked as a fav and then when the buyer is motivated, they buy.

Foodie Friday--D is for DRACULA

OK, OK, I know DRACULA isn't a food, or even food related, but with Halloween just around the corner, I couldn't resist!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all, and I hope you are donning a costume and heading off for some adult fun and libations.....Here is a recipe for a RED punch I like to call 

DRACULA'S BLOOD PUNCH:

• 1 750ml bottle of white rum or vodka
• 1 bottle dry red wine
• 3/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 3/4 cup orange liqueur
• 3/4 cup simple syrup (adjust to your desired sweetness)
• 2 cups orange juice
• bag frozen rasperries, pureed
• orange and lime wheels, maraschino cherries -- for garnish

Pour all ingredients into a punch bowl or other large serving vessel. Mix well.  Add an ice ring, or block. Put a ladle in it and enjoy in moderation.

 Serve your DRACULA'S BLOOD PUNCH in these groovy red mugs:

from ReBopShop

 HAPPY HAUNTING TO ALL!!!!

Think Outside the Halloween Box

I love Halloween. Vintage Halloween goodies are always on my radar. I hunt high and low for the real deal. But I only get to take them out once a year! I try to bring them out in early September, but my resident housemates (children and husband) just tend to roll their eyes at me. So I wait patiently until October 1st.

The colors of Halloween are so classic. While I don't want to have a spooky pumpkin looking down on me in the middle of Spring, I wouldn't mind an offbeat reminder of my favorite time of year. As a seller and a buyer, think about how items can be used throughout the year. Market them that way, and they'll sell, regardless of the season.

Vintage Cultivator Claw Tool Offered by Birdie1

For example, I love to be organized. What better way than with a magazine rack that doubles as a creepy Halloween prop? I can have it up all year and then hang all manner of creepy crawlies on it at the right time. It would look great with a bunch of flowers laying in it in the Spring! It's farmhouse charm.

It doesn't even have to be that dramatic. Perhaps a stapler can be a workhorse with attitude. The color is right and blends in any time of year. But come autumn, a little orange will offset it nicely.

The Scariest Stapler in the World by BitofButter

In the dining room and kitchen, Halloween decorating can be a bit tricky. (no pun intended!) How to keep hip, useful, year round cookware that doesn't scream "seasonal"? This mid century modern serving piece can be cheerful in Spring and Summer, but worthy of serving a frightening feast in the Fall. 

Mid Century Chafing Tray offered by TheWhiteMole

Now of course, most everyone loves owls. An owl looks quite at home among books and can infuse even a small library with character. Whooo will watch over you carefully regardless of the season? A pile of pumpkins are sure to come to life with an owl lurking nearby.

Vintage Lucite Owl offered by Susantique

Bud vases are always useful and creative ones like these can really bring a tablecape to life. Flowers are sweet, but if you truly want to spook things up, fill these with colored water-red, orange, black, green, etc. A mad scientist is welcome at the best haunted homes! 

Scientific Beakers offered by PolkadotHOME

Think outside the box. What else can your item be used for? What can be turned into? Can it represent something other than it's intended purpose? Can you leave it out and not have it take up precious storage space? That's a big plus for anyone! It's all about creative marketing.

Postcards from France III

I saw this last year at a party in Provence, and thought it would be great adapted for a Halloween event. Antique auldrons and the stands are pretty easy to come by here, but I'll be you could find replacements around - a vintage fondue stand?

My favorite is the tealights in twigs part.

Joyeux Halloween!