Fresh Picks: Mellow Metals

The cool, clean look of industrial style decor takes on a more serene dimension if you choose true vintage relics like these. When form follows function, these delightful finds are equally suited to organizing your work space or adding an artful touch to your living space.

Industrial Desk Lamp. Vintag... CheekyChicVint... $125.00	Vintage Kwik File Industrial... calloohcallay $52.00	Vintage Stenciled Metal Supe... TheFancyLamb $42.00
Vintage metal wire basket - ... moxiethrift $21.50	19th Century Bicycle Head La... Nachokitty $175.00	Vintage Student School Desk ... glasspanic $125.00

Treasury tool by whalesharkwebsites

Welcome New Members: Artful Vintage, Cheeky Chic Vintage, Judy Go Vintage, and The Vintage Hat Shop

Emily of Artful Vintage hits the auctions and antique shops in Southern Illinois to bring a wonderful variety of items—from primitive metal boxes, to ceramic planters and gardening tools, to pictures and other décor items. I’m especially taken by her brass stencil letters.

Another fabulous Illinois shop, Chicago-based Cheeky Chic Vintage specializes in industrial items, such as wonderful printer trays and Mad Men-era lamps. You’ll also find some unbelievable barware, vintage cameras, and odds and ends such as a rocking horse or ceiling light. It’s a captivating combination.

With more than 400 items, Judy Go Vintage has an eclectic mix of housewares, décor, art, fashion, accessories, and even furniture. Judy adores vintage textiles, and it shows in her exquisite selections. She’s based in the Hudson Valley, New York, but has managed to live all over the world.

 

Back in Northern Michigan, Cindy of The Vintage Hat Shop has some fabulous finds—cloches, berets, pillboxes, fedoras, fascinators, you name it. It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite, so let me just share this straw hat from the 1940s. I could spend all day trying these on (in a cyber kind of way).

Beat The End of Winter Blahs & Sell!

It's that blah time of year. The weather is overcast, likely chilly and seems like it's been the same for days. Combine that with tragic events in Japan and it's easy to see why people may not be buying.

What do you look for at the end of Winter? A change. Cheerfulness. Gardens. Moving homes. Rearranging furniture. Spring cleaning. Freshening up. Summer vacation planning. Weddings. Graduations. Mothers Day. Fathers Day. Anniversaries.

Green Enamel Brooch & Earrings by reconstitutions

Why not provide what people are yearning for?


Brighten up your shop. Look at your shop with an objective eye. Stand back from your computer by 5-6 feet. What primary color do you see? Brown? Grey? White? Just like everyone loves the feel of crisp white sheets in the Spring, they'll be attracted to your shop if it feels light and bright. Make it feel fresh, alive.

Vintage Cake Pan by CheekyChicVintage

Make your shop feel all new, ready to be discovered. You can either re list items or use the custom sort feature. Think of it like a treasury-give your customers a reason to come back to your shop. I like to swap out my featured items every 2 days and rearrange the front page every 3-4 days. I have noticed the featured items get marked as favorites every time I change them.

Vintage Suitcase by MellowMermaid

Rephotograph older items to give them a new look. While your old photos may be fabulous, if the item is still in your shop, perhaps it needs a new perspective. I recently bought OTT lights. Wow. My lighting has improved 100% and so have my photos. I'm now slowly going back and redoing all my original photos. It's been working! Several items I've done this with have sold within 10 days.

Citrus Litho by vintagegoodness

Raise your prices! While this may seem counter intuitive, it's actually quite sound logic. As I've blogged about here before, it's vital to know who you're marketing to. Since we can't read minds, you can operate with some general information. What's the pricing comfort zone for an item to decorate the home? If you're drawing a blank, look at Potterybarn.com or CrateandBarrel.com. Both are very popular with the 30-50 age group. Both companies are blatantly copying vintage designs-and you're providing the real thing! Raise your prices and show that your items are worth it. Nothing causes the "what's wrong with it?" suspicion more than prices that are too low.

Pear Pottery Bowls by Shoptastic

Provide companionship. Are you talking to your Facebook fans? Do you treat them as potential friends or just as an audience to sell to? No one likes to be advertised to all the time. Stop just showing them your new listings and treasuries. Ask them questions. Tell them an anecdote about yourself. This also works well on your blog. Everyone likes a conversation to contribute to, especially in these bleak last days of Winter.

Seed Starting Tray by birdie1

Think of all the catalogs that come out this time of year. They likely arrived a few weeks ago to get you in the mood. The scenes in them are staged differently for each season. Spring is about bright colors, a fresh palette and a clean slate. Update your shop and see your customers respond!

What's Trivial to You May Be Vital To Your Customer

When you have an item right in front of you, it's often easy to overlook the obvious. That's why it's always important to pretend you're looking at your item from your computer screen. If you only had a 2 dimensional view, what kinds of questions would you want answered about it?

1960s Sterling Modernist Dove by mascarajones

Take for example sterling and gold. Most listings I see think about these objects in terms of color and condition. I suggest you consider weight as well. With silver hovering around $30 an ounce and gold around $1400, it's worth mentioning what these items weigh. I use a digital kitchen scale to measure ounces.

1904 US Coin Gold Quarter by FascinatingHobbies

If you're not sure if your item is gold, I suggest testing it. For what gold is currently selling for, it's worth that little bit of effort. eHow has suggestions on how to test for gold. If you're listing items that are made of precious metals, I suggest checking that days price per ounce, just so you price accordingly. I'm not suggesting you judge a vintage item just on the per ounce value! Certainly not. But knowing the baseline is always good information to have.

Taxco Inlaid Silver Earrings by YesterdaysSilhouette

Another piece of information to provide is the makers mark. If you can, always provide a photograph of it. Always. I know five photos often doesn't seem like enough for some vintage items, but that makers mark is critical. Even if you describe it, most people just want the visual confirmation. Think of how much info you glean from a makers mark-provide that same data to your potential customers.

Chadburns Engine Telegraph CheekyChicVintage

Along with that, try to show an interior shot of the entire inside. I have had some nasty experiences with partial shots. I invested in a Dansk cooking pot last year and trusted the sellers "good condition" and partial photo. The hidden corner was badly rusted out. Again, let your customers trust their eyes. Give them the same amount of information they would have if they were holding the item in their hands.

Dansk Paella Pan by bitofbutter

When describing items, be very specific. Don't just say "great condition". Condition is variable with too many definitions. One thing I now try to remember is be very clear. I'm wary of customers who just skim the page. I used to say "there are no chips, cracks, crazing, etc". Now I say: "there are no chips, no cracks, no crazing, blah, blah, blah." That extra no makes a difference.

Federal Eagle Wall Mirror by moxiethrift

Lastly, try to mention the potential flaws that are NOT present.

For metal: there are no dents, no cracks, no repairs.
For ceramic & glass: there are no chips, no cracks, no crazing and no hidden repairs. (this will require black light testing-something I highly recommend)
For paper items: there are no wrinkles, no fading, no writing, etc.

Providing this level of detail will build confidence in your potential buyer. It will also cause you to examine your items even more closely, which can help with hidden flaws you might have missed. A little extra time spent when listing, means no wasted time & money after the sale.