Buying and selling antiques can be a hugely gratifying and interesting profession; however, it is much harder than you may have anticipated to make profits on your wares. While you may believe you have found a one-of-a-kind treasure that is sure to gain a wide amount of interest, how do you know whether it is valuable and is of significance to your customers?
You may have many questions on what it takes to become an antique dealer and how to enhance your success upon starting out. Therefore the below tips may come in useful if you have no prior experience:
Visit Fairs And Galleries
If you’re new to the world of antiques, it would be an idea to visit as many fairs and museums as possible to get an idea of the type of wares you’re most interested in. When dealing in antiques, it would be best to concentrate on a specific target market for pieces to attract customer attention; by selecting a type of antique or those dating from a specific era. In doing so, you’ll concentrate on building a knowledge base around a certain aspect that will allow you to become an expert in your industry.
Where To Hunt
The first rule of hunting for antiques is to steer clear of high street stores. Vintage and antique stores are usually owned by professionals in the industry who have already priced the item at market value to make a profit, as opposed to selling for the price they originally bought it for. With this in mind, you should spend time browsing market stalls, yard sales, and thrift stores to find antiques and collectibles for a low price. Although it may take time, having patience is key – you may have to visit several times before coming away with just one item.
Authenticity
If you’re concerned about whether or not the wares you’re purchasing are authentic, you may wish to get in touch with trade associations such as the likes of LAPADA which will be able to assess the product and give you key information on whether you have been conned into purchasing a counterfeit item. The good news is that some antique events and fairs assess the sellers before being accepted to ensure their wares for 100% authenticity to prevent fraud.
Storing
When the weather is cold, it is natural for us to turn our central heating up; however, if you’re storing antiques in the home, you need to be particularly careful when it comes to room temperature and location. Wooden items may dry out and cause deterioration when exposed to heat, including structural fragility, surface cracks, and discoloration. A solar hot water system allows you to control your home’s temperature much easier and is also an energy-efficient, to reduce your carbon footprint by using solar energy instead of electricity.
If you’re hoping to become an antique dealer soon, we hope this guide has given you some useful pointers to consider, which will help to guarantee a long-term career and high rate of success.
Photos by Skitterphoto via Pexels.
