Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Locate a well-trafficked mall populated with dealers of items similar to yours. According to an article in the WorthPoint newsletter written by antiques and collectibles expert Harry Rinker, the Internet has in no way replaced brick-and-mortar antique malls. With so many dealers currently out in malls, it should be easy and fun to identify a mall that draws the kind of customers who will buy your items.
Rent a booth that serves your needs. Be sure the space you rent has adequate room for furniture, plenty of shelves for extensive glass collections, or solid walls for hanging artwork. Inquire about renting additional locked cases for jewelry and small or delicate items, in order to protect against thievery or accidental breakage. Don't lock so many items in cases that your shoppers can't truly explore your inventory. If they don't believe you trust them to browse, they'll go straight to another booth.
Avoid overspending on rent and commission. Rent a reasonably-sized, rather than overly large, booth, restocking the shelves as items are purchased. Make sure your booth's rental agreement covers only the duration of time you believe you'll need the booth.
Decorate to pull in customers. Treat your booth like a boutique shop; arrange your items and add embellishments such as paint, rugs, wallpaper or stencils -- as allowed by your particular mall -- that will attract buyers and encourage them to stop at your booth. If your presentation indicates your items are special, your buyers will have a tendency to believe they are.
Price to sell. Don't let sentimentality drive your pricing. While value guides can be helpful, don't price at the upper-end of the spectrum. Some of your customers will actually be dealers looking for items to resell in their own shops. Find a happy medium that benefits collectors and dealers and allows you to turn a profit as well. The Kovels price guide is a great tool that covers all areas of collecting.
Be willing to haggle. Inform the owner of your mall that you are open to receiving offers from customers. Even if an initial offer feels too low, attempt to meet a customer halfway by lowering your original price.
Illustrate your knowledge on price tags. Unlike owners of small antique shops, you won't be in your booth all day to answer questions. By including a short description that identifies and describes your piece, you give credence to the price you've chosen for your item.
Maintain the booth once you've set up shop. Mall employees are not responsible for your booth; you must keep your own area swept and dusted. Revisit your booth several times a week to reshelve items shoppers have misplaced or to bring in new inventory.