Stand at an antique centre

A friend did it, it was really a “vanity project”, it cost her more in rent than she made.

Ah that’s interesting I have had people tell me the rent can be so high you’d need to sell so many items per week to break even. That’s a shame as I think I’d enjoy the project in itself. Thank you for your reply. I think I need to do more research!

It all depends how high the rent is.

My DD tried this. She had more stolen than she sold. She was tied into a contract, I think it was 6 months. So had to continue to pay for it despite not making any money. Beware!

Goodness me at theft

Msdaisy Why not specialise in something and sell on eBay or Etsy?

Msdaisy Do you have any experience of buying stock to sell? Do you know what people are looking for and buy?

We have been buying and selling through Antiques fairs for nearly 10 yearsmand we have yet to make any significant profit, which doesn't matter to us because it is a hobby.

We find matching stock to what people want to buy quite tricky. We will have a couple of fairs where an item sells well, so we will stock up with that item, and from then on no one is interested in then. Anyone want to buy a decanter?

We have looked at renting a case at a Antiques Centre, but decided they were too expensive. Also quite demanding, if you do sell well, constantly monitoring auctions, going to viewing day, bidding inperson/by phone/online.

A lot of visitors at Antiques Centres are window shoppers, A nce and interesting place to walk round, especially on a wet day, but they do not buy. Visit the centre a few times on different days and different times, and see how many/few people actually buy anything.

Before you rent a case at a Centre, try some local one day antique fairs and see how you do. In the summe we have a local combined antiques fair and carboot sale. We have sold our cheaper and 'reduced for quick sale' stock there quite successfully.

Have you considered trying this out by taking a stall at an antiques fair or flea market? These one off events attract a huge crowd and a stall for the day only costs about £35. This is the regular one near me in Somerset. www.sheptonflea.com/

This way you can enjoy the process without any long term commitment. It's a great atmosphere and the only danger is that you might buy more from other stalls than you sell from your own!!

Oops, sorry M0nica - I cross posted saying something very similar.

Our local market has a multitude of antiques stalls on a Sunday. I wonder if they all make money- probably a hobby and happy to just break even.

Maybe start by having a table at a car boot sale, when the weather warms up!

I assume the fee is reasonable and it will give you an insight in to the world of buying/selling bric-a-brac.

Cfaz49

My DD tried this. She had more stolen than she sold. She was tied into a contract, I think it was 6 months. So had to continue to pay for it despite not making any money. Beware!

A friend had the same experience - she was tied into a contract and didn’t make enough to cover the costs, and said she was for ever dealing with people who wanted to barter the prices down to practically giving things away. The theft part of it doesn’t shock me - years ago I helped out a friend who had moved house and downsized. We tried to sell the stuff she no longer had room for at a car boot sale and we literally had to have eyes in the back of our heads to keep track - so much went missing. She gave up after a couple of attempts and ended up putting most of it on ebay - much more successful and the selling fees are a percentage of the end price, so you don’t end up with a loss.

The conditions in the antique / vintage shops vary quite a bit in different towns. Locally (my daughter has a unit), you pay a lowish rent (she pays £30 a week) for a space, but she has to work in the shop one day a week. In some shops you pay more rent and do not have to work there. She does the local antiques market once a month too - and generally makes more there, in one day, especially in the summer. She buys online and at auctions; she has a good eye - her displays are very good.

People steal from charity shops so it's no surprise they steal antiques!

Thank you all so much for your helpful comments it’s given me a lot to think about. I’m not liking the sound of a fixed term contract as said if you don’t sell anything you’ll never be in profit. It seems this may be more of a hobby than a business. I do sell on eBay but to be honest I was looking forward to having interaction with the staff at the centre getting out of the house etc. as with most businesses there’s not always much money to be made. The centre needs to pay for its costs so charging large rentals is their way of balancing the books!

It might be worth going in and talking with the people in your local centre, Msdaisy, as you may not have to sign up for a fixed time - and so could give it a go for 3 months? My daughter just has to give a month’s notice.

I was thinking of doing the same for exactly the same reasons Msdaisy, but I think I'm going to be a room guide at local Kelmscott manor when it re-opens, or a national trust house and stick to selling on eBay. I don't fancy a contract either

Msdaisy

Thank you all so much for your helpful comments it’s given me a lot to think about. I’m not liking the sound of a fixed term contract as said if you don’t sell anything you’ll never be in profit. It seems this may be more of a hobby than a business. I do sell on eBay but to be honest I was looking forward to having interaction with the staff at the centre getting out of the house etc. as with most businesses there’s not always much money to be made. The centre needs to pay for its costs so charging large rentals is their way of balancing the books!

Have you thought about maybe opening up an eBay shop. If it’s interaction you’re after, you could enlist the help of a friend or friends to invest in the enterprise and handle different aspects of the sales. Start small and see where it goes.

I think the TV program "The Antiques Roadshow " is very interesting. The professional dealers go to antique shops in
various towns. Those shops are stacked with items. I wonder how they can keep open, especially as you never see anyone else buying there. The dealers always offer the owners a much reduced price and then try to sell them at auction. Sometimes they make a profit but often a loss. I don't think anyone will make a fortune in this trade.

You would probably make more money having a tea and cake stall at an antiques market! As people have said before, there will always be people looking but few buying. Alternatively you could offer your services to mind other people’s stalls for an hour or two for a small fee!

I’ve occasionally had a front yard sale! That’s great fun and you can get rid of lots of things too (just advertise well by putting up fliers before AND taking them down afterwards)… if you’re on a busy street or get a half descent footfall you should do well…. At the end I box up left overs and take it to the charity shop ? Always good fun x

I was an antiques dealer for many years. I had a stall in an old mill where I sold low value collectables and sold the higher value ones elsewhere. The stall was great for the first couple of months but in the end I had to go every week and do a stock take due to thefts. Every week I would lose at least 5 items to theft. The Mill took 10% on every item that was sold as well as a rental charge for the space. It soon adds up when there are quiet periods and you are not selling enough to cover the rental. I stuck it out until my rental agreement was up, all the other stall holders felt the same as I did. However the worst thing is when people watch experts on TV and see them getting a vase worth £100 for £5 and then make a massive profit at auction. Then you get calls from the people running the centre saying a lady wants to know if you will take £5 for your Moorcroft vase that you are selling for £250. It has absolutely killed the industry.

one other point that might be useful. I was moving and wanted to sell various things and was speaking to another person who was just wanting to get rid of some stuff. It is hard work if you do it all alone, pricing, checking etc. So I suggested that she come and help me with my stall on one occasion and I would do the same for her . It worked well. You dont have any confusion selling stuff from both of you. You put the price you want to , there is no need for the other person to agree with you or whatever. So it was just great that you had another pair of hands to help, and were able to nip off to the loo or go for a drink when it was quiet. So definitely worth while having a go at a flea market etc. Ok you are paying for two stalls rather than sharing one but it allows you to have a go. You could share a stall if you sold totally different things , such as you sell porcelain, the other sells glass and have two separate cash boxes as there is a clear distinction , that wont cause problems and of course then only pay half the rent each. Do perhaps one a month for 6 months and you will hav a better idea of longer term , and whether it suits you.

We rented a small cabinet and the cost outweighed what we sold. We also had clocks and sadly people used to move the hands and one was overwound. We found doing the fairs much better.