I've missed a week or maybe it's two.
You all know I'm the "master procrastinator" right?! Anyway, I did not disappoint, in fulfilling that title yet again...thank the Lord for Lisa's ability to "get it done."
Last fall, we bought out an estate in Hortonville, WI. As we packed it all up, we put inventory in boxes for the Wausau Antique Show and Tansy Hill Barn Baazar for 2020. We knew then, that we would have a mid-century modern type of a booth, because of what was there. We normally have a girly booth with buttons, lace, linens, postcards, Valentines....but, hey, you sell what you buy right! Truthfully, we were doing this a test. "This is a test of the market, this is only a test, if it were an actually emergency...." - remember those? Well, if it was a test, we received an A.
I titled this post "heart"beat of the market, because, it is Valentine's Day and we are out in the market, we felt it. I could not believe the amount of people at the show. Yes, I know this type of selling isn't the future....or is it...??? I also know "millenials and younger don't want this stuff!"...or do they...???
Well, after this show, I hope this trend continues! Yes, young people were shopping at this show! Yes, they were buying. Now, not "grandma's dishes" unless they were Pyrex, Fire King or some bright color. Not "grandma's doillies" but, her 1950's colorful tablecloths. Not "grandma's old papers" but, her typewriter and stand. Guess what else of "grandma's" they wanted...maybe it was "grandpa's"....we are in Wisconsin, so it's hard for us to judge....LOL....barware! We sold barware, dome chese trays, wood snack sets, drink glasses, shot glasses...our mid-century modern items and that lifestyle...are in!
I always tell the story behind the piece. I know it, because I buy directly from the owners. I've made it personal, because I've helped them and we've became friends, through the pieces of their past. Even if I never met the owner, as they may have passed on, I do, because I learn about them through the items in their homes. One such piece at this sale was a typewriter and stand. A maybe 10 year old girl was looking at it with her mother and I showed her how it worked, a little history of typing kind a thing. When she was interested in purchasing, we made a "bundle deal" and I told her "it's" story. We even gave her the 1945 little yearbook showing an 8th grade or so picture of it's owner. I was encouraging her to type a story under the "pen name" of Marion (the owner) the young girl in the yearbook picture. My friend was at the show too and when she was leaving she saw this mother and daughter talking to someone. She overheard them say something like, what a neat experience this was and how wonderful it was to receive the yearbook too. I'm not bragging, as I've recently been told that sometimes when I do this, what I'm doing right here, telling a story...it comes across as bragging. For the record, I'm just saying....making connections like this from generation to generation is why I LOVE what I do! Some of the remarks and comments, ya...not so much! Lisa and I heard some doosies over the years which we now entertain ourselves with...by repeating them...LOL!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
You all know I'm the "master procrastinator" right?! Anyway, I did not disappoint, in fulfilling that title yet again...thank the Lord for Lisa's ability to "get it done."
Last fall, we bought out an estate in Hortonville, WI. As we packed it all up, we put inventory in boxes for the Wausau Antique Show and Tansy Hill Barn Baazar for 2020. We knew then, that we would have a mid-century modern type of a booth, because of what was there. We normally have a girly booth with buttons, lace, linens, postcards, Valentines....but, hey, you sell what you buy right! Truthfully, we were doing this a test. "This is a test of the market, this is only a test, if it were an actually emergency...." - remember those? Well, if it was a test, we received an A.
I titled this post "heart"beat of the market, because, it is Valentine's Day and we are out in the market, we felt it. I could not believe the amount of people at the show. Yes, I know this type of selling isn't the future....or is it...??? I also know "millenials and younger don't want this stuff!"...or do they...???
Well, after this show, I hope this trend continues! Yes, young people were shopping at this show! Yes, they were buying. Now, not "grandma's dishes" unless they were Pyrex, Fire King or some bright color. Not "grandma's doillies" but, her 1950's colorful tablecloths. Not "grandma's old papers" but, her typewriter and stand. Guess what else of "grandma's" they wanted...maybe it was "grandpa's"....we are in Wisconsin, so it's hard for us to judge....LOL....barware! We sold barware, dome chese trays, wood snack sets, drink glasses, shot glasses...our mid-century modern items and that lifestyle...are in!
I always tell the story behind the piece. I know it, because I buy directly from the owners. I've made it personal, because I've helped them and we've became friends, through the pieces of their past. Even if I never met the owner, as they may have passed on, I do, because I learn about them through the items in their homes. One such piece at this sale was a typewriter and stand. A maybe 10 year old girl was looking at it with her mother and I showed her how it worked, a little history of typing kind a thing. When she was interested in purchasing, we made a "bundle deal" and I told her "it's" story. We even gave her the 1945 little yearbook showing an 8th grade or so picture of it's owner. I was encouraging her to type a story under the "pen name" of Marion (the owner) the young girl in the yearbook picture. My friend was at the show too and when she was leaving she saw this mother and daughter talking to someone. She overheard them say something like, what a neat experience this was and how wonderful it was to receive the yearbook too. I'm not bragging, as I've recently been told that sometimes when I do this, what I'm doing right here, telling a story...it comes across as bragging. For the record, I'm just saying....making connections like this from generation to generation is why I LOVE what I do! Some of the remarks and comments, ya...not so much! Lisa and I heard some doosies over the years which we now entertain ourselves with...by repeating them...LOL!
Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.
So glad it went well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story. There are times we will talk about things that our customers purchase. They love hearing the story about what they buy. Glad you did great at yur sale! Good to hear the younger generation is purchasing items. Janice
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