Walk into any successful antique mall and you will notice a common pattern. It isn’t the booths filled with $500 mahogany dressers that have people shopping around in them, its the booth that offers multiple price points. Its the one that can have a college student buying a $5 matchbook and a serious collector eyeing the $200 landscape painting hanging on the wall.
Can you make money with an antique booth? Absolutly!! The most successful booth owners use their booth space as a curated mini brick and mortar. Offering multi price points and different era collectibles. They are mixing a few new pieces in with the old. To truly turn a profit, you must master the art of “the mix.”
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The high low strategy ” why price variety is your best friend”
- The bread and butter: Impluse buys from $5-20. Small decor pieces, vases, brass figurines, baskets.
- The rent payer: $30-50 Small furniture pieces like stools, magazine racks, small wall shelves etc.
- The anchor pieces: Large furniture $150 and up that anchor your space and provide interesting display spot for your inventory.
ErA BLENDING CREATING A “VIBE” INSTEAD OF A MUSEUM
Modern buyers do not want a room that yells 1920’s parlor. Most want a mix of eras. Buyers are no longer looking to have every piece in a certain collection. They want one. So mix mid century modern glassware on a victorian side table. Add a rustic farmhouse spice cabinet next to that modern circle mirror. Sticking to one era limits your customer base. Think outside the box. Buyers now a days are looking for that one unique piece.
The phycology of a “clean booth”
A cluttered dusty booth will keep those customers walking by. Over stuffing you booth makes your stuff feel like junk. Have some white space. Add bright lighting and keep your booth dust free. The clean feel justifies the higher price tags. People do not want to spend money in an environment that is dirty. Also make sure that your items are easy to reach without causing other things to fall. Keep your floor area free of any tripping hazards.
Here are some of the things I use to keep my booth looking fresh.
- Plug in hanging pendant lights. This one has a wicker shade which is lovely or you can just use a decorative bulb. These plug in cords have hemp rope which adds a nice touch to your decor.
- The dusting wand by e cloth is awesome!!
- My favorite all purpose cleaning spray for my booth is by Method.
the weekly refresh: keeping the pickers coming back
Regular mall shoppers “the pickers” visit weekly. If your booth has looked the same for the past 3 weeks, those shoppers will usually pass on by. Keep items moving around the booth to keep your booth looking fresh. Seasonal swaps. Change the color pattern or theme based on the season or the upcoming holiday.
the math behind the booth: turning a hobby into a hustle
Understanding Margins: Calculating booth rent + commission vs. your sourcing costs is very important. Remember to add your gas, time and any supplies that you use. My rule of thumb on pricing inventory is to 4 times my money on small items like vases, baskets, trinkets etc and double on large items like dressers etc
Inventory Turnover: Track which eras and price points sell fastest for you. Using simple spreadsheets may be helpful.
The “Sourcing” Secret: You should always be looking for new stock, even when your booth is full. Keeping a backstock of inventory to fill empty spaces is a must. You do not need to share your sourcing sweet spots. There seems to be a trend where “gate keeping” is frowned upon. Ignore that!! Keep your pickin spots to yourself!!
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