The good vintage sellers sure do make it look easy.

I've been selling vintage for decades now and honestly, I work harder at his gig working for myself than I ever did "punching a clock for the man."

The education never ends and still to this day I still managed to get burned. There are TONS of well made and convincing looking forgeries out there that make it very difficult for even some of us seasoned sellers to see.,, and just because you by something from an old person's garage sale, that doesn't mean that what you're buying is old too.

Before you buy anything to resell, sit down in a comfy chair with books on just ONE thing that interests you and read EVERYTHNG you can find on that one thing for a month... at the end of the month give yourself an enthusiasm check? Still all hot to trot? If so them go for it... but go slooooowly.

Publié le 22:13 18 déc. 2010 EST

I'd add in to think about shipping - what do you feel comfortable packaging? Selling large or fragile items requires a lot of work to pack - and it takes a lot of time. I would carefully consider how much effort you are willing to put into packing, and that will help give you a boundary as far as what you buy to put in your shop.

Publié le 22:18 18 déc. 2010 EST

And as far as finding items goes, that takes a good bit of time also - you have to do quite a bit of looking and not buying when you shop thrift stores, garage and estate sales, flea markets, etc. I sell full time, and during sale season I usually spend around 10 to 15 hours a week out shopping.

Publié le 22:25 18 déc. 2010 EST

Packing breakables is my very least favorite part of this operation. Scrimping on packing materials is a costly error.

We buy half inch bubblewrap by the garage-full. 3 foot wide rollstahat are 3 feet high. 4 to 6 rolls at a time. They deliver it to our house in an 18 wheeler truck.
Our neighbors are always stunned when the huge delivery tuck pulls up in front of our house with all our packing stuff in this tiny rural neighborhood.

Publié le 22:28 18 déc. 2010 EST

lol, I get the same looks when I pull the bag of packaging peanuts out of the back seat of my car - it takes up the entire back seat :P

Publié le 22:34 18 déc. 2010 EST

Research! Lots of Time! Finding the perfect items! Lots of work...................LOVE IT :-)

Publié le 22:35 18 déc. 2010 EST

Oooh I'd never be able to do it... A) I don't have the crazy amount of time it takes in thrifting B) I don't have the heart to sell my finds!

It must be as fun as it looks though, right?

Publié le 22:37 18 déc. 2010 EST

I always wanted to go to an estate sale...

Publié le 22:40 18 déc. 2010 EST

I really like what vintagehomerecycled had to say. I have been collecting since I was in Jr High and have aquired a lot.

It takes time, a lot of time to get vintage items. Some times you'll get lucky and sometimes you won't find a thing. Start collecting something and see where it takes you. Go to some antique shows or stores and see what people want and then go to thrift store, yard sales and estate sales.

Over time you'll get an eye for all things vintage and you'll love every second of it...til then enjoy the journey. I have meet so many nice people and found some pretty awesome treasures!

Publié le 22:41 18 déc. 2010 EST

My husband and I are a team at garage sales. 2 pair of eyes are better than one. Our sales start Thursday and Friday after work and then most of Saturday. We do this starting usually April and then go strong until end of June (every weekend) There are not as many during the summer...then come fall we're out again every weekend. We even drive out of town for some community garage sales we find that are advertised.
We've been lucky with the treasures we find....some we sell and some we keep for ourselves. I love the Retro & Vintage Era and I have my house in that theme....A BLAST FROM THE PAST! retroclassics.etsy.com

Publié le 22:52 18 déc. 2010 EST