I am fascinated by the wonderful things that people have made
Fifteen years ago I started collecting models of and memorabilia relating to 1959 Chevrolet Impalas and El Caminos. I thought with such a tight target I could get everything there was, but boy was I wrong. When I decided to move on I found that I only had a tight target audience to sell to.
First lesson- do not get int1o tight spots.
I had a yearning to buy and sell things that I found interesting or attractive. Then one day I saw an ad on ebay for the entire stock of a Collectables store which had unfortunately gone bust. Everything was boxed up and in storage so could not be viewed. I went for it and won it for £500. I then had to pay £325 for three guys and a van to collect it all for me. When I got it back to my office it filled two rooms! I opened a couple of boxes, picked out the most interesting items and quickly realised why the seller had failed- in that first box there were two cups priced at £3 each. One was unmarked and had the price sticker covering up a nasty star crack, the other was marked Wedgwood. After a little internet research, one went in the bin the other sold for £35. I was hooked.
Second lesson- check what you have got and take time to research- people want to know what they are buying.
That initial stock lasted me a long time and returned my investment ten times over, even though about half was either binned or donated to the local hospice. Now I needed more stuff so I introduced myself to the exciting world of auctions. It is easy to buy at auction and it is easy to get carried away. I have learnt that the price for any item is frighteningly variable; recently a joblot of 50 items of crested ware were sold for a bid of £5, the next auction at the same venue 100 very similar items sold for £120. I bought the first lot but not the second.
Third lesson- Buy at the right price, not at any price, but buy quality. No one wants to buy inferior products and if, once my research is done, I conclude that it is not the right quality it goes to the hospice- they love me now!
Fourth lesson- If you would not want to buy it don't try to sell it.
So this is my journey. I love what I am doing and it is still more a hobby than a business, but the more I sell, the more I can buy.
