Replays and Things was originally started in an effort to catalog our own collections, and to liquidate what didn’t fit into those collections. As our business grew we realized that we needed to open ourselves up to a larger audience, so we started looking into how we could expand. In 2012 we made the move to an online business model, and since have moved 100% of our business online.
In the beginning we sold a little of just about every type of antique and vintage item you can imagine. Porcelain collectibles and dinnerware, glass collectibles, bottles, jars, and dinnerware, sillisculpts, costume and fine jewelry, accessories for men and women, pins and buttons, silverware and silver plate, military items, and so much more. Since the middle of 2014 we have phased out most of these items to focus on our fine jewelry. In the future we hope to be bringing these other items back, but that will depend a lot on having the resources, time to do so, and most of all my health.
Like most we started with the two big E’s, eBay and Etsy. We found out very fast that eBay did not fit our business as well as Etsy, so we focused much more on our Etsy store. We established ourselves on our attention to detail, customer service, a large following, and 5 star feedback on both platforms.
We started our own website in 2015, https://replaysandthings.com
The site expanded quickly and became way too much to handle while still selling at both other places. Instead of raising prices on everything and moving all items to just the website, I decided to take down the store on site and move everything to Etsy. Reasoning behind this was, and behind having to raise prices, was an advertising budget. When we crunched the numbers of what it would take to generate the traffic we needed to our site to realize the same level as what we have here, we found that we would spend quite a bit more money driving traffic than what we spend here in fees. We also know from experience the level of time and commitment it would take to keep the site up.
Edits section:
November 2, 2020. I typed the above paragraph 4 years ago. In that time I probably have only posted 2 blog posts and may have added 10-12 new makers marks in the research section. It’s so funny how time can fly by. Seems like I just typed that a few months ago. My health has been less than great the last five years, kids are both grown now and their interests keep them busy and I try not to interfere with that. They need to get out there, or needed to until this virus, and figure out their own lives. So my son has been in college studying in the medical field. Can’t believe he’s 25. My daughter turned 22 this year and has brought a beautiful little girl into the world. She is and will be a great mom. This has been a tough year for our family, not to do with the virus, just the way everything fell. We lost the boss lady, our patriarch, business owner, and best mom in the world(she had to be to put up with me) in March. Then in April my sister lost her fiancé, he has been and will be missed. And then in May my dad. Didn’t see him much or talk to him that much, but still my dad and will be missed. Funny my parents have been split for many many years but the amount of time between their passings was almost exactly the amount of time between their ages. Anyway I put this in here to refer you back to the top of our announcement, if you actually made it this far down that is, where I said please cherish every single moment you have with Family, because again, you never know what tomorrow will bring, or what it won’t.
Adding to above we've also lost my last grandparent in 2020, my dads mom. This was the woman behind my passion for everything antique/vintage. I grew up spending many hours in her and my grandfathers antique store, and my great grandfathers coin store in the same building. Her patience and knowledge put me on the road I am on today. Again cherish every moment you have with those around you,
January, 2021. As of January 2021 our website has been taken down for good. It was eating up resources(cash) we just don't have. Hate I never got all of our research online but it is what it is(favorite saying lol).
Edits section end...
Thank you, and happy shopping!