Hidden Treasures

Trends In The Mall

2012-01-18T10:40:00.000-08:00

     Well Just would like to share with my reading public (or with my own head, helps to put it down in words) what we are seeing that is selling these days in the Mall Booths.   I have gotten the read out for the month of January up until yesterday and here is what I am seeing is hot this month.
   Brewenia, collectible fishing tackle, poles, reels and lures (older and newer),cast iron items, Asian decoratives, vintage cookbooks (30's through 70's), Vintage toys 70's through earlier and still finishing up with the marked down Christmas decor (old ornaments, decorative items and santas.
   Now I can say that over the last year of 2011 these do seem to be the items that were popular throughout the year here in Ohio. Then there is the list that is the secondary hottest selling items and those consist of Old farm tables, small old wooden tables (the more primitive looking the better) and vintage (deco and married) entertainment items like an old dresser or bureo turned into a entertainment center or old deco record stands that house albums. Does not seem to matter if we put a new back on the item, paint it black and add new hardware to it.. as long as it has the character of the original vintage piece it once was. Now, I would like to add here the only time we do this is if the piece is so full of water rings, damaged too much to put back to the original form or is missing parts. We do not ruin vintage pieces just for the sake of a trend sale.
     Others in this secondary category are old crocks and primitive pottery, vintage costume jewelry, Red glass (ruby and just red), folk art mirrors and dolls, and pictures, paintings, prints and lithos that are framed art.

Now, I do wish that I had more people following me on Twitter email ect.. so that I could get some response as to what is selling for them or what they look for to buy these days. Never fails that when you hit a great auction and find a bunch of hot selling items that all of a sudden the bottom falls out and you end up sitting on them forever until they come back in again or until you give up and send them to auction yourself just hoping to get your money or a portion of your money back out of it. So pooling information like this would be great for the buyer and seller alike.

Also a note on 'Collecting' I love the Kringles Collection by route 56 .. Brewster. I am always looking for places that sell them aside from Ebay, because frankly they go so dang high on Ebay and then they change a lot for shipping instead of actual shipping. Anyone know out there of a place that sells them in Ohio could you please let me know?

These are just a few Photos of them, I own personally and They have them in many different character styles, like mice, birds and kings and cats and a whole array of subject matter. I just dearly love the whimsey things! :)

Ok, So this is what I found to be not worthy for the last year of 2011 through January 2012.. How about you? Please Share!

She's Backkkkkkkkk.. 2 years Later

2011-12-19T07:29:00.000-08:00

Well now, that was a long break from the Blogging! I find myself sitting at this blog site 2 years almost to the date later. I got lost in those facebook games and all ..I use that as my down time since we spend a lot of time at auctions, flea markets going here and there to find our treasures to sell.
I find the work fun and rewarding, but at times it can be overwhelming and leave you a bit bored with your real life. I am approaching a big birthday this year and I in no way can believe I am gonna be that age except the way my back feels from cleaning houses for 20 plus years so I could do this work to start with and to stay home with my child.
CAN YOU GUESS THE BIRTHDAY AGE THIS MARCH?
I no longer sell on OLA.com and I sell on ebay seasonally and occasionally . In the last two years I even quit the little antique shop down the road where I worked for space and have two rather large booths in the Maumee Antique Mall located on Reynolds Road in Maumee, Ohio. I find this way more rewarding and I can actually make it to the auctions I was missing because I had to work at the shop.
We are doing rather well (as she knocks on the wooden desk under her keyboard) But like any other retail market each month proves a different story in it's self. Some up and some down..some fantastic and some scary. But we manage to pay our rent and still have enough to put back in the business with perhaps a bill here of there paid.
I use to think that paying rent was a waste of money.. but then again, I don't have to work at the Mall, I don't have to advertise for it and it costs less than a store front would or paying an employee to work it for me. This is really my baby now, hubby is the main seller on Ebay. He slowly but surely took over my shop that he built me and is such a packrat and has the place such a mess that I can't get in the place let alone find anything. He can have it. In the 2 years he has been a power seller he is doing rather well, but I am still teaching him how to price so you actually make a profit :)
He is getting better at this and his items in the mall as in Fishing poles and vintage lures and toys do help to make that monthly rent. Things are way better since he decided I am right about things at the mall and I better do that and he his Ebay. See he is one of those take over type people and he is learning that I fight back for my turf and ideas so he should give up..lol He got the Ebay...go for it. Selling on there over 8 years regularly was about all i could take..Joe public made me a bit nuts..Lies. You hear them all.
There are a few down falls to selling in the mall and theft is a huge one and also you pay commission on top of rent? But those will be topics for other days.
Not sure how often I will be back in here with entrees to this blog..but i find myself looking forward to it.
Funny, you know how I did get back to it? A twitter account notification of a new follower connected to this blog..I had forgotten I had a twitter account..I thought I closed it because it would never work right. Well they got the issue taken care of and it is back up and running fine with me this time and the blog has a breath of new life blown into it by a female who became a follower and asked if I was single.
I have been married 25 years and i have posted a picture of us in Hawaii for our 25th Anniversary that we went to this past May. But I thanks you for letting me find my blog again! :) Twitt and Blog away folks and happy treasure hunting!
Also a wonderful Holiday season to you all what ever your faith may be.. me I am
Merry Christmas!!

One Comment and One Wish

2009-12-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

Comment: This Economy Sucks
Wish: That you all have wonderful Holidays surrounded by what matters most in life..... Family and friends. Merry Christmas!

My opinion

2009-08-07T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am entitled, but I just do not have time for this right now, nor do I care all that much. So, it is gone over finished and I mentioned no names period. Have a wonderful day everyone! Smile, life is too short!

Disappointments

2009-07-20T14:29:00.000-07:00

I've had a few.... I was gonna write about something totally different..Multi Tasking... But, something else is on my mind. Did you ever try to express yourself through a email and the receiver of said email had been totally taken another way than you meant? WOW! That can be really bad huh? Had that happen more than a few times before, but not as badly as I had happen last night. Wish we had recorded messages so that we can ramble on and it makes sense to our readers. Voice inflections contribute greatly to communication. I was totally disappointed in how the outcome of this email went.
Another disappointment that has occured to me lately, is a site that I was considering selling on and excited to be a part of..ground up. It turned out to be so over run by management you feel like you cannot breathe there. No one is allowed to post even the smallest technical hicup in public it is insane! Like they are suppose to be perfect of something? Come on, all new sites have Beta testing and the posting of the problems are there for informative purposes for the developers and the members alike. Hiding this from people is in my opinion like lying. It is that deception that had led me away from my decision to sell there. Well, that is not the ONLY reason, but the biggy.
I think I have decided to just spend my money on an eBay store instead of taking on yet another site notch to my belt. I think less is more in this case and expand on the 2 sites that I have already got time and money invested in. I am not going to burn bridges with the site that has me disappointed, but to stand in the wings and observe how it all unfolds. I am that fly on the wall watching everything that is said and done. I just think that the leash is held way too tightly there and that it is gonna choke them all when the members revolt against the management. Seems to me this will end up hurting them in the long run because most people go there thinking that they have more freedom, but with the leash so tight, they will soon discover that there is not much of that there.
I also have to say that I am disappointed in my sales at one site I am on. I have only 49 feedback in 5 months and on the other I sell at I get that within 2 nights closings. It takes a lot of time to promote all those newer sites which is one thing I am lacking with my schedule.
The hardest disappointment of all is to be disappointed in one's self. I tend to blame myself when the sales are down. The physical shop is doing well and the Main place I sell is doing well, but the newer place is soooo slow. Publicity is what I do for that site. I hand out my business card with my both these sites right on it at every flea market we attend. I talk it up and then the disappointment comes again when after folks check it out and say I never even sold anything there in 2 months. The seller after 2 months is still not sending my item. I think this company should be doing more promoting and advertising on their members behalf. I also think they should be more involved with the helping of the buyers there get positive results.
Just a few thoughts here is all today. I am going to go open my ebay store right now, I cannot help but believe that this is a positive step in the right direction after months of weighing the pros and cons of it. Til next time when we discuss !
Have a great day!

June 21, 09 Ohio Kentucky & Back Last Day

2009-07-01T14:45:00.000-07:00

SO, here we are on the last day of our journey! The heat gave us a little break, 89 degrees with humidity a mere 75 %. We were up at 4 AM (this my friends is NO vacation ;) right?) and we hit the road by 5:15 AM. We are now heading North on Rt 75 heading toward Ohio with destinations along the way. Our first and main destination this morning is Bermingham, KY. for their annual Father's Day Antique Show and Flea Market which opens at 6 AM. Now those are some early show hours I tell you! Admission is $3.00 per person and the show is housed on a huge fairground. We are all excited, pay dirt!! Now, here I have to add, someone who planned the order of the fairgrounds events must be out of their head cause they had a horse show there 2 days prior, it rained like crazy the day before and here are the dealers and buyers walking in tons of soggy horse doo doo! Oh was that fun!
Watching our footing we took off toward one side and planned our plan of attack. First boot had some pricy items but we also found some good deals on vintage toys, pottery, dolls and lures. Heading to the next and the next and the next the air left our sails. It was al over the top high Antique shop prices booth after booth after booth. After 3 hours we finished the grounds and all looked so let down.
Now, that was a waste of time for us. If you are a buyer I recommend it, but it you are buying for resale forget it! I saw no booths that were under the flea market catagory period.
Now, 9 AM we headed out of the fairgrounds and went to a few yard sales in the area with no luck there. So, we regrouped and said, "home". We headed north again on RT 75 in the hot morning defeated and heading for home.
About an hour into the drive my radio came to life and my sister suggested that we take a detour on the way home to a flea market by way of Columbus, OH. that we have been to and is a very good one. SO, at 10 AM we headed toward Columbus feeling hopeful once again.
It is now Noon and the temp is climbing as we reach Columbus, now it is 94 degrees with full sun a blazing. We reach our destination a Drive Inn on High Street in COlumbus where the flea market is housed and we see that they have changed their hours from 8 AM to 4 PM to 8 AM to 1 PM (there goes that balloon again, deflated). SO, we drove all this way, we pay our $1.00 each and rush around to the vendors who were still in atendance and to the ones packing up for the day due to the heat.
I found a heavy duty very fancy Plate easil for $1.00, a pottery crock that is lidded and says Grease on it in blue and a few nice pieces of vintage jewlery for a few bucks each. I spent under $10.00. My brother in law found a junk radio for 5.00 for parts and hubby found a few more lures and some comics for cheap. Just imagine if we had gone their first instead of the Kentucky show? I bet we missed out on some great finds!
My sister called her daughter who lives about 6 miles away from where we were and asked if they were free for lunch(after all it is fathers day) so we made plans with them to meet at their house in about an hour. Meanwhile, we found a flea market mall across the street and went into there. The Air Condition was heavenly! We left empty handed and went had our nice visit and pizza with my niece her hubby and my great neice. At 5 PM we were once again headed out Rt 75 North homeward bound. The radio got real quiet. Hubby was getting a heavier foot (he wanted home) and so I radioed my sister told her we had a good time, see her later cause I think he wants to make time. She said the same and we were seperated.) At 7 PM we got off the Rt 75 exit by our house and in 5 minutes we were home.
Exhausted! HOT! Disappointed!
SUMMARY:
What we found was 800 miles of dissapointment added to our truck and some deer fur to boot.
The internet needs to keep those sites up to date!!
We got frustrated followed by big expensive disappointment and one box full og resale merchandise to show for it.
NEVER AGAIN!
Well...It got me away from home right? Now, I need that vacation!! They all voted for this I voted to go to the other state and hit a casino! Would have nothing to show for the money any how like this right? Maybe I would of won!

I think that I will stick with auctions from now on. That is 4 hours of standing , sitting and bidding and I usually come home with the whole back of my truck filled!!

Did we have fun? No, it is no fun being a day late and a dollar short to each destination and in that kind of heat there was rarely humor, just tension and bad temperment.

This is a thumbs down trip.

Thanks for listening and happy treasure hunting where ever you may find yours!
Sherrie

And So IT Goes.... June 20th, Saturday

2009-06-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday started out with a big breakfast at the near by Frishes, I had orange juice while they all ate and a granola bar in the car after, I am not a big breakfast eater. We continued our journey by heading out Rt 105 through London, KY to the Flea Market called, 'Flea Land'. The building was a HUGE structure and a large parking lot. Vendors were set up outside all the way around the building.
There was a large array of items to choose from. There were many booths that sold puppies of all types of breeds, none were suppose to be mixed. You could purchase animals from goats, chickens, kittens and ducks. But outside too was OUR KIND of items!
Hubby got a few nice pieces of old cobalt, (which always sells well) a few fishing lures, some old primitives like farm tools. My sister got a new throw rug for $2.00! I bought some pottery jugs, another planter, (unmarked I think it may be shawnee) and a brand new set of queen size sheets, 900 thread count with 4 pillow cases in it for $18.00! I got some very close to them before and they are very nice. Can't beat that price!
Inside the building there was a meat market complete with a huge freezer and coolers full of food. There were fruits, veggies an a large amount of reconditioned furniture new and vintage. The prices were somewhere between zing and wow! Other booths consisted of your imports, t -shirt shops, Avon and jewelry (the new stuff). So, Nothing else there for us so back to the car we headed.
Now on Rt 161 headed to another flea market site we got off the internet..we had the ride of our life! I think the person who designed the road had too much moonshine and the person who made the yellow and black arrow signs for the road was his drinking buddy! This road zigged, zagged, snaked and climbed with extremely high mountains! One hill got me on the radio to my sister and I said, "Don't look now but I think we are on the Magnum!" Which is a HUGE roller coaster with one of the highest hills in the USA, Cedar Point Amusment Park in Ohio. She laughed and said, "So just how brave are you two? Gotta go down it with your hands up." Now, she must of forgotten we had a sunroof or who she was talking to right? Cause as we were both headed down this steep hill and hubby and I opened the sunroof and both had our arms held up high! We all four got a good laugh at that one! he he he...
So back to trying to find the flea market.... we turned around several times and kept dead ending into nothing and realized it was another ....not there any longer! GRRRRR.... So, we headed out toward the interstate again and found 2 road side flea markets that were mainly garage sale items and old tools.
Something worth noting here that all the blue mason jars we came across were priced $14.00 to $11.00 a jar! Heck I have a whole box full in the garage, if I had them with me I would have making a bundle. I got the whole box at auction for $2.00. We could not figure out why they were priced so high in KY.
We then stopped at a few more garage sales. And all left empty handed until we saw an Antique shop up ahead. They had cement statues and fountains, benches and other figurines that they hand made all around the building and when you went in it was a 3 story structure with beautiful fairly priced antiques. ( I can give out there name when I locate their business card somewhere in my purse.) I bought a peasant woman statue knee high, for my garden for only $25.00! I also bought a few other items for the folks that come into the shop we work at. Cheap prices! The owners even told us of 2 more flea markets just off the road we were on!

We headed to the first one and found it no problem (huh ...for a change) it was called 'Vendors Market' it is a chain in Kentucky. We bought 2 pieces of pottery, the McCoy ones pictured and we paid very close to what we could sell them for but we had buyers in mind at the shop we work at, got to keep customers happy. The other flea market was just a bunch of locals threw together housewares and clothes, so nothing bought there. Next we were headed back to Rt 64 toward the one past Shelbyville that had the hand covering up that they use to open on Fridays, when we saw that truck advertising again (Flea Market Exit Now!) and this time we did not miss the exit! WOW! Another good size building and vendors set up outside! But many were packing up due to it being 3:00 PM and the temp. was 94 degrees, hot and steamy. Most of them said that they had been out there since 6 AM.
We did get some finds on the outside and the inside! I found a childs very vintage made in Japan tea set, almost complete for a steal! I got a few nice pieces of vintage rhinestone jewlery pieces for a song and hubby got a fly rod, reel and lures so cheap it was unreal! Went inside and we found a boothe store size that was antiques and collectibles..a few of them actually along with the china imports , Avon, fake flowers, Asian shops and well you got it. One was way over the top with their prices and the other was willing to deal and we found some neat stuff there! My brother in law got a vintage radio (which he collects) for $50.00 valued at $150.00 and hubby got cracker jack novelties, lures, tackle box, collectible mini bottles and a few more things for good prices! We were so glad we saw the sign again (by the way they were not open on Friday anyway..LOL). We never continued on to the one we were headed to, it was still 30 mins. out and it was 4:10 PM and it closed at 5 PM.
So, we said we would call it a day. Cell phoned in our reservations to the same Super 8 we stayed in on Thursday evening..nice and cheaper andwe were headed to a one time a year , every Father's Day Antique show and Flea Market that is in Berlingham, KY on the way back Home out to RT 75.
Over dinner in Georgetown, Ky we discussed, how we seem to be a day late an a dollar short on getting to the good ones, we think the internet owes us gas for not keeping up on the changes to the flea market listings and that we were VERY glad that we did not rent a U Haul trailor at home and decided to do so in Kentucky if needed...NOT, so far!
Tomorrow I will tell you the REST OF THE STORY! Good day! (thanks for letting me borrow that to the late.. Paul Harvey.
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>

Continuation...... June 19, 2009, Friday

2009-06-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

It's a new day. Got up at 6 AM and we checked out of the hotel, hit the road by 7:30 AM with our internet directions in hand! As I had stated, the two guys searched, googled and talked to friends. We had places, hours of operation and directions compliments of the internet. The guys put together stops by closest together so there was no backtracking.
The first group of Flea Markets were about an hours drive away from where we were. They were the ones open on Fridays. Most as you know are open one Saturday and Sundays only. There was a big one that we had heard about from many that was in London, Ky. and it was our destination on Saturday. So, we ventured to the west a bit to hit as many on our way to our Saturdays destination that were open on Friday. We had also scheduled a site seeing venture in the middle in Bartstown, Ky.
The first Flea Market we stopped at, no longer existed. There was just an empty building in it's place. Thanks for the update on that Internet! So, hopping back in our cars we heading to the next one toward Shelbyville , Ky. As we were driving down Rt.64 we saw a old truck sitting behind the hwy. fence..said Flea Market Exit NOW! So, shoom!~ that exit was gone, I mean it is 70 mph. So we radioed to companions that we would get off next exit.. well it was in 20 miles!
So, we got offr and bought a Kentucky map..we turned around and turned around and turned around..Oh my God! Gave up on that one and went back to our list. Next one after we finally found it had the open Firday covered with a pointing finger extended from a hand. Now it was only open on Saturday and Sunday's. GRRRRR... so, we turned around again and went to the last one on our list for Fridays and it was a huge place, yes it was open but it was basically fruits, veggies, china imports and garage sale junk like washers, dryers, coffee makers and used clothing!!! Thank you for all those extra miles Internet! Someone really ought to keep those sites updated in my opinion. So, out of friday destinations, we decided to head toward Bartstown for our leasurely site seeing. By this time of day it is now 98 degrees with the humity 85%. Thank God for AC in the car!
On our way, we found a neat Antique shop called, "The best Little Antique SHop in Kentucky", It was not little and we managed to find some neat priced too cheap items in there and snagged them up quickly. the folks that ran it were real nice. We stopped at a few yard sales along the way and a garage sale wtih nothing special that caught all 4 of us.
In Bartstown,Ky we went through the historic town village went into the shops a few were way over priced antiques..must not have computers to look up prices around there and we stopped at a neat Pub housed in a historic Jail and legal building and ate lunch. We were gonna do the tours of the old cabins ect.. but in the heat we decided naw, I see them let;s go. WAS SO HOT!
We then hit the road on Rt 150 headed to London, Ky. Once there, we got rooms at the Redroof Inn in town, cleaned up and had the BEST steak and crablegs we all have had in a long time! I rarely eat steak, so it has to be good and this new york strip was fantastic. Service great and atmostphere was all like a barn where they threw peanut shells right on the floor. Just a great end to a dud day!
I think seriously about starting a site for flea markets and for a membership fee to pay a bit of my time it would take to keep it up to date and for those advertising on it.. it would be a really great usful tool for us sellers on the internet of antiques and collectibles. I am giving it thought.
Well that is it for today. Tomorrow or the next I willl have our Saturday adventures and we found many flea markets! Talk to you then!
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

A Buying Trip: Ohio, Kentucky & Back...We're Baaack...!!!

2009-06-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here we go.... JUNE 18th, Thursday:

I got off work at 5 PM. The hubby had the car ready to go along with all driving instructions and detailed internet lists and maps for the area Flea Markets along our travel path. Car packed to perfection in his perfectionist way (more about that later, that is a whole other blog series..;) believe me) we'll save that for another blog log. There was a subway flat bread waiting for me which I ate, checked final details with son, our dog and house sitter and we were OFF!
At 5:45 PM we were headed to meet our traveling companions and our caravan headed out on Rt.75 South. We were on Rt. 75 S for approx. one hour when our hand radio announced a pit stop was needed by one of our companions..not mentioning his name (brother in law dear lol), so we stopped at a Denny's and were off once again. Making excellent time, about after 2 more hours longer after crossing the Kentucky River, we decided to stop at an area rest stop and regroup our travel plans and where to stop for the night. It was getting dusk, so decided on stopping in Georgetown , Kentucky for the night, another hour away.
Hubby and I were leading our little caravan into the night out the 75 south interstate now dark doing the legal speed limit of 70mph up the mountains and down making good time. We were 6 miles from our destination of Georgetown, KY when out of my left eye I seen a blur of golden tan color coming straight toward my passenger door. Before I could voice this my hubby swerved and slammed on the breaks (our companions did the same)... and BAMM!! The front end of our Ford Explorer with the heavy duty TOW PACKAGE front slammed into a DOE sending her away from her destination, a cement wall highway divider and sliding down the highway behind us. Our companions were in a mini style trunk and swerved and passed up and the deer and stopped ahead of us off to the side.
Now, shaky and upset we got out to access the damage..tow truck? trip over? But luckily for us my heavy duty tow package sport hooks kept here from flying up , hitting our windshield and flipping up over our truck into our companions behind us. Lic. Plate popped out casing and all, fog light popped our front left headlight and a cracked front under the grill. Radiator seemed fine and low and behold the left blinker still worked!!! STUPID DEER! Where did she think she was going with the cement divider anyway?
So, not knowing what actual damage we had int hat light we followed our companions down the interstate to Georgetown, KY exit and pulled into a Super 8 parking lot to access the rest. Everything seemed ok except what I listed,unbelievably and we checked in for the night. Front Desk got us hooked up with KY State HWY Patrol so we filed a police report for insurance purposes. This all could have gone so way worse for us all!
ALL I got to say is, "GREAT DRIVING BOYS!" Shewww, boy were we lucky! If this had to happen that is, at least the trip was not canceled. SO we called it a night. Had a few beers together in the hotel room together, went to our own rooms and decided on what time to leave in the morning. Price Est. Value on this event..all safe? Priceless.
Ok, I am vacation still today..so will tell you day 2 tomorrow, we actually get to some flea markets..well you'll see.... But now you understand the deer planter pictures!!! LOL ;)
TO BE CONTINURED>>>>

AND WE'RE OFF!!!

2009-06-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

OK, Tomorrow we are on the road hitting RT 75. Post by Post at you when we get back! Wish us luck! Let you know when they will be hitting the selling sites also!
Take care all and chat with you soon!

Reminder: Advertising Your Blog

2009-06-11T17:55:00.001-07:00

I know that it can be hard work to do, but it is best to go to Alpha Intentions daily and submit your blog. You get bumped when someone else signs on in your category. If you want the traffic you have to do the work! I have posted the link here on my blog page to the right, so I can go from here to their, post on their site and come here and do a bit of work to my blog or rattle off some thoughts, a few neat links I came across and or post some neat auction items I have up for auction at eBay and OLA.
It takes about 10 - 15 minutes a day. If I really have something to say a bit longer. But you get more traffic this way so visit AlphaIntentions.com and promote your Blogs today!....and tomorrow and the next day and the next and so on! ;)

Help Desk for Sellers at SellersArenia.com

2009-06-08T07:28:00.000-07:00

New Groups at SellersArena are here!

Come check out the groups that are forming. Join in and be a part of a winning team of sellers at SellersArena.com and TELL A FRIEND! We have created some groups that we hope are beneficial to your selling experience. Tell your fellow selling friends to come check out SellersAreana!

Help other sellers stay positive and sell positive. Share your experiences and listen and learn form theirs! Positive solutions at Sellers Situation Issues : A Sellers Help Desk. Link provided at the right under Links.

*must be a member of SellersArena and a Seller on the internet to join.

Now, What is in Store for Us in JUNE!

2009-06-06T16:13:00.000-07:00

Coming Up this June, we will be taking a buying trip/vacation…This 4 or 5 day buying trip will run from Ohio to far into Kentucky. This is called, ‘The Rt. 75 Flea Market Stretch’. We will be searching out the many flea markets that stretch along rt. 75 to bring wonderful merchandise home to sell at our various vending sites.
I will be keeping a journal daily of our travels and events that happen to us! I will post some of my treasures that I found along the way (keeping some hidden treasures to myself) and keep you up on how the events of our days on this buying trip unfold.
I am hoping this will be educational, fun, and informational for my readers!
So..stay tuned for this post to start around Fathers Day! Look for ‘Buying..Kentucky and Back!
Have a wonderful Day!

Just a Follow Up! What's Hot & What's Not!

2009-06-01T06:05:00.000-07:00

Recently I discusses a topic in my Blog that was about what merchaindise is selling right now in this day and age and in this economy. I listed items that we hot & ones that were not regionally & online for myself and 'dealer' friends of mine.

I was very disappointed that no one replied on what is selling for them and what is not. Perhaps people want or feel they should keep that information private from their competition (or perhaps it is that no one is reading my blogs period lol)? Well I for one find that banding information makes for an educated front and that would help the site in which we all sell on. If I know better what the people want and I share it with others who sell on the same sight and we have things folks want, the more they will come to that site...the more they will buy and tell others. This in turn will open them to new choices in merchants and merchandise for sale. A Happy SITE gets the business! So team work or networking I feel benefits the whole package and when we all look good we will have more business and all be more successful!

With that said, I find that there are many times when I am shopping on the internet that I will search a whole site if I find a few items that I am looking for than just one to pick from, isn't that correct? We like variety and a freedom to choose. So, I think educated one another is the way to go. Feel free to share your feelings on content of this post..open for discussion!

So, What is Hot for you right now in the sales market place? Do you feel Team work is the way to be..or should you keep this type of information to yourself from your competitors and lastly, does the economy right now effect what people are buying change? That is going to be my next topic..letting you mull that one over a bit first. Have a wonderful day!!!

SELLING...INTERNATIONAL OR NOT?

2009-05-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I use to sell international many years ago and things went pretty smoothly. But, about 3 years ago so much changed in what other countries accepted shipped across their borders that it got to be a real pain. SO, I stopped it. I get email constantly asking me if I will ship to Australia, Japan and other countries. I want to say no cause it is such a hassle...Europe for example you cannot ship Gold there... and other jems...DO I have the time to go to usps.com and checkout what country allows what in?

One would think people from those countries would KNOW what is allowed and what is not allowed to cross their borders many don't and many want to slip one by the border. SO, how do you know which is which? You have to go look up each one!

Then there is the cost to ship it..and none gets insurance because it is soooo outragious in cost for the buyer. Now, without insurance, how do you protect yourself from a dishonest buyer?

Who of my follwers or anyone just reading this can share with us your experience with selling internationally and or the pros and cons as to selling to the international market place? I would love to hear from you. Thinking about doing it again, but the hassles...are they worth the sales and the bids that get that item selling, price up!

Thanks for your help and input ahead!

What is Hot and What is Not..Antiques & Collectibles

2009-05-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

As all of you who have been following my Blog know that I sell on Two internet sites, (eBay and Ola) and have 2 booths in an antiques & collectibles shop. I talk with other dealers often about how business in this economy is going for them and I have noticed that things are not that bad as we make them out to be in sales. Oh, they are not booming, but they are treading water fine..better than sinking!

I think the main clue is to know your buyers market out there. What do these people want? This way you are moving inventory and not sitting on your investment. It occurs to me that people want many many different things and it varies per selling venue but I also have noticed certain things are HOT out there to get and sell!

Remember the days when Lady Head Vases were flying off the shelves of your shop or getting bids going thru the roof? They are pretty well dead right now and go for a fraction of the value they did just 4 years ago. In this business you see many HOT items and then they fizzle out and other items take over. This is what I would like to hear from you! What do you see are the HOT and the NOT so Hot merchandise. Summer is the time to BUY! Winter is the time to SELL! Yes, we sell all the time, but Summer is the time to get those items to sell through the year and those winter months.

I find vintage Jewelry Never seems to go out of the selling arena..there is always a market for it. It depends on the piece as to what kind of profit you make on it. I find that some of the hot things on eBay (for me) are vintage to antique linens, Junk Jewlery for crafts..repair and parts, pottery (primitive and shawnee, mcCoy and Old pieces of ANY maker), old tin toys, letter openers, perfume bottles,old compacts,old pocket watches & parts, vintage fishing lures & tackle, stained glass items that are not real heavy in shipping,vintage child tea sets, and Heman original action figures to name a few.

What I find NOT hot for my sales any longer are.. Sports cards of any type, comic books, vintage vanity items...like hatpin holders & hatpins (on less sterling silver with real gem stones or turquoise), ladies head vases, old frames, porcelin dolls, doll house furniture (sells but half the price they use to sell for), old crocks (too heavy for shipping costs now), vintage cookbooks & paper mailer recipe booklets, pottery master ink wells, old & vintage kitchen utencils & gadgets and Dishes & China. I cannot give some of this away! OR I do give it away! LOL

I find it use to be way different selling on the internet than in a actual physical store front, the items that use to sell there were furniture, old pie safes, primitives boxes (for tools ect..), paintings and framed art, dishes, china and railroad lanterns, and crocks of all shapes and sizes. There was a time that we could not keep any railroad items or oil lamps in the store...now we have too many in the inventory and selling them online does not help due to the high cost of shipping them. Now, they seem to want he same things that the buyers on the internet do.

Tell me what some of your HOT in demand sale items are and your Not so Hot items are in 2009! Once we get to know our buyers (and in my opinion varies by the different internet sites and the physical store front shop) we can get a very good inventory together and get a better return for our investments!

Thank you for sharing. I hope what I have listed here helps your sales out too!

Beads I View by Pat - gblog: Today!

2009-05-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Beads I View by Pat - gblog: Today!

A BIG THANK YOU and A Thought

2009-05-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

First, I would like to send out a big 'THANK YOU' to all the folks who have signed on as a follower of my Blog! It is nice to know that someone reads my thoughts and even gets something from them, gets me! So, thank you all and hope you stick around!

I would also like to address the selling on the internet changes that are taking place. It is a lot of work selling and promoting your wares on the new NOT EBAY sites. Even harder if you ask me to sell on your own website without having the tools at your disposal for promoting your website without the help of networking with other sites independent or not to get you noticed out there.

These new sites are a long way off from eBay and many have been out there for years, but new to me. It takes so much time and effort on these others sites, although well deserving and great in their own... but so much more work for us the sellers around our busy lives.

But , selling on these others sites has given me a new found understanding of the fees on eBay, I still disagree with there new feedback and payment policies. I work so much, I wonder when I will get these flowers in that I have bought for my usual spring/summer planting.

I use to have time to spend hours playing with my friends on bigfishgames.com and now I find about less than an hour every few days. I miss them. SO, is eBay worth the crap we put up with to have the pictures shrunk for us, the advertising done for us, the invoices and shipping charts done for us with all the pay hikes and the taking away our right to accept certain payment plans and feedback? Not sure but it is easier.

No I am not cavng in but I am understanding more of the easier life there. I am coming close to full circle, and NO I am not leaving OLA Just got it going there..a work in progress...but I am thinking eBay and ola can both work for me.

What do you think? I REALLY want to hear comments. If you follow me share pls, if you just come across this Blog and have something to add PLEASE do!

Have a great evening!

COLLECTIONS

2009-04-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Hello all! Happy Day to you!
So, What do you collect? Over the years I have had many a collection going. I have sold a few over the years and made money on them and started new collections from there. I am a COLLECTOR for sure!
I at one time had a Rowe Pottery Works collection, had many neat pieces. Had a bit of a money crunch , so I decided to sell some on ebay to help out with the crunch we were in (braces for the son). I put about 10 choice pieces on ebay and got hit after hit after hit! I was amazed! So, I looked up a few others listings in Rowe Pottery and I was shocked to hear it was going out of business! I had NO idea it was! Buyer/collectors were in a panic over the business closing and they were out bidding one another left and right! Talk about my timing huh?
At the end of that 7 day period, I sold one small casserole dish/pan for $200.01! WOW, I was stoked! The total sales of those items was $800.26, I will NEVER forget that total! Was a God send. About 2 weeks later, it was announced that the company was being bought and would reopen in about 4 to 6 months and they bought the rights to the designs ect.... IMAO, so the prices leveled off and went back to usual. I was at the right place at the right time!
As the pictures at the bottom of this Blog show, I have a few collections you can guess from them.
I collect stacking dolls, vintage baskets, batter bowls (and reg. mixing bowls),Neat vintage pottery & glass kitchen bowls and containers of all types. Not pictured, I also collect neat primitive crocks and jugs. I have many Dragonflies everywhere along with stained glass lights and lamps with dragonflies on them. I had to sell off a bunch of dragonfly items due to family and friends over loaded me with them,,,nice of them... but too may!
My newest collection is wall pockets, I buy when I see them and sell the ones that do not match my decor like the one on this blog that has many many watchers on it. I have them throughout my house.
One of my favorite collections is seasonal...my vintage Santa collection. This coming Christmas I will show you some of my great finds of them! These are just a few of the collections I have, I have thinned out and sold my vintage hatpin and hat collections, Boyd Bear collection,vintage toy collection and others over the years but will never forget them!
Now, what do you collect? Please share with me your collections!
Talk again soon! Have a wonderful day and remember, THE TIME TO BY AN ANTIQUE OR COLLECTIBLE IS WHEN YOU SEE IT, OR IT COULD BE GONE WHEN YOU GO BACK!

LEARNING

2009-04-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

Oh My...WHAT WE HAVE TO LEARN TO GET WHAT WE WANT IN THIS LIFE!

Banners and HTML and the list goes on and on and on.... My latest is learning Quick Books ...hmmmm GRRRRRR is all I have to say...LOL. I like (or rather am so use to the paper and pencil method in a ledger. But it seems that this will save me time and doing math if I can personalize it to my business and learn how to jump through it's hoops!

I did th einterview in the program and still jsut want it to say..Expenses, Sales...Profit and Loss...but not this thing. I am sure once I set it up it will be a Gem of a tool, but this may take until next year to do it! That is not time saving for someone who is very very busy! LOL But I am sure my accountant will just love it!

Anyone have a hint as to how to make this process and transition easier for me??? Hints, clues and personal experiences with this program??

Thanks for taking the time to POST A COMMENT if you got one!

This Time Of Year

2009-04-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

OH HOW I LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!! Spring! Yes the weather change and all but oh all the treasures that are just waiting to be found! The auctions are in high gear now and the flea markets are starting in and soon it will be garage sale and estate sale heaven!

I do not know where you find your treasures, but here is where I find a bit of mine. Rummage sales and all the above. I even find some really good buys on OLA.COM from other sellers put them on ebay in a new market and get good sales that way. But the OLA folks really benefit because I start everything on there out at a way LOW starting bid or a flat rate Buy it Now price. I think it is my way of building my reputation there and getting to know that selling market. Get them hooked on me so to speak and then I have their trust and they will look back to see what I have to offer.

I love to go to the flea markets and browse through all the tables after tables of little treasures trying to find items that I feel will appeal to buyers and a few that appeal to myself.
I have spoken before about my love of pottery and collecting. I am very fond of primitives and decorating with them. I guess you could say that when we decorate our homes, it says a lot about ones personality.

In cleaning the homes I have over the years, I have gotten good to know my clients personalities by how there home is decorated. Like one of them has warm colors and greek statues, fake roses in vases and pretty dainety china in a cabnet.. this to me said she is a romanic...and after years there and actually getting to talk to her she told me that it amazed her, I was correct. Another client decorates with warm colors and with angels and stuffed bears along with cozy pillows everywhere, now to me that said she is a loving person and would be a good friend. after 17 years I can tell you I was right on that one too! we are still good friends and I work there still. She will be the last one I drop when I quit that bizz.

So, I guess I am leading up to here is that, get to know your customers and you will know what to buy and and perhaps this will help make more sales. I could describe a few more houses that I do and the personalities fit to a T. But not to ramble on here, It is just a thought that has helped me know what to buy so I am not stuck with so much leftover unsold inventory.

Oh, and that leftover inventory? Try going to the flea market one morning and instead of buying, set up and sell that stuff for what you have in the item and get your space back for new items and the money back to buy it! Garage sales work too, but they are a lot more work and you have to come even further down in prices and perhaps take a loss.

Hope this helps soemone else out there. Let me know how you decide what to buy and how you move the leftovers!

Have a great Day!

Friends

2009-04-14T21:24:00.000-07:00

Oh my! Do you find friends selling on these sites! There are many free sites to help promote you stores, listings and websites... checkout a article worth reading by a new "friend" of mine from joining OLA.COM listed the link below for you..WELL worth the read! I also recommend reading a blog by, Fleapirates that was about friend where she puts it out there very well for us to see the importance in networking sites and the importance in networking friends ..support, vents and fun!

I have her bolg listed under my blogs I am following! Check out her blog today! She likes me I believe very well, that is on less I am taking her trophy away from her in the arcade at sellersarena.com..(shhh,,they have an awesome arcade..don't get much work done but have some really awesome FUN!).

STEPPING AWAY

2009-04-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

When frustration Hits.... Take a step back, A deep breathe, look at the BIG picture and DIVE into distraction.... For me, I like to decorate & garden. Our weather at this Easter Holiday is not allowing us this year to garden or to do the big clean up yet...the snow is still messing with my crocus.
So.... I "PLAY"... I decorate with the many herbs that I have grown and preserved myself over the years .. I love baskets, Pottery, and fun things.... see for yourself. Is it any wonder that I sell Antiques & Collectibles??? PLEASE SCROLL DOWN AND VIEW PIECES OF MY HOME AND MY >>ME!!! (PICTURES BELOW)

Frustration:

2009-04-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, so It is early selling on the new site and it takes time...but I make money on the other...ebay.
I have not made much here and sold items I could make more a t the local flea market. I am doing it all right. Time is money in this bizz...I have goals and things I HAVE to accomplish..like quit the third job like cleaning. Diagnosed with a terrible back problem which is why I am trying anohter site, but at this rate it will take me 5 years to get this 200.00 back let alone the extra 500.00 for each year there after..accumed. SOMEONE TELL ME HOW TO MAKE IT WORK! I am busy and work a lot! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trust Plus

2009-04-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

Join Trust Plus and bring your hard earned ebay feedback and reputation with you! Leave ratings as a buyer, seller , family member, friend, co worker and more for the person with the Trust Plus Logo!

Check it out You may find it very helpful as you sell or buy online! Checkout my Trust Plus to the right and see if this is right for you!

Have a wonderful day all!!!

My Day!

2009-03-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well another year older today! Arrgghhh!! Just a mention..lol

CONGRATS ON FEEDBACK: adirondackarts (1001)

2009-03-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

A fellow member has hit 1000 in feedback and been there just over a year at OLA.COM!!!
I Want to extend my congrats to adirondackarts (1001) http://www.onlineauction.com/index.php?page=auction_house:main&user_id=25051
Visit the site today and see why the feedback has grown so rapidly!! A TRUE INSPIRATION!!

AdSense

2009-03-23T19:49:00.000-07:00

So, I was thinking of doing AdScense, filled out the application and got the letter with link for verification and final approval link.....and the link does not work. Eight days ago I have read every post (or feel like it) in their HELP CENTER and no HELP. I have more information on this... issue. I would like to know if anyone out there has done this to their Blog or Website?

Any of my OLA friends consider making money this way? I would love to hear from you!

Blogs

2009-03-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

I follow a few blogs here linked in my blog. I find it worth checking out. I find out that it is all a part of "NET WORKING" and human intrest. I learn a lot by reading other peoples and companies blogs. They can provide us with new information about life, personal beliefs, entertainment and advertising. As a small business owner one needs to advertise.
That is what BLOGGING can do for you. I have learned a lot from others Blogs and you can too. Check out the list of Blogs that I am following, go to Ola.com blog and You too can find some new informational and advertising sites to go to, that will help your business or personal life grow!
I have my favorites, I hope they do not mind me mentioning FLeapirates is chucked full of good places to go to advertise your buisness to help it grow! Visit OlA.com blog to view all the blogs they have posted there , along with informational bits about blogging, selling tips and curent events going on with merchant accounts online and more!

New Blog Directory To Checkout

2009-03-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

There is a new Blog Directory out there that flashes thru Blog, after Blog, after Blog. It advertises other Blogs for folks to checkout. http://alphainventions.com/ is actually advertising OUR Blogs if we post their website on our Blog pages and sign up on their web site. To find out more about it, visit http://alphainventions.com/ Today! Link Provided for you to the right of my Blog!

Antiques, Collectibles, and Todays Economy

2009-03-20T19:30:00.000-07:00

One thing that I have noticed working in this field, the economy has not yet hit it hard. I have 2 booths in an Antiques and Collectible store and it has not hit us at a loss. We are hitting our usual sales, but not rising above. I am thankful we are not sinking below the goal, so what else could we ask for?
One good thing about selling in a store front or selling on line, people even in hard times need their interests and hobbies. It is a part of life, we as people need to have something other to do than work, worry and pay the bills. Sure we cut back, but if we can put that smile on our faces...it some how makes us have a pick me up in these hard economic times.
So, stop and smell the roses, or whatever makes you smile during these hard times and just feel alive! There seems to always be a market for Antiques, collectibles in the economy today.
Your thoughts?

Google Checkout: How DO you feel about increase?

2009-03-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

So, I just join and start to use Google as a form of on line auction payments and 2 days later they announce a pay increase! If I am figuring this correctly, then this puts their merchant fees right up there with Paypal. SO why should I bother to have to jump from one site to another to collect and manage my merchant accounts?

I have used Paypal for years and I am very use to their way of doing things. I am comfortable using Paypal. Google does payouts and does not let me decide when to withdrawl funds from my account. I was reading under a forum at Google that many merchants are having a problem getting their payouts from google and having anyone repond back to them when they need help.

I tell you as a new user of their service this scares me a bit and makes me , especially after the new fee hikes want to take a hike from google myself. Though, I have noticed that customers on onlineauction.com seem to pay using google over any of the other forms of payment that I accept.

Would love to hear anyones thoughts and or experiences with using a google merchant account. The Good, the bad and the ulgy!

2009-03-14T14:10:00.000-07:00

Freedom Selling Online ..Time for taking our Businesses Back

2009-03-14T13:46:00.000-07:00

Many of us sellers are tired of paying the high eBay listing and final value fees. We want a way to sell that does not dictate to us so many items that we can no longer list, we want to have a choice as to what form of payments we will accept for our business and we want a way to defend ourselves from untrustworthy Buyers.
eBay has taken away their sellers comfort zones. I for one do not feel comfortable selling on eBay any longer. When I did our books for Income Tax this year, I could not believe just how much eBay and their fellow company Paypal was receiving from our sales. It was like we were having a 50-50 agreement going on between us.
Pluses of eBay: a really easy selling tool to use. Shrink pictures for you, invoice for you, provide automatic shipping for our customers by our pre filled in information, and Turbo Lister.
Minuses of eBay: High listing fees, high final value fees, one form of payment allowed (paypal: and their cut in using them fees),their item limits, their feedback practices now (no negatives can be left by sellers), their support of their sellers, and more!
If you feel this way at all..stop in to OLA.COM and read the rules and guidelines of selling on OLA.COM. One time fee per year, no listing or final value fees and more perks to selling on this site and FREEDOM!
I am a founding member, grandfathers my fee from year to year in for life! This could be you too!
Stop in and look around and see what is offered at OLA.COM. I think you will be happy you did.
Feel free to use promotion code 49225AAA if and when you sign up!
It is time for more freedom in selling online, it is after all OUR business!
Sherrie