June 11, 2012

Selling In An Antiques Mall Booth...Items That Are No Longer Hot

Items trending down, they were hot, and now their not

In my last post I covered items that were hot sellers here in Florida, but of course times change.  When I started selling in my booth at Orange Tree Antiques 9 years ago, many of the following items where good sellers.....But not anymore 



 I sat down with Sherrie Hershone the owner of Orange Tree Antiques in Winter park, Florida and the Manager Lynn Coporoso.  Between these two ladies they have over 60 years of experience


In no particular order here is a list of some items that are now slow sellers.


Sets of china and stemware
Since people are doing less formal entertaining there is less demand for formal dinnerware, full sets of china and stemware are a tough sell.  We are seeing china and stemware only used for holidays and very special occasions.  

Porcelain figures and vases
Many of us remember porcelain figures and vases sitting around our grandmothers houses...Oh, don't touch!  If you think about it, the majority of homes do not have china cabinets (Except for us Shabby Chic Girls) or figurines sitting around their homes making these hard to sell.



Clear and milk glass
Many customers have stopped collecting clear glass, including pattern and etched glass.  Milk glass goes through phases and right now the phase is trending down for milk glass.


Dolls
Newer porcelain dolls made since the 1970's by many different companies are hard to sell.  These dolls where advertised in newspapers and magazines, so many were bought, making them easy to find on the internet.

Collectable plates and figures
If it says collectable, it's not!  Everyone bought them because they were advertised in many magazines and newspapers. Many different companies made them and they where available in whatever interested you; such as Norman Rockwell, Gone with the wind, Barbie Dolls, Cat and Dog lovers, and military branches.  These items are very hard to sell on the secondary market.

American Art Pottery
McCoy, Roseville, Weller and other potteries have cooled off.  Many of these pieces are being reproduced in China, which has ruined the resale markets.  If you are going to buy pottery, know the dealer you are buying from and do your research.  Since these pottery pieces are readily available on the internet and there are thousands for sale, the prices have dropped.



Hummels and Precious Moments
Many serviceman stationed in Europe brought Hummel's home for their wives and mothers, thus starting a collection.  The only place you could find them were in antique stores.  Now, you can go on the internet and find thousands of Hummel's with different marks.  This has brought the prices down, and fewer customers are buying them as a good investment.  Precious Moments were given as gifts to mark every event in a persons life.  As with Hummel's, there are many listed on the internet and therefore the prices have gone down on these too.  Over the years these pieces have been reproduced in the millions, so there is no scarcity and therefore, not a hot item anymore.


These are some observations in the Florida market.  I would love to know what's happening in your neck of the woods!

Happy Selling!
Carol

38 comments:

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I used to collect PM....but I sold them years ago...I have a few special ones...but I don't want to have to dust all that stuff anymore!

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Yep, that's about right! We have noticed many of the same things you have mentioned here. Someday things will change again...right now the industrial, metal, galvanized stuff is hot! No one cares about Gramma's china anymore. :( Great post!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Sounds like MN fits into the same selling mold. Bummer...I LOVE pretty glass & glassware!
Old toys sell and the more "unique" older items.
Warmly,
deb

Swanky Salvage Decor said...

My booth is in Mansfield, TX and the same items they list are also slow sellers here. Their observations are spot on. Colored glassware sells well. Fenton, syrup pitchers, potholders, Coca-Cola items all sell great in my booth.

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

The only one that surprised me here was the milk glass -- but agree on the others!

Periwinkle Dzyns said...

I also found the milk glass comment surprising - considering the rise in popularity of pyrex/glasbake/fire king collecting! and so many hipster weddings with milk glass vases and such to give that vintage vibe - but I'm up in Canada - different market I guess!

NanaDiana said...

I guess the only one that is still HOT here is milk glass. You can't find if and if you can, the prices are outrageous.

It is amazing how the desire for items waxes and wanes, isn't it? xo Diana

Sisters Treasures said...

Carol, that list is so true here in Texas. As some others have mentioned, some milk glass has some popularity... the older stuff, but you have to really know the items because there is a lot of reproduction out there. We still see some interest in McCoy, depending on what it is.
The only glassware that seems popular these days are the mid century sets with a design of some type, certain colors like turquoise in the design makes them more collectable.
Two very helpful and great posts on our market.
Betsy

Egretta Wells blog said...

You are exactly right! Personally, I love milk glass, and I think it could look both modern and great with some color like lime green or turquoise, but I can't sell it in my booth, either!

Carol said...

Carol, would have to say you are spot on with your list of "not sells". We have had success with sets of china though, but has to be Haviland. Isn't it funny how the trends come and go?
Carol

PS) we are having a giveaway on our blog, hope you stop by & enter.

Shabby chic Sandy said...

Very interesting!

Noble Vintage said...

LOVE reading this! Milk glass still sells for me, but things trickle a little slower to the west coast? I have a friend in WA state (hour north of me) who has trouble selling it....who knows? I guess that's why it's good to know your market. Figurines I agree on too, with the exception of Madonnas. I always sell them!

Gina said...

This is such an interesting post, Carol. I am surprised to see that milk glass is on the down trend, although we've probably all bought so much of it, we don't have any room left for more! ;)

kristiB said...

Thank you for sharing this Carol. i have recently moved to a new antique store, hoping that with a new location my merchandise would appeal to more buyers. This is great info to know. You're a doll, take care!!!

marda said...

Interesting list...maybe some of the things I still pick up will be less money..i.e. McCoy, Roseville, etc. I still like to find certain pieces of clear/etched glass, mainly compotes. I've got a few PM, given as gifts, and one Hummel. I haven't seen any recently that had a reduced price.
I have a friend who collects milk glass..maybe she'll get some bargains. Thanks for the info.

Heart Vintage Design said...

I have a huge wonderful piece of sculptural glass and It has not sold yet. In fact, right now it's sitting in my garage. I agree glass is out… until it's in : )

Stacy's Shabby Shoppe said...

I agree with everything you said Carol with the exception of milkglass. It's actually kind of hot right now in Utah...people are using it for weddings...and maybe it's hot here because there are a LOT of weddings in our state! LOL! xo

Cindy The Victorian Journey said...

Okay.. here is the scoop where I have an antique booth. Anything ugly sales and anything pretty not so much. Other than the linens. The figurines.. not one of them have moved.. I did sale Pee wee Herman doll. go figure.. and primitive things. Hurry up next trend please.. lol..
Hugs, Cindy

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Hi Carol! I'd have to say our market is remarkably the same as your list of things which do not sell. And linens are always a strong seller here too. I sure still buy too many of them! Hahah!

Shelly said...

I think you hit the nail on the head. I think milk glass just slowed down in the last year. For me, it is hard to buy because I can't tell the really old from the copies sometimes. I'm not buying any more figures for my booth unless they are tiny enough for fairy gardens. I think women have gotten tired of dusting so many little items. And you are right, it is rare I'm served on China anymore.

The Vintage Farmhouse said...

I am in central Indiana and it's pretty much the same here too!

Debbie said...

Well, the good news is that I'm still on the hunt for dishes and stemware so maybe it will be a buyer's market for that. I don't ever buy a complete set, though. I keep telling the lady who runs our local antique mall that a few of the sets in there would probably bring more money piece by piece. She has told the owners, but they don't budge.It's a full set or nothing, and they have sat there for well over a year unsold.

As for the pottery. Drat. I have some vases that I would like to sell. They aren't family pieces, and the style used to be good sellers.

kristiB said...

Hi Carol, I Know I've been MIA lately. Had so much going on, it was crazy. Have taken a few pics of latest project, but then I misplaced the connector to upload from my camera. Oopsie, oh well. Will be posting soon. Thanks again for all your tips and Tutes!!!You are The Best ;)

Savannah Granny said...

Hi Carol, Thanks for the info. This is good for me since my daughter and I recently opened an Etsy shop. We currently have some milkglass for sale. It has sold well for us but most of it has gone to the west coast and we price it low. We have also sold lots of vintage sewing notions. We sell items that are easy and inexpensive to ship.
Thanks again for the heads up!
xo Ginger

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi Carol,
I agree completely and we are seeing the same trend in our area. In fact the children that inherit these pieces are selling them in yard sales!

Funny how things just seem to fade away and make way for the new collectibles.

hugs
Sissie

Unknown said...

Not that much different here, Carol. Many of we dealers have closed down because of the market.

TTFN ~
Have a lovely eve ~
Marydon

BECKY said...

Good info, Carol! I have seen that Hummels aren't even selling at yard sales.I feel bad for all those who invested serious bucks in them. But...I'm sure they'll come back around. It seems that everything does!

Blessings!
Becky

Little Miss Maggie said...

Wow, Carol, it is totally the same here in Southern California. I have looked at all your comments and it seems nationwide. We don't sell much milk glass either. Industrial is the object of desire and primitives. Thanks for sharing your list.

Tee said...

If ya'll think selling PM is hard where ya'll are, try living 10 miles from Sam Butcher's compound. I've got a sweet Christmas piece that I watched Sam sign for an Auction. I won it for $5 and couldn't sell it for much more than that.
Just in case ya'll don't know. Sam has closed Precious Moments, one section at a time. Though I've never been into the big sad eyed treasures, it's sad to see such gorgeous land dwindle down and OMG, the touristism we've lost.

Judy said...

Oh, Carol! You are so right! I have an antiques and collectibles booth here in Arizona and they don't sell here either. I still have a few of them, but as get tired of seeing them, off they go to the local thrift store. Used to be that crafters would buy the plates and break them up for mosaic projects. But even that has fallen off.

What I find now that seems to be selling well is shabby silver pieces, mirrors, pearls, some industrial chic items, and some repurposed junk. Although I am not a big fan of junk, I do look for and sell the unusual items and thing I can think of to repurpose.

Thanks for sharing your take on the current market.

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

Hi Carol,

All good info.

Thanks,
Dee

Unknown said...

What a great post Carol about what is selling and what isn't, I think what we collected and treasured all our lives is a thing of the past, so my motto is use the good stuff while your here and one day it will be in the kids yard sale. Yes, sad but true:) Hugs and so glad you stopped by! Marilou

anniegaprons said...

Kind of sad. We have so much American pottery from 80-100 years ago and I treasure it. I'd love to put one of my Wellers up against a made in China piece and feel and see the difference. But I guess I'm with Marylou......I love looking at it, I enjoy using it and you really can't put a price on that. Good post, Carol

the old white house said...

i don't sell in a store but when i have had white McCoy type pottery it sells quickly on etsy. I have slowed down buying anything to resell, but have been clearing things out by giving them to the kids as they move out. As i see empty spaces in the barn I think I would like to keep them that way! I know my hubby is glad for that! t.xoxoox

Decor To Adore said...

My husband collected David Winter cottages. Now they sit in dusty boxes. :)

Anonymous said...

Such a fun read Carol. It really pays to know your market and read the shelter mags. because what's hot now, is cold tomorrow. I have been guilty of finding great stuff when it's a hot seller but then letting it sit around until I get it listed in the shop but by then it's on the "cold list". :( I have never been much of a glass person so not much of that sitting around. LOL...Right now...even the things that are "hot" are not selling. Very slow. But I did think the old milk glass was quite popular because of weddings, etc.

Anonymous said...

Such a fun read Carol. It really pays to know your market and read the shelter mags. because what's hot now, is cold tomorrow. I have been guilty of finding great stuff when it's a hot seller but then letting it sit around until I get it listed in the shop but by then it's on the "cold list". :( I have never been much of a glass person so not much of that sitting around. LOL...Right now...even the things that are "hot" are not selling. Very slow. But I did think the old milk glass was quite popular because of weddings, etc.

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