Just Piddling (Behind the Scenes of an Antique Shop)

The Necessity of the Sale

2012-11-07T18:50:00.000-08:00

SALE

Nearly all antique shops will at some point or another have the ubiquitous "Sale", but what is the benefit?

Ten, twenty-five, fifty, even seventy-five, red, green, blue, or yellow-dot, Spring, Fall, Summer, Christmas, Labor Day are all types of sales seen often in retail businesses. The antique and collectible business has its fair share of sales, and on a regular basis. In fact, the sale is often incorporated into the model of many businesses in the trade. True, it can be seen as a gimmick, but it often works.

"Sale" is synonymous with "Deal", and there are few people on this planet who appreciate, even live for, a good deal more than antiques lovers. The stories we can tell of the deals we have found or just missed out on are limitless. We all have searched high and low, followed signs for miles, gotten out of bed early on an off day, taken vacations, even, in search of the next bargain. In fact, those stories are a common thread that bind us together. A sign reading "Sale" placed in the window of an antique shop or mall is like a magnet, and that is its purpose.

In the antique and collectibles business, the sale can serve multiple purposes:

It can express appreciation to current or long-time customers
It can entice new customers to come in and shop at a new and exciting shop
It can bring in other dealers from other shops in search of items for their inventory
It can serve to liquidate inventory that has been on the floor for longer than the dealer desires
And, if properly timed and implemented, it can create a buzz about your shop that will last far beyond the sale dates

A strategic sale stimulates your customer base while at the same time attempts to draw in new customers. However, constant sales, such as the continuous "going out of business sale", or a never-ending half off sale on lesser quality inventory, can lower customer's expectations of your business, as well as wreck your image. Good, quality items on sale two or three times a year is the best bet. Customers will appreciate the chance to get a bargain, and will look forward to the event.

The overall quality of merchandise will get the customer's attention, and the opportunity to get a deal will bring them in. The best sales are those that strike a balance between customer and dealer satisfaction.

This is a blog about the inner-workings of an antique shop. It just so happens that Piddles Antiques and Gifts has an occasional sale of our own! This week (Thursday Nov. 8, 2012-Sunday Nov. 11, 2012), Piddles will have all advertisement signs on sale!

All of the advertisement signs in our shop will be 10% off the original price. This sale will be this week, and only this week!

****You must mention this blog to take advantage of this sale****

Some of the advertisement items we currently have are pictured below! Come out and find a deal!!!!

"Call For Phillip Morris" Sign

Keen Kutter Tool Dealer Sign

Keen Kutter Hardware Company Sign

Royal Crown Cola Thermometer

Royster Fertilizers Sign

Interstate Batteries NASCAR Sign

Corona Light Bottle Sign

O'Doul's PGA Sponsorship Sign

We have a few other advertisement pieces as well. Remember, this sale is for this week ONLY, and you must mention this blog to take advantage of this sale!

Come find your deal at Piddles Antiques and Gifts!

Book of the Week: 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalogue

2012-11-05T17:50:00.000-08:00

"Book of the Week" will be a weekly post where each week a different book relevant to the antique or craft business will be briefly reviewed. These will be books that we have found most useful and/or interesting throughout our years in this business.

This week's book is: 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalogue

Published by: Skyhourse Publishing

Introduction by: Nick Lyons

Find It Here

The one thing that is most important in the antique business, whether you are buyer or seller, is information. Everyone who has been around antiques or collectibles in any fashion for any length of time has at least one story of the unscrupulous antiques dealer. Whether it is at a regular yard sale, a flea market, or a major shop or mall, there is always the chance that you could meet a seller who does not put the highest value on morals. The best defense against this scenario is to gain as much knowledge and scour as much information as possible. One of the best places, by far, to further your knowledge of antiques and collectibles is the vast offering of books, identification guides, old catalogues, or niche guides that are currently on the market.

It is impossible for any one person to know everything there is to know about every item they will have the opportunity to purchase. However, we can give ourselves the best advantage possible by having at least a working knowledge of the major areas of collecting. One of the best resources for identification alone is the 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catologue.

Look at this catalog as a nineteenth century wish book. Nearly anything a person could have desired in 1897 could be found in this catalog. Whether you were a skilled laborer in need of tools of the trade, a well-to-do businessman looking for the latest in entertainment, or a housewife needing everyday household items, you could find it in this book!Every General Store, Railroad Depot, etc., likely had one of these for their customers.

Today, this reprint of that wish book is nearly as valuable as it was more than 100 years ago. Flip to any page, and a wealth of information jumps out at you. The "Table of Contents" alone reads like the inventory or any shop or mall. Beginning on page 53, you will find hardware. On page 181, it is men's clothing. Cameras and equipment are on 479. The list of goods goes on and on.

Once you have decided what type item you need information on, and have made your way to that page, practically every item on the market during that time is at your fingertips. From part or model number, product description, to size and weight,every feature you need to identify today's antiques is listed. For kicks, the 1897 price per unit and bulk price is listed, as well. Just a minute or two browsing through this book, its value to the antique dealer and collector alike, becomes evident. Browse with a specific item in mind, such as "The Hawkeye Junior Camera", and you will quickly find why this is a must have book.

The negotiation (You know, the part of this business we all love but won't admit), centers on one thing: information, the possession of it and the exchange of it. The one sure way to put yourself into position to gain the best deal or protect yourself from a potential bad deal is to gain as much knowledge as you can. If knowledge is power, it can only serve us all well to at least have access to as much information as we can get our hands on.

The 1897 Sears Roebuck and Co. Catalogue is as good a place as any to start learning!

The Value of Curiosity: How the Smallest Items Can Have a Big Impact!

2012-11-04T11:34:00.000-08:00

An item doesn't have to be hundreds of years old, worth thousands of dollars, or of substantial size to have a significant impact in an antique shop setting.

Oftentimes in an antique shop it is not the extravagant that attracts the attention of the customer, but rather the curiosity of a small or often overlooked item of everyday or common use. Many a conversation has been started when a visitor to our shop is stopped in his or her tracks by small, odd items. One of these such items that we have noticed garnering attention beyond its stature is the railroad date nail.

A good description of what a date nail is can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_8543431_tell-date-railroad-nails-come.html.

"Nails were used by railroad companies in the last two centuries as a form of record keeping. These nails, called date nails, were hammered into railroad ties to keep track of their age. Date nails have a number stamped on the head, such as "12," to indicate the year. Some of them have letters on the head instead, but are still called date nails. In most cases, you'll be able to date a nail based on the number, but in other instances, you may need to consult expert resources."

Read more: How to Tell What Date Railroad Nails Come From | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_8543431_tell-date-railroad-nails-come.html#ixzz2BHV2g896

These seemingly common date nails tell a story of American Railroad history and serve to stimulate curiosity of people who never knew such an item existed. A few customers of ours have even been led by these nails to begin collecting not only the nails, but also other Railroad Related items.

Though other railroad collectibles, such as tools, advertisements, lanterns, and ephemera, or paper items, can reach into the hundreds if not thousands of dollars, the date nail commonly sales for just a few dollars each. Collectors most often enjoy the hunt to complete their collection of every year they can find. As can be seen in the above picture from a few of the nails in our shop, many years can be easily found. Here we have 1927, '28, '29, and 30. The earliest year we have had in our shop has been 1924. There could not be an easier way for a potential collector to identify the year of manufacture on any other item.

These nails were used not only on railroad ties, but were also used on any weather-treated lumber during that era, (such as treated power poles). Their purpose was to accurately mark the installation year of the tie or other item, and track its lifespan. When it came time for a tie or pole to be replaced due to deterioration in the form of rot, the company was able to quickly note how long the hardware had held up under regular use. This form of record keeping not only saved the company time and money, but also helped ensure the safety of the railway that saw heavy pedestrian and industrial use during the past two centuries.

Though railways have declined in significance over the years, their allure has done nothing but grow. The sound of a train's horn and the click-clacking of the rails still inspires people. These date nails offer an inexpensive way to have a piece of that history, and they have the potential to be much more than a nail. They are conversation starters, and can be used in many projects to add interest to your home.

Above is a key or hat holder we fashioned from a piece of wormy oak and 4 1925 date nails. It is but one example of how these nails can be used today.

It is sure to do for you what it has done for us. Not long ago a customer said, "Well, I never even knew something like that even existed!", and a 30 minute conversation followed!

What are other small items that can garner the same attention as these interesting pieces?

------Piddles Antiques and Gifts------

See more of our items at: www.piddlesantiques.com
or friend us at: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.montgomery.9480

Getting to know Piddles Antiques and Gifts!

2012-11-04T09:14:00.003-08:00

Piddles Antiques and Gifts is a family owned and operated antique and gift shop located in the small town of Belle Mina, Alabama. Belle Mina is in Limestone County in North Alabama but a stone's throw from Historic Mooresville, AL.

We have been in business for close to eight years, but have many, many more years experience in the business that we love.

Our shop has a unique blend of things old and new. We offer our customers a selection of primitive and country style antique and vintage items. We have an ever-evolving assortment of antique and vintage tools, old advertisement, toys, furniture, etc. We pride ourselves in carrying an inventory of good, clean, and functional items ready to go into any home or shop. We are a crafty family, and offer for sale many of our handcrafted items. These include custom quilts of all types and sizes, unique gourd art, and whatever else inspires us.

The purpose of this blog is to provide an inside look at our business. Much goes into the day-to-day operation of an antique and gift shop. Whether it is finding inventory, cleaning or repairing it, putting it on display in the shop, or selling the item, each step has its own unique challenges. In this blog we hope to give a glimpse into what we do, and provide a little interesting information along the way!

Please, come along with us!

------Piddles Antiques and Gifts------

visit us at: www.piddlesantiques.com
or
friend us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.montgomery.9480