( I have another one of these on Etsy. )
( I have 3 different months listed! )
( I have 3 different birds listed! )
Saturday, January 11, 2014
New goodness at auction on eBay this week!
I'm sorry I've been lax in posting my weekly auction updates, I'm determined to get back in the swing of things now that the new year is here - starting today! I don't have time to show you everything here, so I will just highlight some of my favorites - click on over if you want to check everything out! :)
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Antique Mall Booth Update - December 2013
I had a really good first two weeks of December, then sales really slowed down for the last two weeks. In the end it all evened out, but I am still not selling as much as I would like to be, especially considering the time it takes to maintain... I am hoping to give the whole booth a bit of a makeover in the next month or two - I SWEAR that I will remember to take my camera with me when I do! I forgot to take it with me at ALL in December. I don't know where my brain goes some days!
I only have one photo of something new I added to the booth in December, this great pair of ceramic Native American busts that I was originally going to list online, then decided to try in my booth first. They haven't sold yet. :(
I only have one photo of something new I added to the booth in December, this great pair of ceramic Native American busts that I was originally going to list online, then decided to try in my booth first. They haven't sold yet. :(
I have been adding new things every week though, and last week when I was in there I lowered the prices on some things that have been sitting there a while. I figure when I do the booth makeover I'll pull out a lot of the old stuff that hasn't sold, or maybe have a 25% off sale or something to help move some things out...
Ok, enough rambling, here's the December breakdown:
Carnival Sign - 3.00
Printer's Type Tray - 36.00
Printer's Type Tray - 36.00
Wire Magazine Rack - 27.00
2 Ceramic Owl Wall Plaques - 24.00
8 Point Antler Rack - 30.00
2 Point Antler Rack - 15.00
Owl Slate Painting - 15.00
Coca Cola Cups - 14.00
3 Bird Prints - 9.00
Hazel Atlas Chopper - 8.00
Total Sales: $217.00
Total Commission: $17.48
Total Rent: $72.00
Total Profit - $127.52 (not counting cost of items or time spent working)
I was happy to see that I managed to sell some over $20 items in December, especially the two printer's trays which I actually sold via one of my Craig's List ads, which is great. Also, every Owl themed item I've put in the booth has sold fairly quickly, so I will definitely be adding more of those in the future!
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Are Those My State Name Signs I See?! - 1948 Democratic National Convention
I sold one of the hand lettered state name signs I have in my Etsy shop yesterday - I had a TON of them, and I have sold nearly all of them, though I do still have a few left awaiting their future new homes... My buyer wrote me after his purchase letting me know that he believes they are from the 1948 Democratic National Convention, where Harry Truman accepted the nomination for President of the United States.
I did some digging and found some photos - and a video! - and indeed the signs do look very similar! I don't think there is any way to know for sure, but still, pretty exciting! I had two guesses of what they were from in the description on the listings - political convention or beauty pageant - I couldn't think of two other events that would use state name signs... Turns out my guess might be correct!
I did some digging and found some photos - and a video! - and indeed the signs do look very similar! I don't think there is any way to know for sure, but still, pretty exciting! I had two guesses of what they were from in the description on the listings - political convention or beauty pageant - I couldn't think of two other events that would use state name signs... Turns out my guess might be correct!
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Featured Collectible - Vintage Ceramic Baby Nursery Planters
Every once in a while I run across a really cute vintage ceramic planter that was designed to be used in a baby's nursery - I don't think this is a universally popular thing to have in modern nurseries, but apparently back in the day it was quite the trend! There are tons of different styles, and it seems like most of them were made in Japan by companies like Napco, Relpo, Reubens, and others. I just listed this cute teddy bear one by Inarco in my Etsy shop the other day:
Let's have a look at some other cuties that I ran across when I was researching, there is a lot to love out there! If you know any vintage geeks that are expecting, I think one of these would be a big hit as a baby shower gift. :)
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas from Vintage Goodness!
I hope all you vintage geeks out there have a fab Christmas and a happy New Year! Personally I'm wishing I could go back to Christmas time when I was a kid... Nothing compares to that feeling of super excited anticipation!
Here's me (on the right) with my cousin Heidi, on Santa's lap in 1979 - I was 4 years old. Ahhhh to be a kid again! :)
Here's me (on the right) with my cousin Heidi, on Santa's lap in 1979 - I was 4 years old. Ahhhh to be a kid again! :)
Here's 2 year old me double fisting some crayons on Christmas with my cousins Heidi and Dawn...
And last but not least, here's my baby brother Darrell with a bow on his head, probably 1979... Merry Christmas! ;)
Friday, December 20, 2013
Vintage Painted Wood Sign Letters - New On Etsy!
I scored a big lot of vintage painted wood sign letters, they are all on Etsy now... I have multiples of most of them too, which is always a plus! Click on over to check them all out!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Flip This! - Oneida Patrick Henry Stainless Flatware
I got all positive feedback on the idea of writing about the selling side of things here on the Vintage Goodness blog - so here we go! I'm starting out with a quick BOLO (be on the look out) post, I will probably be doing a lot of these types of posts, as I think they are most helpful to other sellers... I'm calling it my Flip This! series - as in, flip this item for a nice profit - the name of the game, as it were! ;)
I recently tackled the huge backlog of stainless flatware I had waiting to be listed, and I ended up having one really great pattern - Oneida's Patrick Henry. I listed it on eBay, and bidding was hot and heavy. I sold all but one of my listings, and everything that sold went for great prices. The highest was this set of 4 dinner forks:
I recently tackled the huge backlog of stainless flatware I had waiting to be listed, and I ended up having one really great pattern - Oneida's Patrick Henry. I listed it on eBay, and bidding was hot and heavy. I sold all but one of my listings, and everything that sold went for great prices. The highest was this set of 4 dinner forks:
Sold - $72.35
I figured out that listing in lots of 4 like this was a good way to go for this pattern, from looking at completed listings. Also, a buyer wrote me asking for measurements - she said older pieces are a bit different in size than later ones. Replacements says it was produced between 1987 and 2004, so apparently somewhere in there they changed them up a little bit. So you will want to include measurements in your listings, so that buyers know which type you are offering.
Click here for the most current completed listings results on eBay for Oneida Patrick Henry, in case you are reading this long after it was originally posted and want to check the latest price trends. Prices do tend to fluctuate over time for most things, so doing a bit of research before you list is always a good idea!
Happy Hunting! :)
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
I need YOUR help! - The Vintage Goodness blog, 2014 and beyond...
Hi everyone! I've been thinking about the blog lately, and what I would like to do with it in 2014. With the new antique mall booth project, and the responses I got on my last post about it telling me there are folks out there who dig hearing about the "nuts and bolts" of it all, I'm wondering - would you all like to see more posts about the selling side of things in general?
I used to do posts about selling here, as well as on the blog for The Vintage List and another blog I started a couple years ago that was actually focused on the selling side of things. I enjoy sharing that kind of information, but decided that maintaining two separate blogs was more than I had time to handle. Since then I've not done much writing that is focused on selling - what I would like to know is, would you all like to see me add that as a category here on the Vintage Goodness blog?
I know I have a lot of fellow vintage sellers as readers, and I know that I also have readers that are buyers / collectors only. Can I craft content for both segments of readers, here in one place, and make it work? What do you all think? Leave a comment on this post - I'm wide open to your honest opinions and ideas!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Antique Mall Booth Update!
I know I am WAY overdue for a booth update post - I've now had the booth for two full months, and while I'm not getting rich at it by any stretch of the imagination, I am making rent plus a little profit! So, I am counting it as a win, especially since I am just starting out...
I haven't done a great job taking booth photos every week when I visit, sometimes I forget my camera, or I get sidetracked and only snap a few item photos for my Craigslist ads and forget to take some of the entire booth. What can I say, I'm getting old I guess! ;) Here is a few of the photos I did remember to take, so you can get a general idea of the progression over the last two months (click to enlarge):
I haven't done a great job taking booth photos every week when I visit, sometimes I forget my camera, or I get sidetracked and only snap a few item photos for my Craigslist ads and forget to take some of the entire booth. What can I say, I'm getting old I guess! ;) Here is a few of the photos I did remember to take, so you can get a general idea of the progression over the last two months (click to enlarge):
October 2nd, 2013
October 7th, 2013
October 31, 2013
November 20, 2013
It looks a bit different now, especially since I added this Kroehler chair the other day - which was no small feat, let me tell you - but with the help of my awesome Dad I made it work! I wish I would have remembered to photo the whole booth, maybe next week...
I also squeezed in another chair, which is really neat - the frame of it is super heavy metal, very old school!
The biggest ticket item I have in the booth is this amazing 1960's Universal Statuary tree wall hanging - it weighs a TON and I've got a price of $100 on it. I had one inquiry about it from the Craigslist ad I posted for it, but no one has bought it yet.
OK enough showing stuff off, I know what you are wondering - what's sold? Here's the breakdown:
October
Vintage Space Heater - $25.00
Woman Portrait Painting - $30.00
Metal Cafe Wall Plaque - $19.80
Vintage GE Toaster - $12.00
2 Owl Wall Plaques - $8.00
School Poster - $3.00
Lot of 26 School Posters - $45.50
Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook - $5.00
Betty Crocker Cookbook - $15.00
Brass Duck Fireplace Tools - $40.50
Santa Salt & Pepper Shakers - $4.00
Brass Hourglass - $20.00
Total: $227.80
- Rent $72.00
- Commission $20.58
= $135.22 Profit (not counting cost of items or time spent working)
November
Quail Figurine - $3.00
2 Angel Figurines - $4.00
6 Plastic Sundae Cups - $12.00
Party Platter Food Warmer - $18.00
McCoy Cookie Jar - $16.00
Vintage Telephone - $18.00
5 Boy Scout Signs - $15.00
Glass Rifle Bottle - $28.00
Butterfly String Art - $12.00
3 Boxes of Christmas Ornaments - $22.00
Wood Fork & Spoon - $21.60
Glass Chip & Dip Set - $12.00
Vintage Mickey Mouse Doll - $15.00
Total: $196.60
- Rent $72.00
- Commission $11.51
= $113.09 Profit (not counting cost of items or time spent working)
As you can see, I'm not losing money but I'm not turning a huge profit either. So far I've sold mostly items that are $20 and under, with a few happy exceptions, if that trend continues I imagine I will try to stock a lot of stuff in the price range, with a few larger / more expensive pieces thrown in for good measure. It's tough with the amount of space that I have, it is a half booth rather than a full one, so fitting things in is tricky business!
I'll try to post a December update next month - please let me know in the comments, do you like hearing all the specifics of my booth adventure? Did the string of numbers put you to sleep? Would you prefer a condensed version instead? Or maybe you would prefer a weekly update here, similar to what I've been posting over on Facebook? I don't know how many of you all have booths yourselves, or are thinking of getting one, so I don't know what interests you all the most - thanks in advance!
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