Rethinking My Vintage Biz for 2025

Sales are down this 4th quarter for many online vintage sellers, which is so atypical–usually this is our busiest time of year. And gosh Christmas is only five weeks away!!! But equally strange, though my sales have been down, more of my expensive antiques have sold so my November revenue is okay.

But both these facts are causing me to have a bit of a “rethink.”

I believe 2025 in the U.S., with tariffs on the horizon for certain products, reductions planned for social security benefits and other economic factors in play, many folks will have less disposable money. There’s going to be some belt-tightening. Like many I sell the extras in life, the flufferies, the bits and bobs. And let’s be real, no one needs a duck figurine, a lacquer box, or a crystal dish.

So I’m reconsidering my current and future inventory and frankly my biz as a whole.

• First, I’ve started trying to sell things locally on Nextdoor and FB Marketplace. I’ll make less profit, but won’t have to deal with shipping or fees. (We’ll see if I get any traction.)
• Second, I may (and I say this hesitantly) have a yard/estate sale at some point to downsize my excess inventory. Maybe. Or potentially I could sign up for a spot at our local flea market one month. But I really wouldn’t want to do that alone.
• Third, I am going to be donating more of my stock. There are things that just need to go. I didn’t pay much for them and they’ve been sitting for too long.
• Fourth, I need to be more discerning about future purchases. I want higher-end pieces. Much harder to find and more $$ investment, but should be worth it in the end.

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I know I’ve written about this multiple times, but 2025 is the year I need to make changes. I still love this biz. I love vintage and antique things. But I have to be realistic, sales are slowing down, I’m running out of storage space and I’m getting old. Fact!

Wishing you health and happiness,

Karen