Posted by Lately I’m spending too much time trying to figure out how to increase my sales and its seriously zapping my joie de vivre. All of us in the biz always want more sales, but this year has been particularly stressful as some of us have seen our number of orders and revenue plummet. And sadly, the part of the biz I enjoy the most–getting out there and hunting for great vintage items–I’ve been curtailing, a lot. This weekend I’m passing up going to our local flea market, our library book sale, and a nearby estate sale. It’s a bit crushing, but I don’t want to be tempted and end up buying a bag full of stuff. I have too much as it is!
But this is not to say I haven’t been busy working!
Creating new Etsy listings for old inventory
I’ve been redoing some of my older listings and posting them afresh. I’ve had this original 1970s painting of a moody alley for a while, but I still find it intriguing. Hoping with a new listing it might get more attention and sell!
This antique sterling silver trophy has received some buyer attention but I decided it deserved some new photos.
I’ll likely start cross-listing a few more items to eBay too.
Culling my inventory
I’m still slowly going through my stored inventory and pulling more things to donate. Right now I’m downsizing the majority of my sugar and creamer sets. I’m also looking at some of my lower-quality jewelry or pieces with problems. I have this sweet Weiss rhinestone pin, but many of the stones are dead which is easy to happen with a closed back and a bit of moisture.
Listing more charms
It’s safe to say I have over a hundred vintage sterling silver charms still to list and I need to keep pressing into that task. Some will become part of lots. My lots offer the best deal, though they don’t sell quickly.
Here are a few of the many charms listed in my store.
Shopping at my neighborhood thrift store
Because this thrift store is so close to my house and on the way to other places I go, I’ll always pop in for a browse, though half the time I come out empty handed.
The other day I spotted these cool etched brass ashtrays. They were pricey at $4.99 each and well, they were ashtrays. Not the most popular thing these days. So I walked away from them. Then I circled back because they were attractive and in a shape I’d never seen before. I picked them up and carried them around all the while debating with myself if I should buy them. And as you can see I did! I decided to list these beauties as a pair. I’ll split them up if that doesn’t work.
I found one SOLD so far on Etsy.
I saw these two nice Tarahumara Indian pine needle/raffia baskets but I have two in my Etsy store and they haven’t received much attention, plus these were priced at $7.29! But even after declining them, I swung around and looked at them again and discovered one was priced at $2.99. (Could someone please explain the logic in this!?)
In the end I decided to buy the $2.99 one and add it to my existing pair to create a trio of baskets.
Will this make the lot more appealing? Darned if I know! Typically these baskets sell between $20 to $30 each. I’ve list this trio at $50. Hopefully that will tempt someone!
Upcoming sourcing in Tennessee
Next week I’ll be visiting my brother and dad in Tennessee and we’ll do a bit of antiquing. Not that I ever buy much. A couple of the stores closest to my brother’s house are out in the middle of nowhere and I would have thought they would be more reasonably priced than ones in urban areas, but no, they are full retail.
This trip we might head over to Clinton which has a cute downtown and a handful of antique stores. Oddly I had one of my worst antique store experiences in Clinton. The store was jammed full of stuff and almost unwalkable but what made it bad was the owner. He was rude and condescending. He even had a sign that read “Look with your eyes, not your hands.” Which when dealing with antiques and vintage stuff makes no sense. If he’s still in business I’ll walk on by.
Keep on keeping on
So I’m trying to keep my business ticking over–and trying not to stress about it! Also trying to enjoy spring and spending more time outside which is always a good thing.
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 