End-of-Year Buying and Recap

First I hope everyone had a happy holiday however you chose to celebrate! This time of year is so hectic that I keep my inventory sourcing to a minimum. Still it’s in my blood so I couldn’t stop entirely though some of it was online.

Like this purchase of a pretty vintage cameo that comes with a back story. Over a month ago I was selected by ebay to do an online research interview for which I’d receive a $100 Visa gift card. The recorded interview lasted one hour and honestly was rather fun. So I received the digital gift card, but it had a couple of caveats. First it will expire in May 2026, but more importantly, and this was strange, if you tried to use it for a purchase for which the card didn’t have enough funds, the transaction would fail. You couldn’t combine it with other funds for a purchase. Which makes if virtually impossible to use up the whole card unless you buy another gift card with it. So weird and frustrating. All that to say I did use part of the card to buy this cameo.

To me cameos fall into the “timeless jewelry” category. Not wildly popular these days, but classic.

This one was listed as being set in sterling silver (though they weren’t sure) and they said the stone was diamond (though they weren’t sure), but it was nicely carved (I love her hair and the string of beads) and the price was right. It arrived carefully packaged and I’m pleased with it. The metal tests as being silver so that’s good. I am dubious the stone is a diamond but I may get that tested. It is likely 1930s-1950s (has a safety clasp) and is a nice thing. At some point soon I’ll list her in my Etsy store.

I also bought another vintage sterling silver charm bracelet on ebay. The seated jester is rather good and I like the big axe.

On Saturday I finally got out of the house after three days and headed to my neighborhood thrift store. Sadly there was nothing for me. Absolutely nothing. Went next to a library sale room and found a few books for $5. The “Father Said” poems by Siorwitz is listed online for $23 and up and the Dale Chihuly Japan 1990 exhibit catalog is one of 10,000 so that should do okay.

Some current listings…

2025 Store Recap

2025 was a roller-coaster year for my vintage Etsy store. My sales and revenue each month ranged from fair to horrendous to wow. And I wrote a whole post detailing the months, but I thought who really cares about this info other than me?!! Well no one. But what I will say–2025 ended strong enough so I will continue my biz and blog into 2026. I’m happy about that and cautiously optimistic about the new year.

Here’s what sold well for me in 2025

Vintage silver charms and bracelets have been popular all year. Perhaps it’s their retro appeal or maybe a nod to nostalgia. Either way it’s a trend I’m enjoying and something I’ll continue to buy and sell.

In a world full of Kindles and e-books, quirky, vintage limited-print books still sell. Yes, even a signed booklet on “How to Buy, Sell and Burn Coal”! Bonus, most books can be bought cheaply at estate sales, thrift stores, yard sales, library sales, etc. Something to consider in 2026 if you’re looking for another selling niche.

Framed artwork and old picture frames, while not fast sellers, are lucrative niches for me. My best frame finds this year were these two 1800s birds-eye maple frames snagged at my neighborhood thrift store for $10 each. Each sold for $148.

Not everyone’s cup of tea but I thought this quirky Javanese painting was one to buy! Paid $6.49 earlier this year and it sold at $225.

Religious items are still popular. I’m selling menorahs, crucifixes, crosses, icons, artwork and religious medals.

Here’s what slowed down for me in 2025

I am a sucker for pottery pieces, but my pottery sales took a dive this year so I need to start putting the brakes on buying more in 2026.

I rarely look at random tea cups and such anymore, as pretty as they may be, because my china teacups, mugs, bowls are lingering way too long–including some nice Villeroy & Boch pieces. This one in four carts still hasn’t sold.

Brass items are a tough market for me right now and buying these brass cigarette ashtrays earlier this year may have been a mistake. They are so pretty, but would be hard to repurpose them as anything else.

Moving forward

With 2026 just a couple of days away I need to spend some time figuring out what I’m doing with my vintage biz in this new year. More downsizing for sure. More quality items. Less buying. Perhaps shifting more things on Facebook Marketplace. Well, I’ve got a lot to think about.

Karen