Posted by Since my part-time vintage Etsy business doesn’t need to support me I have the freedom to ramp up or scale back as needed or desired. Summer when it’s slower I typically give myself more breaks and focus on other things.
Two days ago it was Monday when normally I would have a small batch of orders to take to the post office. Alas I had nary a one. Not one sale over the holiday weekend–which I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised about. So instead of doing much store work I decided to tackle washing all of our bedding–sheets, quilts, mattress protector. It ended up taking the whole morning because we have a small stacked washer and dryer. Still it was good to have everything fresh and clean and back on the bed at the end of the day.
Tuesday I decided to head out for some groceries (we were sorely lacking in fresh fruit and veg) and I stopped by my neighborhood thrift store first. The guy waiting outside before they opened is someone I see all the time. He used to get insider information at this store. It was pretty obvious because as soon as the doors opened, he would dash to an aisle and grab something off the shelf as if he knew right where it was. I wasn’t the only person who noticed this.
Well when I saw him over at the jewelry counter I figured I wouldn’t find anything after he left, particularly since the jewelry shelves have become so ridiculously sparse these days, but I had to look! I spotted this rhinestone flag pin. Okay, it’s not my kind of thing but it was nicely made, the flashy rhinestones were prong set and it was signed–Bauer. Hmmm. I had the sales clerk set it aside for me and in the end I did buy it.
Back at home I learned about Bauer jewelry–an art school graduate Dorothy Bauer, whose family once owned a jewelry store, opened her own jewelry company, Dorothy Bauer Designs, in 1982. She and her husband created a wide variety of jewelry pieces using faceted Austrian crystals and rhinestones. The business closed in the early 2010s.
So it was a good piece of costume jewelry. I wish it had been available before July 4th!!, but I can still picture this lovingly added to someone’s jean jacket and worn year round. Similar pieces range in price from $40 to $90. I’ve listed mine for $58.
I also realized I needed to get cracking on adding “new” items to my Etsy store so I spent part of the day listing charms. These were all taken off various bracelets and it seems ridiculous that I still have over a hundred charms still to list!
And for July I set up a 15% off sale on select items. In general I don’t find sales generate a lot of extra orders, still I figure it might entice someone on fence.
Finally on Wednesday, after four days of no sales, I had three to package and ship. And sometimes that’s how it is–feast or famine. (The sales were $30, $45 and $125.) I’ve also dealt with Etsy convos–messages from potential sellers who ask questions or share offers. And here’s the thing about the offers, you see what my price is (and I know it’s a fair one) and you send me an offer with “This is all I can afford.” And I honestly I’m not sure why you expect me to reduce the price because you can’t afford it. Why are you looking at things you can’t afford? And I know in the secondhand/antique market everyone thinks everything is negotiable, but sometimes the price is the price. It just is.
I know some folks use this slow summer time to stock up on inventory and it makes sense with all the yard and estate sales and what not and the 4th quarter looming. But I find that hard to do because I’m trying to be picky and it’s hard to “stock up.” Still this Saturday I will be at the last flea market at one of our high schools. After 30+ years it’s ending. I would love to be able to fill my tote. I really would! I’ll keep you posted.
Wishing you happy hunting,
Karen
Hunting for Vintage 