A Vintage "Sales" Report...

Florida - As we've talked about in the past, the move from antique, to vintage, to retro - to everything else in between - is now the new norm. Classifications, monikers, and item branding are constantly changing and morphing into one another - yesterday it was shabby chic - today it's upcycled and chalk paint.

However, even in the midst of these evolving nameplate-changes, it remains clear that for the moment at least, the "vintage" moniker can generally be seen as holding court in the decorative arts marketplace, due in large part to its association with the online giant Etsy.

​While we've discussed the presence of online retail sites before in relation to vintage sales, Etsy holds a special sway over eBay, Facebook, Pinterest and virtually all other online sales sites that deal specifically in the genre of vintage and upcycled goods. Simply put, Etsy is the Internet's leader of vintage sales... by a long shot.

​So, when it comes to sourcing out what type of vintage items are selling well, it should be no surprise that there are a plethora of Etsy retailers with their own blogs, and web sites, devoted to discussing the top shelf-clearing items flying from their stores. This fact alone demonstrates the power of Etsy's value and stature within the vintage marketplace.
 
One such seller, Florence, from Vintage Southern Picks, takes the blog concept a little further, and not only lists Etsy selling tips for newbie entrants, but her blog also showcases the store's top selling items on a monthly basis (including their purchase price), such as the little dresser box in the picture to the left, that she bought for $2.00 and later sold for $20.

In addition to this, she also includes commentary on items that sold, when she wasn't expecting them to do so - such as four Copper Fish Molds that went for $15.

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Vintage Southern Picks

​"Copper Fish Molds are ver-r-ry slow sellers, or any copper molds for that matter. I wouldn’t recommend buying them, but selling for a friend. I was very surprised they sold."
  - Florence, from Vintage Southern Picks

A few of her other sales included:
​A funky donkey alarm clock, a thrift store find, which she paid $2.07, and later sold for $29.28, with free shipping.

A vintage oval dresser mirror (which she claims generally sell quite well, providing "They’re just a bit different from the pack.") Bought for $5 and sold for $35.

And, a ​vintage gold-beaded evening bag that was difficult to market because of the poor photos, but which eventually sold for $40.28 after being purchased for $5.

​There are of course many sites out there devoted to flogging Top 10 Lists of what's selling on Etsy, but the usefulness of Florence's, Vintage Southern Picks, rises above this form of promotion because she actually provides readers with the prices of bought and sold items, rather than just the categories they belong to within their respective fields of collecting.

In addition to this, Florence's picks literally give her readership the breakdown of the how and why of what sold as well. And, while her blog may only be one person's take on what's moving within the vintage industry, if you add up her sales collectively - month by month and year over year - it should provide most buyers and sellers with a pretty clear picture as to what's truly making it on Etsy, and by extension, the vintage market in general.

​We think this additional info shows that she's onto a pretty good thing... and her blog just might prove it.
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​- A.I.A. Staff Writer's
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NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page.
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Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: [email protected] or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508.

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