SUCCESS IN AN ANTIQUE MALL

Several of you who are about to take the leap into a rented booth space in an Antique Mall have asked me to share some "newbie" advice on what I think it takes to be successful. I thought  I would give my top 5 tips that hopefully will help some of you make wise decisions and get off to a good start.   
 
1. MAKE YOUR BOOTH ATTRACTIVE

 This sounds like a no brainer right? Of course you want your space to be attractive. Seriously though, really think about it. When you walk into most of  these large places, ALL of these sellers are competing for your attention as a buyer. You walk in, start to the right, and then pace up and down each isle, only stopping by the ones that what??? ATTRACT you. I usually pass by 10 before I stop in one. Place things in pretty vignettes. Decorate your pieces for sale with things that compliment each other and the piece.
 

                                                         2. LET THERE BE LIGHT! 

Nothing says, "Come on in and stay a while" like a nicely decorated booth with PLENTY of warm lamp light. Lamps are inviting and cozy and over power the cold and uninviting overhead fluorescents. 



3. WORK YOUR BOOTH OFTEN

I don't mean work it, like, stay there and sell your things .Although that can't hurt, the staff of the store get paid to do this. What I mean is, re arrange often. Regular customers don't want to see the same things all the time. Rotate things in and out of your booth and move things into different places. Mom and I try and do this at least once every two weeks. We are so amazed at the things that have sat in the booth forever, and when seen in a different light, sell right after we move them. So, not only will it keep customers coming back to your booth, it will help sell your items.

4. HAVE YOUR PRICES CLEARLY VISIBLE

It is very important that your prices be visible for your customers to read, especially when you have things hanging high on a wall. If they have to work to find a price, even though they are interested, 9 times out of 10 they will just pass it up because they don't want to go through the trouble of searching for it, or asking for help.
 

5. STAY ON TOP OF THE TRENDS

Reading magazines and design blogs are key in keeping up with what it hot. For example. Burlap is HOT. We all know it. At Christmas, I filled my booth with tons of burlap bows. No one else had them. I sold every last one of them and was custom making them like crazy. December was one of the best months I have ever had and it was all because of that burlap!! You don't want to fill your space with all of your old 1980's teddy bear prints with with mauve and country blue mats. As of right now, I don't think customers will be knocking your doors down for these beauties!  I think the biggest mistake people make in these booths, is treating it like a garage sale, getting rid of all the things in their home they don't want.  Sell what people want!
 

I hope this answers some of your questions and if I have not answered them clearly, please feel free to email me! Blessings on your new adventure!