| As an Auctioneer and Appraiser, I hear it almost | | | | collectors...resulting in fewer available retail buyers. |
| every day: "My children just don't want it". | | | | - Dealers who are selling less in today's market, |
| Our generation has spent much of the past 30 | | | | are buying less for resale...resulting in fewer |
| years collecting and accumulating things. We | | | | available retail buyers. |
| collected high end and middle market Antiques | | | | - As many buyers are spending more on the |
| & Collectibles, often counting them as part of | | | | Internet, they are spending less at the retail |
| our investment portfolio. Many even speculated | | | | level...resulting in fewer available retail buyers. |
| that if they bought certain lower-end collectibles | | | | - And the speculators...those individuals who |
| (Avon, Jim Beam Bottles, Beanie Babies, etc.), | | | | bought anticipating either a quick profit or long |
| they would be getting in ahead of the pack, and | | | | term growth in value, have all but left the market, |
| that their nominal investment would multiply many | | | | seeking greener and more lucrative |
| times over in the coming years. | | | | markets...resulting in fewer available retail buyers. |
| Our generation bought for investment. We bought | | | | Not all Antiques & Collectibles categories are |
| for the future. But things haven't worked out as | | | | soft today. Coins, Jewelry, and Firearms, just to |
| many had anticipated. I can't tell you the number | | | | name a few, are extremely hot. Some categories |
| of people I know who purchased an excessive | | | | are actually thriving and growing in value. And if |
| amount of merchandise during the 1980's-1990's, | | | | you are actively involved in one of these |
| planning to use it as start-up inventory for their | | | | categories, to you I say "Congratulations". |
| fledgling Antiques business which they planned on | | | | But if you are in one of those categories that is |
| starting after retiring from their full time career. | | | | showing signs of softening, what are some of |
| Today, most of these individuals are re-thinking | | | | your options when it comes time to sell? |
| their plans. | | | | - Keep it and enjoy it, hoping that the market |
| We never really anticipated that the next | | | | with rebound to pre-September 11th price levels. |
| generation wouldn't be interested in the same | | | | - Reduce your prices and expectations, even if it |
| things as us. To be perfectly honest, I've been | | | | means selling at a loss. |
| collecting for nearly 35 years, yet none of my | | | | - Dump it for as much as you can get in today's |
| four children collect anything of significance. And | | | | market, and move onto something else. |
| neither do the children of most of my friends. | | | | - Sell it on eBay, hoping to attract national and |
| That generation is generally more interested in | | | | even international buyers for your goods. |
| spending their disposable income on big screen | | | | - Sell it at Public Auction, letting the Auctioneer do |
| plasma TV's, computer hardware, software | | | | the work, and letting the market determine what |
| & accessories, exotic vacations, expensive | | | | your merchandise is actually worth today. |
| cars, high-tech toys like GPS devices, MP3 Players, | | | | Which approach is best? No single option is |
| and iPod's that can hold 15,000 songs (how do | | | | perfect for everyone and you'll have to decide |
| you even keep track of 15,000 songs?). They | | | | which approach is best for you. |
| could care less about the Country Look, Victorian | | | | Change if never easy. Individuals who understand |
| Furniture, Depression & Carnival Glass, or | | | | today's market...those who embrace the Internet |
| collectibles from places or events they never | | | | rather than curse it...can continue to thrive in the |
| even heard of. | | | | Antiques & Collectibles business. You can sell |
| So, as more and more of us are reaching the age | | | | on eBay. You can open an eBay Store. Or you |
| where we need to downsize and dispose of our | | | | can own and operate your own Web Site. But, in |
| excess collectibles and inventory, we are | | | | my opinion, Collectors must have some type of |
| unfortunately seeing a softening in the prices of | | | | Internet presence today. |
| many collectible categories. Whether you look at | | | | Those who fail to utilize the Internet to its fullest |
| eBay, the Retail Markets, or local Auctions, prices | | | | advantage will be missing out on a huge portion of |
| generally just aren't what they used to be. | | | | the business that has moved from the traditional |
| Why? Here are just a few of the major factors | | | | Retail Markets into Cyberspace. |
| impacting prices today. | | | | The New Formula for selling Antiques & |
| - Older collectors are generally selling, not buying, | | | | Collectibles in today's market is quite simple: You |
| in today's market...resulting in fewer available retail | | | | can make more money if you sell both at the |
| buyer. | | | | Retail Level and on the Internet, versus utilizing |
| - As the older collectors leave the market, they | | | | only the Retail Level, or only the Internet. |
| are not being replaced by younger | | | | The market is changing. Are you changing with it? |