Watch a few television programs about antiques and collectibles and the anxiety builds to make money on thrift store finds. It is unlikely that this will happen overnight, but you can make it happen with a little ambition and study. A learning curve creates the only delay in making money with thrift store finds, and it is not a matter of learning how to do it. The challenge is in learning the merchandise so you know what to buy.
Learn About Antiques and Collectibles
Find an area of interest and learn what you can on the internet or in books on the subject. You need to know more than the thrift store employees know to find great bargains. Set aside time every day to enhance your knowledge of the subject.
Use your new knowledge by attending a show where dealers sell the merchandise you want to sell. Talk with them and ask questions about the merchandise. Ask how they identify the items that are most valuable, what guides they use and how they got started. Most dealers are willing to share.
Check Out the Thrift Stores
Search the thrift stores in your area for bargains. If in doubt, check the item and value on the computer before making a purchase until you are confident that you are making a wise buy. Once you buy an item, study it, check the books and online, and make sure you know what you have before you sell it. That’s what the lady who wrote to Antique Trader about an Imari plate she bought in a thrift store for $25 did. Anne Gilbert valued it at $900 in the March 18, 2010 Antique Trader article.
Buy only the bargains in excellent condition. Collectors want the exceptional, not the damaged or average items, and they always want a bargain. In order to pass on a bargain to the collector, you have to get a bargain yourself.
Sell Some Antiques or Collectibles
Try selling some of your finds online or rent a booth in a collectibles mall, or at a show. See if you like meeting the public or if you would prefer to sell online or to shop owners. You can be a “picker” by learning the trade and making wise purchases in a specialized area.
Learn to buy in bulk. If you shop thrift stores, they often get a group, a box or a collection of an item. Ask the price for the unit, not for an individual item. Items are easier to work with in a group and selling online is easier with a single template for listing the individual items. A group also makes a more enticing display at a show, collectibles mall, or even a flea market.
Source:
Gilbert, Anne. "Imari Discovered in Thrift Shop Valued at $900." Antique Trader, March 18, 2010 (accessed November 21, 2010).
Linda Richard - Writer, proofreader, editor, antiques appraiser specializing in pottery and glass. Author of Retirement Living Guide series.
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