Booth Crush: 2021

Pantone Color of the Year 2022

Color of the Year

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Styling & Staging Clothing Booths & Boutiques

Clothing Antique Booth

6:17 PM
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Sourcing Inventory For Your Antique Booth - A Must Read For Newbies

Antique Booth Merchandise

One of the most asked questions we get from newbies is - Where do I find my inventory? We have a new video on Youtube discussing this topic. If you would like to watch the video and skip this blog post, just click on this link. Here is a list of places we like to source from.

1. Thrift Stores - A lot of people are under the misconception that thrift stores are only clothing. While some thrift stores do sell only clothes, the majority of them sell a variety of things including housewares and furniture. On many occasions, we have found things like Ironstone, antique crocks, and other valuable goods. We recommend you shop at the mom-and-pop type thrift stores. They are much cheaper especially if they are in a smaller town. They are not competing with the corporate stores so they can offer things at a much lower price.

2. Yard Sales - These are great places to find inventory especially the church-run yard sales. Our favorite time to hit yard sales is in the Spring. People have been cooped up all winter and now they are spring cleaning and getting rid of things. These are generally the first yard sales of the year and I always have better luck when going to these.

3. Estate Sales - We try to avoid going to the professional run sales because they are splitting the profit with the family. The prices are a lot higher and it leaves no room for profit. Sometimes, I will go on a Sunday because that's when they mark prices down to 50% off. However, going on Sunday means things are going to be picked over and you will not have as much to choose from in this case.

4. Auctions - This is one of my favorite places to source. Again, smaller towns come into play here. You will have larger crowds than the ones in bigger cities and the prices are going to be a lot higher.

5. Antique Stores - This is our least favorite to find items, but every now and then you can find some good stuff. You never know when a dealer is going out of business and they have a 50% off sale in their booth. Once again, I have to mention going out of town and shopping in those smaller towns. I used to buy merchandise from small-town antique shops and bring them back to my booth in the city where I could command a much higher price.

6. Friends & Family - Let the people in your life know what you do. When people realize what you do, they will give you stuff just to get rid of it.

7. Offerup, Let Go and other Apps - I used to like Offerup and Letgo back before all the ads were on their app. Now there seems to be a lot of scammer on there too. But I have found good stuff on these apps.

8. Facebook Marketplace - This is a goldmine. I love scouring my local FB marketplace ads. Also, be sure to look in the free section. I have scored a lot of good stuff on here FREE.

9. Etsy, eBay Poshmark & Mercari - I have found some good deals on these platforms, but you have to remember you will pay shipping prices, and depending on the item/s it may not be worth the effort. I always check my local listings. Sometimes people will meet you in a public place and sell their items.

10. Wholesale - Most stores require you to have at least 75% vintage and antiques in your booth and 25% can be newer items. These items are usually pillows, throws, and other home decor items. If you are looking to purchase some newer items we have a wholesale list available. We do endorse these stores. This is a list we compiled several years ago. Click here to see the wholesale list.

A word of advice - if you are new and have never sold or bought things in person you will want to take a few precautions. We have been doing this for years and have never really encountered any problems. Just make sure you are meeting in a public place, in a well-lit area, with lots of people, or security cameras. We always take someone with us.

9:34 AM
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Inventory Sourcing for Your Antique Booth

Antique Booth

We thought we would share this article since we get a lot of messages from newbies. Most of you seasoned dealers already know where to source for merch. So for those of you thinking about starting a booth, you should be stockpiling your inventory. If you haven't you need to get on that ASAP! You can start by shopping your own home. What are some things you no longer need? Most stores make you sign a lease. Some are 3,6 or 12-month leases. If you sell a lot of times, you will be scrambling to replace your merchandise. So we always tell dealers to start off small and have enough items in reserve.

If you want to get serious about picking you need to start making a name for yourself in your community. Put the word out and let people know what you do. Then print some business cards with your name and contact info. Make sure to include a tag line or something that identifies what you do.

Once people know you and know what you do they will start reaching out to you. I have a friend that lives in my hometown. He is the top seller in one of the largest antique malls in North, GA. He is a die-hard picker and he finds all the really good stuff. He has really built a name for himself over the last 15 years. When barns and houses are being torn down they call him. Sometimes he scores it all for free and other times he gets it for very cheap. It's a win-win either way.

Auctions are another great place to source true authentic antiques and vintage goods. Especially small-town auctions. There used to be a really good one in the town where I live. I made friends with the auctioneer and his assistant. They really got to know me and my style. If I couldn't make it to the auction they would send me photos of items that were going through that night. This way it allowed me to place a silent bid on items I was interested in purchasing.

Having Booth Crush has given me an advantage because so many dealers know me and my style. When they are out picking for themselves sometimes they will pick up an item for me too. Of course, I don't mind paying them a little extra over what they paid just to make it worth their time. So get to know other dealers and have each other's back.

Other places to shop are thrift stores, junk shops, yard sales, flea markets, and estate sales. Be sure to join your local Facebook groups and watch FB Marketplace daily. There are a lot of apps to watch but the main one I use is Offerup.

Now if you plan to buy wholesale items for your booth we compiled a list of popular companies. This list hasn't been updated in several years. Just click here to see the directory.

We did a video on this topic and you can view it on Youtube. Just click here.

5:21 AM
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Rental Space Options in an Antique Shop, Mall or Boutique

Airspace Lease

Have you ever wondered about starting an antique booth? We often get emails from folks that are curious about getting into the business, but the thought of taking a large booth is overwhelming for them. We are here to let you know you have options. There are other spaces you can rent besides a traditional booth. Each store is going to be different in the options they have available. The smaller the store or boutique the less options you may have.

Option 1: Endcap = This is pretty self explanatory. These spaces are placed at the end of an aisle. They are usually two-three feet wide and six feet tall. They have shelving which can be perfect for all those smalls.

Option 2: Glass Showcase = Showcases are usually locked and the key will be kept at checkout. These are ideal for more valuable items that you would not want unsupervised in your booth.

Option 3: Bookcase = Some store will rent bookcases to dealer and some will allow you to bring your own. ...

Option 4: Kiosk = These are few and far between but they are out there. Some malls provide them and others might allow you to bring in your own should you be lucky enough to have.

Option 5: Wall Space = If you are an artist of have a lot of art work this option is great. You can also add shelving on the wall for knick-knacks

Option 6: Wood Cable Spools = Usually there is one large spool on the bottom and a smaller one on top. I have seen all kinds of things displayed on these. One dealer had handmade tea towels and she placed hooks around the top to display her towels on.

This image was taken at The Nest located in Carrollton, GA

This photo was taken at an antique shop in Jasper, GA. I don't remember the name of it. They were just opening. All of the spools had not been rented out yet.

Option 7: Air Space = Believe it or not people rent the ceiling for hanging things. If you have a lot of chandeliers, or items that need to be hung this is an option.

Those are all the options we have for you. I hope this makes your decision a little easier. Also, remember if you sign a lease, you may not be not locked into that space in the event you need to expand. Be sure to discuss your options with the store owner/manager.

Did you know we are on Youtube now? Click the link to check out our channel.

7:07 PM
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Free Christmas Printables for Frameable Art

Free Christmas Frameable Art

9:09 AM
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Christmas Booth Inspiration

Antique Booth

7:11 PM
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Vintage Dealer Interview= The Rustic Hippo

70's Decor

Hi friends. We hope your week is off to a great start. It has been a while since we did a vintage dealer interview. We get lots of questions asking if we will share bohemian (boho) style booths. So today, we are excited to share Kelly Norton's booth. Kelly has a booth called The Rustic Hippo. It is located in Tacoma, WA. If you love the 70's style decor you are going to love her booth.

While this lady considers herself green, we think she is just as wise as a seasoned dealer. This is one dedicated and hard working dealer as she fluffs up her booth at the end of the end of the day, getting it ready for the next. We hope you will take a few minutes to read her interview and check out her beautiful booth.

Also, if you would like to be considered for a dealer interview please email us at boothcrush@gmail.com. Be sure to include 3-5 clear photos and links to your social media.

How did you get started in the vintage industry? Born in the 70s, I am a total maximalist with a natural draw to vintage bohemian. I have always been obsessed with finding vintage and unique items for my home. I began painting furniture about 5 years ago for different rooms in our house. I loved it so much, I decided to start selling my pieces locally. Reselling vintage and found items was a natural progression, as my passion is home decor.

How long did you sell out of your home or online before opening a booth? I sold out of my home locally for about 4 years and then added shipping on my smalls during Covid.

What type of store are you in? I now sell at my local antique mall that is very close to my house.

How many booths do you have? I currently have two booths and maybe acquiring a third or expanding into a larger one.

What size booth/s do you have? My first booth in our mall is the size of one and a half booths. My second booth is the size of a half booth.

What do you find sells the most in your booth? Right now, ambiance lighting, Mexican Serape blankets, throw pillows, and colored glass window bottles.

What do you find sells the least in your booth? White wicker for sure. Afghans are really hard to move in my booth, as our mall is oversaturated with them.

Why do you think your booth has been successful? I think the biggest secret to success in anything is to stay uniquely you and not try to be anyone else. Set yourself apart. When you showcase your own style and personality and don’t worry about what’s going on around you, you will inevitably find your tribe of people that resonate with your style.

How often do you refresh your booth? I visit my booths at the end of each day to make sure it is straightened up for the next day. I try to add or move things around in my booths about once a week, But when life happens, I don’t kick myself if I can’t make it for a week or two.

What mistakes have you made and learned from a dealer? Recently I had a swag light priced at $165, but there was a small ink blot across the 1 and it got sold for $65 as a result. We had $72 into the swag so it was a substantial hit. In the future, I will make sure that all of our tags are clear and we will take pictures of our high-dollar tags before they go into the shop.

What plans do you have to improve your booth for the new year? Right now, I am looking into either acquiring a third booth or expanding into a larger booth where I can merge the two bohemian-style booths into one. Now that it is summer break, I also plan on putting more hand-painted items into my spaces to add more color and personality.

What advice do you have for someone just starting out? Considering I am relatively new at this myself, I would say, begin with a great amount of humility. It is okay to be green! Research, research, research! Before getting my booth, I spent a lot of time reading blogs, watching YouTubers, and scrolling Instagram for advice on being a good booth owner.

What do you think the number one mistake is that unsuccessful dealers make? You can very clearly tell in an antique mall which booth owners are prideful and passionate about their booth. The ones that don’t get much action are typically the ones that have an inch of dust everywhere, sparse items on the floor, or haven’t been touched for months. I once saw a booth with, “Dust me!” written in the dust on the shelf. I’m guessing a booth like that doesn’t do as well as one that is clearly cared for.

Do you do this for a living, part-time or as a hobby? When I was painting furniture and selling from my home, it was a hobby. When I decided to get a booth, I knew I wanted it to be full-time. This year, I will likely leave my position of 23 years as a para-educator to sell full-time. I’m pretty excited about that.

Do you stick to a specific color scheme with your booth? My first booth, I call the brown booth. That is where I sell all of my pottery, wood, wicker, brown, and neutral earthy tone items. My second booth is full of color! I try to pull as much turquoise and orange in as possible with some greens and other warm but vibrant colors.

Do you utilize social media, and if so, which ones work best? I absolutely rely on social media to advertise my booths! I primarily use Instagram and Facebook and try to post every day to every other day. I am also trying to get more involved in stories which I find challenging, as recording what I am doing tends to decrease my momentum.

Where do you find your vintage goods? Everywhere!! Thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, Offer Up, and Marketplace! I have my regular honey holes, but really, to find the good stuff, I try to source from as many places as possible.

Do you change your booth out to reflect the seasons and or holidays? Absolutely! I am already collecting fall & winter items. My plan is to stay true to my bohemian style and showcase items that I would use in my own home during the holidays. For me, this will mean not over saturating my booth with snowmen and Santas, but rather more subtle holiday elements that accentuate the bohemian vibe.

Do you swap out stale merchandise or do you reduce it for a fast sale? I prefer to swap it out and reintroduce it in a different way. I also like having two booths, because I can give it a new look in a different booth where it will likely sell. Occasionally, I will do a 20% off sale to unload a good amount of merchandise at once, so I can bring new items in. If I do decide to lower the price on an item, I will make a new tag with a new price.

Do you think booth location is important? Yes. I look for the ability to have walls to hang art for sure! I also look for traffic. Both of my booths are located right behind window displays, which makes it pretty easy to guide people there when posting on social media. My first booth does not get as much traffic naturally as I would like, so I post often to get people to visit.

Do you use any kind of inventory software for your personal use? No. Honestly, I’m a pencil and ledger kind of gal. I list all of my inventory in a book, including the cost of the item, what I sold it for, and the profit after the commission has been taken out. My goal is to eventually get online with bookkeeping software. That is going to be quite the learning curve for me.

Do you market your booth/s outside social media? I have business cards, I occasionally hand out, but I do not have a website or an email list yet.

Do you sell online too? If so which sites do you use? When I was selling online, I was using local OfferUp and Marketplace. I may eventually expand to selling on Etsy or eBay in addition to the booths.

Would you like to own your own store someday? While it sounds amazing, honestly, I am not sure. There are a lot of benefits to selling an antique mall, one of which is the time allotted for painting furniture and picking. Not to mention the freedom of weekend family time, and vacations.

Do you ever participate in barn sales or pop-up sales? If so, how many a year? I have not yet explored this avenue. Honestly, it sounds incredibly fun and exhausting. I may try a few in the future, but I really love being rooted in a storefront setting.

Do you have any other advice tips or info you would like to add? I am super green in this industry and I am more than okay with that! I am really excited to learn and grow and become a member of this vintage community. I strongly believe that the secret to happiness is to constantly seek out new things that challenge you and make you excited to get out of bed and get to it! When I no longer feel challenged, I know it’s time to expand and branch out or move on to something new.