We are always getting e-mails from newbies asking where they can find inexpensive decor items to stage their furniture. We got an e-mail from a young the other day, wanting to take better photos for her online furniture business. After reviewing some of the pics she sent us, we immediately realized she wasn't staging her pieces. Some customers lack the vision to imagine it in their own home. So break out those staging items. Key staples to have in your arsenal are lamps, rugs, books, baskets, greenery, candlesticks and small decor items.

But before you go out and buy all those things, look around your own home first. You'll really be surprised at what you can find. Ask a friend or family member if they have any items they are willing to get rid of. Next, check out antique stores sometimes booths will be having sales and you can find some really good deals there. Flea markets, yard sales, estate sales, and thrift stores are also great places to look.

Last but not least...Dollar General! Who would have ever thought the dollar store, right? They are stepping up their home decor game. I was traveling out of state today and stopped off at a couple of DG's and found some cute home decor. YES...I know, most of it is this mass produced, made in China mess that we are all so very tired of. Well, if you are like us, you were never into in the first place. I know these big box decor stores are all about it, but DG? I was kind of surprised to find it there. Anyway, I wanted to share some of the items I spied today.

 Yes, those are glass decanters in the middle. I thought maybe they were plastic until I picked one up.

Hi friends. We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I have been packing up all the Fall decor around here. Christmas is now in full force. We still haven't decided if we are doing a live tree this year or getting a new artificial tree. I have had a beautiful flocked tree for many years now but honestly it has seen better days lemme tell ya! It may be time to break down and get a new one. 

Speaking of Christmas...it is hard to believe it will be here in twenty eight days. For all you junkers...that's only three  weekends in which we have left to go pickin. Here is a fun Christmas countdown site in case anyone is interested.  Just click here to bookmark it. 

We got a lot of questions about live greenery from the blog post we did on November 18th. If you missed that post you can click here to read it. This is going to be a follow up to last post.   

The most asked question we got was "Where can I find live greens" Well, try your own yard first. You will be surprised what you might find once you really start looking around. You may be saying that's great for you, but I live in the city. If this is not an option for you, try a family member or friend's yard. If plan B fails then visit your local nursery, hardware store or Christmas tree farm/lot. Those places clip off branches and then toss them out. I can't tell you at the free clippings I have scored at Christmas tree lots. Fortunately, now I live in a wooded area so I have a plethora of lush greens to choose from. 

A good friend of mine hit the jackpot at Home Depot. The stores that sell xmas trees clip off branches and then toss them in a designated bin. Of course, she asked first before she took some. She did ask if other Home Depot stores did this and she was told the ones that sell trees do. But if you decide to go this route just make sure to seek permission from a store manager first. 

If you are not feeling all Daniel Boone like then the stores that I just mentioned above also sell greens. They just don't make it known they toss this stuff out. 

The next question we were asked was how to preserve greens. That question is easy. Just as you would keep a Christmas tree in water, you will want to keep a spray bottle with water sitting around. Make sure to mist your greens two to three times a week and especially if these are indoors. If you are decorating outdoors like a doorway or porch railing etc, you will not need to give the greens as much attention. Cooler temperatures help to naturally preserve them longer. 

The best time to purchase greens is a couple of weeks before Christmas. Also, make sure your greens are fresh before you purchase them. 

The last question we got was what kinds of greenery are best. Honestly, it's just personal preference. I love to decorate with Cedar, Leyland Cypress and Pine tree branches. I have a couple of Magnolia Trees and a Holly Bush in my yard too so I grab a few sprigs off those too. 

Some other greens you can use are: 

~Boxwood 
~Noble Fir
and last but not least...mistletoe. 

When it comes to decorating your home or a booth sometimes it's the most simple decor that is the most beautiful. I love decorating with nature and bringing the outdoors inside. Decorating with live greens is one way I achieve this look.  

Today, my hubby and I were able to get out and do a little bit of junkin. We stopped by The Apple Barrel Antique Mall. I wanted to share some pictures from my favorite booth. They mostly sell handmade furniture with some vintage decor items mixed in. This booth is always simple and understated but it's still an attention grabber. I never see a booth name though. So, unfortunately, there are no social media links to share. 
  

Attending Booth Conference in Huntsville, Alabama this past weekend was priceless. The owners Trish and Cindi of University Pickers also in Huntsville hosted this event. This was to my knowledge, the first of its kind for the booth industry. A big round of applause should be given to these gals because what once was just an idea for them, was quickly put into action. They strategically and tirelessly planned out every last little detail. They traveled all over the south-east promoting it and they finally saw it come to life at the Von Braun Center, November 10th and 11th. Two days were filled with guest speakers, vendors, panel discussions, food, fun and lots of laughter. Everyone learned a lot and had a great time. 
The opening keynote speaker, Jennifer Allwood, was incredibly inspiring. She created and runs a paint company, The Magic Brush. The story of how her company grew from the beginning to a multimillion-dollar business because of her hard work and dedication was nothing short of amazing.  Being a wife and mom her speech titled “8 Things I Wish I Had Done Sooner” was very informative. She gave us all tips on growing our business whether it is an antique booth or owning a store all while making sure to give the family the attention they need and deserve. Today she is a life coach and mentor of women in business.  If you have not heard of Jennifer, we urge you to look her up.

We ended the day with a fun dress up dinner party. We got to pick our favorite decade and dress the part. Each table had a fun centerpiece. 


 These two cuties are Carlie and Nikki. They own a store near Memphis, TN and they are going to be doing a shop interview with soon. 

Brittany Young opened the second day of the conference. Brittany considers herself a “Certified Celebrator”. She loves throwing parties, decorating, and encouraging others. She gave us her ideas on branding and partnerships. It is so important to brand yourself. When your business grows to the point that you need to brand, someone may already have your web domain. Brand now and buy your domain name while you are small to avoid problems down the road. Brittany is also a wife and mom. She balances her business life with her family life daily. She is a great example to those of us who feel overwhelmed every day. Running a business and a family is a huge undertaking but Brittany has done so successfully. 

The presenters had lots of valuable information and wisdom to share with everyone. Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of all the speakers and the ones I did get are not the best. In the vendor's area, they had great product demonstrations. I came away with so many great ideas on large and small projects. Many of the vendors gave away samples and had drawings for wonderful prizes. There were also materials you could purchase. I am so excited to get started on some of my projects. I am planning a special holiday season with my grandchildren this year. We are going to make many memories and fun things to keep for a lifetime. 

I am exhausted after the weekend but it was well worth it. I want to thank everyone that came to the Booth Crush session on Friday. I enjoyed meeting you all and hearing your stories. Thank you for all the kind words and encouragement you gave me. I think the biggest compliment of all was the lady that said she took 4 pages of notes. Scroll down the page to see some photos from the event. 

We got an email the other day from a new shop owner. She just bought a small antique business earlier this year. She said sales have been slow and she wanted to know what she could do to get holiday traffic through the door. So we figured there might be other shop owners out there wondering the same thing. Here are several ways. 

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Most shops big and small host a holiday open house. For those that don't, we highly recommend it. Get with your dealers and create a sign-up sheet for volunteers. Usually, a dealer will volunteer for 2-4 hours at a time. They can help with things like wrapping purchases, walking the aisles, assisting customers or replenishing snacks.  rYou can also create a snack list and ask dealers to bring in cookies, drinks etc. If everyone pitches in it will make things run more smoothly. Be sure to share your event on all your social media platforms too. 

PHOTOS WITH SANTA We all know parents love taking photos of their children. So hire a Santa this year and give them another great reason to visit. Most shops hire a Santa for the day which is usually a Saturday and they will offer refreshments too. 

HOLIDAY PHOTO BOOTH I have seen some stores set up a holiday booth or small area for customers to stop and take photos. This is usually left up for the entire month of December. If you are on Instagram this is a great opportunity to drive some business your way. Create a unique hashtag for your customers to use. Ask customers to share their photos by tagging the store in this unique hashtag. Then share some of those customer photos on your Instagram or Facebook page. Customers will be delighted to see their face on your social media and they will share it on their social media pages too. Their friends will see and so on. Hey, it's free advertising and nothing is sweeter than word of mouth. Don't forget to place a sign in the booth asking customers to tag the store in their photo. Your sign could be a handwritten chalkboard message something like this: 
(I'm using Queen of Hearts Antiques as an example #QOHHoliday17)