How do people make a profit? Antique dealers etc

And you HOPE you will make money on every single item. Fact is you won't and so you must buy at the lowest possible option. Hopefully....deals will outweigh the losses.
No one breaks any arms to buy something. They didn't have to sell.
Note that I have a special, and unrelated to sales, personal issue with that show but I have seen those guys give more than the seller asks sometimes.
You keep asking and getting no until you get yeses or off you go.

 

I need to find a way to actually start selling my current stock. I'm able to source some nice quality stuff for very good prices, so I'm not going to be greedy and ask for top dollar.I just want to make some sales and get some profits in.

 

Buying is easy. Selling is hard. You need to focus on things people really want. This is where research comes in. Knowing more than the other guy when you buy is essential. Knowing your market when you sell is also very important. Something may theoretically be worth acertain amount but it is worthless if you don't have someone who wants it. Pay pennies on the dollar for things that are run-of-the-mill or something you have a hunch on. Pay a bit more for things you think you can readily sell. I shoot for a minimum of 3X mark-up unless an item is exceptional. I often make 5X or much more on the items I buy.

 

There's no real way to be an expert in EVERYTHING about antiques, just because the area is just so VAST. Everyone has their special areas that they're passionate about.

I like brassware, optical equipment writing equipment, Victoriana, silverware, nautical stuff, etc. I know a bit about antique pianos and a smattering of other subjects just from general reading and such, but I know next to nothing about glassware, ceramics, porcelain, etc.

Other people are great with things like antique radios, record-players, musical instruments, or coins or stamps or banknotes and books...

 

Horology I do like, as well as maritime antiques. I am British, so the interest in naval history comes quite naturally to me.

I do have some beautiful Rosenthal porcelain. Not antique, but gorgeous regardless. For me, porcelain does not have to be antique for me to like it. Just great workmanship.

 

Buying from dead people is the way to go. The right house clearance can end up hugely profitable, the snag is that a lot of people want the same pickings and work hard shmoozing estate agents and solicitors to get the right jobs, and most jobs are just drudge work.

THis house clearance was a gold mine because it looked like a rubbish tip and was stuffed with hidden value.

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/house-clearance.4844/

 

Guys what are the good places to sell, if you want to sell a lot. sotheby's good, but your stuff needs to be higher than $3000 or else they dont send the estimates. what are the other places similar to sotheby's ?

 

Depends on where you are, country, approximate location. THere are plenty of mid range auction companies most places.

 

Im from sri lanka. In here there is no much of a market for antique. Are there any good online auction places where we can ship the goods. But even though no good market in sri lanka. There are very good stuff. Specially Chinese vases and British and Dutch furniture. So most of them but stuff from here and ship them to USA and Europe

 

Just as anything, buy low and sell high. Of course, you have to know what to buy.

 

If you end up with a space or a shop, you eventually have an identity for your items that people associate you with.
There is a gal across the street who does very well with certain items. When I come across those type items and bring them in my shop, they sit. Then there are other things that I sell well and she can't move. Yet we sell to a very similar customer base.

And that is another thing you need to identify. What customer will you be selling to.

 

I'm currently sitting on a bunch of Rosenthal porcelain. Well worth over $2000, but I just cant move it. I'm selling for around half price.

 

If you stand up........
...you can move it.....