Featured MAD takes on IKEA?

Maine Antique Digest (MAD) tweeted this out yesterday which i thought was neat and, pretty aggressive for MAD as they are normally very reserved.


Maine Antique Digest‏@AntiqueDigest Sep 13
Bargain! Beat this, IKEA. A birch 4-drawer chest on a slightly splayed bracket base brought $258.75 #antiques #furniture

 

I was hoping it'd be the other MAD magazine.

 

Yet another argument for buying antiques over new. Crazy how few folks seem to be listening.

 

Yeah, agrees, a period federal chest with what appears to be original brass pulls for $250 bucks? JEEEZZZZZ, at that price point one wonders how long before old furniture becomes fashionable again, gotta be soon, correct?

 

According to the laws of supply and demand, one hopes so. Lots of brown furniture at low low low prices would seem to beg for demand to increase.

But with Millenials living in tiny houses with few possessions, maybe not? Is that permanent, or a fad?

Maybe they'll mature and the need for "home" will become greater. Then....watch out!

 

Here in Des Moines I have seen the younger crowd at estate sales starting to go for more brown furniture. Even my 31 year old daughter has finally decided the stuff we have is worth having. There may yet be hope.

 

IKEA =
I
Kan't
Eat
All they have in their Kafe' at once.

 

At that price, IKEA who?

 

Really! Happy to see MAD be more aggressive on social media, it's ABOUT TIME. As a collector and although i don't really have a dog in this fight, if the antique industry sits on it's duff and waits for the market to return, it could very well be a long wait!
This ain't the 1990's, the industry as a whole IMO has an outdated and stale marketing approach, they need to try new marketing ideas & strategies until finding ones that work.

 

With the right marketing, things might turn around. One of my cousins, technically first cousin once removed, fell in love with some uranium glass dishes I posted here once. She's in her 20s and I don't think had ever seen any before. I think they don't go looking because kids that age have never been exposed.

 

Good point! Most industries have trade groups that do this sort of thing, national marketing campaigns to persuade people to take a look at their products. The antique industry does not & it hurts them i think.
In today's world, you got to fight for market share or it just ain't gonna happen. The old days where the market came to you are gone and, they probably not comin back any time soon.

 

These days a piece has to be connected to a story. An antique dresser on its own...meh. An antique that sat in (town name) and saw the Civil War pass right by it? That might have a chance.

 

A tale of 2 'children'.
Our older, married, is in NYC for American Week every year. His house is full of beautiful furniture (mostly brown), oriental rugs, glass, china and paintings. He paid close attention to his Grandfather, a noted collector and historian, in Lancaster, PA.
Our younger, raised under the same conditions and except for one highboy, probably prefers Ikea. I can't figure out why...
Patd

 

Another way to tell the health of an industry, shows & auction sales. They are not exactly filled with 20-something young people, mostly people like me who are dead with the old age.

 

That's really true for the daytime ones. The only people at those are retirees, some just there for the show, and professional dealers...most of whom are the same age as the retirees. There may be some younger folks at the night time ones.