Friday, February 24, 2012

Thrift is IN

Our booth
I used to work as a newspaper reporter. I am saddened that the daily newspaper at my doorstep is continuing to shrink. I value it being there, but miss the extra reporting we used to enjoy.

So I'll report on a local trend. The local antique mall, on our main street downtown, is a bustling place. My brother and I rented a small booth there last month, in an effort to continue to recycle our stuff. Larry the owner said business was booming. He and Gwen, his co-owner/spouse have a theory. People still want to SHOP - they just don't want to spend as much money. So they come to the antique mall and carry home a very affordable and unique item, instead of heading for the big-box stores and dropping more cash.

We've had the booth for 6 weeks now and we've made more than expenses AND have enjoyed seeing what sells. Gwen and Larry think practical items are popular, along with kitsch....

I put some good quilts there, and they have not sold. But a few less-than-perfect, i.e. THRIFTY quilts sold quickly.

AND - as of today, the mall is FULL, meaning there is no booth space. Larry has run the mall for 20 years now - this is the fullest he has ever seen it. AND - last Saturday was their biggest day EVER.

I'm heading there soon, to leave more things. Times are good to be in the thrift business.....

9 comments:

  1. Deb,

    I want to see more of that quilt in the lower right corner! I hope you sell that. It looks quite bright and fun. It made me smile just by looking at the picture!
    And,those dolls are a hoot! Wish I could stroll down the main street and into your booth!

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  2. Sounds like you're having some fun owning a little shop! ;)

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  3. I think your right, people love to think they have saved a few pence . We are becoming far less a throw away society. Great your having de-cluttering success.

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  4. Your booth looks fun. Wish I could pop over and visit you there. How about showing us the quilts you're selling? We may want to purchase them!

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  5. yes, please let us buy your quilts! I have been shocked at how many people have been in the thrift stores. It used to be downright quiet, but they are packed!

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    1. Interesting, you have noticed the crowds too. I will pull some information together about the quilts and post it soon!

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  6. Woo Hoo! Hope the success continues. My husband and I had a booth at our local antique mall for 5 or 6 years, but it just got to be too much with both of us having very demanding full-time jobs as well. Plus we sold a lot of furniture which doesn't move out of the booth as fast is the smaller stuff. Don't miss attending those late night auctions!

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    1. I'm hoping this will get me through the final uncluttering of my life, then I will let it go.....wish me luck!

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  7. I love the dolls and the records- so fun. One of my favorite movies of all time is Mary Poppins. My grandparents took me to it when I was a little girl-so when I see things from the movie it always makes me smile. My grandparents were fantastic people and I loved them dearly- they let me go play in the old bottles and spices and such in the play house. My gran had lots of old Avon things and loved knick nacks and dishes. I still love dishes.
    We have a local antique mall and I occasionally go and roam the booths with my husband. There is not many linens or textiles in the one that we visit- I must go check out its second store to see if there are such items there. Thanks for sharing your booth.
    Regards from Western Canada,
    Anna

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