Pick for Profit

If you've ever wondered why one vintage item sells in minutes while another takes years, this episode is for you. We're talking about the "fast nickels, slow dimes" philosophy of selling antiques and collectibles, with real-world examples from John's own shop: a Nintendo console that disappeared almost instantly, a Coca-Cola cooler, Jeep grille, and vintage patches that sold within hours, and Roya...

We're heading back to the heart of Europe in this second Shop the World episode as we explore the antiques and collectibles we commonly encounter at estate sales, thrift stores, auctions, and flea markets. Learn how to recognize Czech glass, Bohemian crystal, and Bavarian porcelain, discover the clues that separate Bohemian glass from Murano, and hear practical tips for how we (as newbies) are eva...

John keeps hearing from fellow sellers that they're having a tough time finding inventory this summer. In this episode, we share a few simple sourcing tips (including what we mean by always keeping your "antenna up"), and take you along on another real-world picking trip. This time, it's a couple of garage sales just a short walk from our house. During this trip, we bought: automotive items, barwa...

Summer is one of the best seasons for antique and collectible sellers (hello, garage sales!), and in this episode, we explore what John has been finding—and selling quickly—right now. That includes everything from vintage picnic items (he had especially good luck with a vintage Coca-Cola cooler) to a specific Tupperware piece you should always keep an eye out for. We also discuss the fishing colle...

What antiques and collectibles are shoppers favoriting right now? In this episode, John breaks down the most-favorited items currently in his Etsy and eBay stores. We also revisit an experiment from a recent pottery episode, where we compared two pottery lots (one higher-priced stoneware group and one lower-priced Nippon lot) to see what's attracting favorites and what's actually beginning to sell...

Want to spot valuable antiques and collectibles from around the world? In this episode, we explore commonly found Japanese ceramics markings, including Noritake, Nippon, and Occupied Japan; we also talk a bit about the always-popular head vases. We then head to England to explore what are currently great selling trends at John's shop: transferware, Blue Willow, and Flow Blue pottery. When we jet t...

If you're taking a Route 66-inspired summer road trip (and buying antiques and collectibles along the way), this is exactly the kind of stuff you can buy AND sell. In fact, we've been selling these items steadily for decades. Everything from worn enamelware and European laundry sets to crocks, quilts, kerosene lamps, farm tools, and architectural salvage. We talk about how to spot authentic old en...

In last week's garage sale episode, we talked about a lot of Pokémon cards purchased for $5 with a potential profit of over $300. We got so many questions about buying lots that we decided to turn it into an entire episode. Here, we're breaking down our process of buying lots, revealing which have yielded the very best (and sometimes surprising) profits: from vintage thimbles, sports memorabilia,...

Anyone new to buying and selling antiques and collectibles can walk into a garage sale and think, “There is no way I can ever make money on old sneakers and used kids’ toys.” In this episode, we answer your questions about how to shop garage sales by taking you through a recent shopping trip where small, inexpensive finds (Pokémon cards and Depression Glass to vintage kitchenware, Carnival Glass,...

Technically, the World's Fair still exists...but it's not the event to Americans it once was. In this episode, we explore how historic World’s Fairs (from the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition to the 1933-34 Century of Progress and the 1964 New York World’s Fair) shaped culture and modern life, introducing electricity, the Ferris Wheel,...

In this, the 52nd (!) episode of Pick for Profit, we're marking one full year online. And this episode is all about the stuff we once walked around at estate or garage sales: vintage souvenirs. Yes, these items are in fact sellable. We take a tour here through buying and selling vintage souvenirs, travel memorabilia, and antique ephemera. We highlight items we've been surprised can sell, everythin...

We're diving into pottery using recent buying stories! Here, we break down some basic pottery terminology (ceramics, porcelain, stoneware, salt glaze) to help you identify what you're looking at while shopping estate or garage sales. We also discuss why we bought some inexpensive vintage pottery books and drop a few excellent pottery names you can be on the lookout for yourself: Shawnee, Roseville...

In this episode, we're taking you on a "buying trip"! Here, we're showing you step-by-step how to walk into an estate or garage sale and zone in immediately on the most valuable pieces. We show you how to identify valuable antique glass by spotting rich, saturated colors like cranberry and iridescent carnival glass and recognizing sought-after makers like Fenton, Northwood, and LE Smith (we even d...

Have you ever passed by a pair of grungy cowboy boots or an old pair of used spurs at an estate sale? This episode will make you think twice about ever doing that again. This episode breaks down everything we've had luck selling in the Western or cowboy categories. We're talking, yes, authentic ranch-used gear like spurs; pop culture favorites from Bonanza, Gunsmoke; and the ever-popular Southwest...

Looking to boost your antique and vintage sales for Mother’s Day? In this episode, we break down the bestselling Mother’s Day antiques and collectibles, from mid-century greeting cards, vintage Pyrex in pastel colors, and chintz teacups to costume jewelry, lockets, floral prints, and nostalgic home décor like cake stands, table linens, and serving trays. Learn how to tap into the growing granny ch...

Think you'll never be able to afford art to resell (or find any customers who can afford to buy it)? Art does not have to be museum-quality or painted by a well-known artist to attract a buyer. In this episode, we break down real-world art categories that sell, from figural pieces like cast iron doorstops, chalkware, porcelain figurines, and garden statuary to one-of-a-kind folk art, handmade “mak...

Vintage technology is having a moment, and some retro gadgets are surprisingly profitable for online resellers. In this episode, we break down the vintage tech items that we're seeing consistently sell, from 1970s Princess rotary phones and colorful transistor radios to Atari games, Bakelite radios, and reel-to-reel audio equipment. We also talk about overlooked sellers like phone tables, metal of...

Clothing can be one of the most unpredictable categories for John as an antique and vintage seller. Some months, everything flies out the door, and other times it just sits. In this episode, we break down the clothing items that are actually selling for him right now. From 1970s and 1980s fashion, varsity jackets, fur coats, and Harley Davidson boots to designer pieces like Juicy Couture, Ralph La...

In this episode, we dive into some surprising items and categories John is having luck selling in his online antiques and collectibles shops: from overlooked smalls like vintage lapel pins, tie tacks, and band patches (think Spinal Tap and Black Sabbath) to chipped but still desirable 1800s transferware like Mulberry pieces. We also talk about some wintertime sourcing issues (fewer estate sales, b...

In this Q&A episode, we break down selling antiques and collectibles online with a side-by-side comparison of eBay vs Etsy. John actually dug into his numbers on both, so you want to hear this...and, he lets you know the techniques he's used to make each platform profitable. He also shares his weekly schedule that keeps listing and inventory management doable and makes mundane activities less...

For this Q&A, we answer listeners' questions about the most common scams John has faced in his 10+ years as an online dealer (including buyer high-pressure tactics). John also goes into depth about his current photography setup: camera preference, lighting, sizing references, etc. And if you're struggling with mounds of paperwork, John offers advice on recordkeeping: organizing inventory, trac...

In this episode, we explore the hidden market for antique accessories and vintage replacement parts: Depression glass lids, cookie jar lids, transferware lids, sugar bowl spoons, cruet stands, dust jackets, antique boxes, foam inserts, doll clothes, Star Wars toy parts, game tokens, kerosene lamp parts, appliance cords, and original packaging. Learn where to find antique replacement pieces at esta...

Did you make a bunch of New Year's resolutions for your biz in '26, and now, it feels like those resolutions are falling apart? It's absolutely not your fault. So much of the antiques and collectibles business is out of your hands. In this episode, we dig into our own January numbers, shifting buyer behavior, and what’s actually selling right now (and at what price points). We talk about pivoting...

Ah, yes, we're sure you see what we did there in that title. In all seriousness, in this episode, we break down transportation-related antiques and collectibles that actually sell, with a special focus on cross-collectibles like ephemera, toys, advertising, and signage. We also talk about slightly lesser-known railroad items (Fred Harvey), and dish on some long-gone items that we wish we'd hung on...

Americana collectibles tell the story of American life through the decades, and with America’s 250th birthday approaching, we're anticipating demand rising across the antiques and vintage market. In this episode, we define what counts as Americana and highlight high-interest categories for sellers, including ephemera, military photographs, Norman Rockwell and Saturday Evening Post covers, folk art...