Pick for Profit

You sent the questions, and we’re rolling up our sleeves! This You Asked, We Answer episode dives into bookkeeping and inventory for collectors. Learn how to manage your books in a (mostly) receipt-less industry, keep your records straight, prepare for tax time, and protect your treasures...and your sanity.

Every antiques and collectibles seller faces slow spells. But don't rush to assume it's also SPELLING disaster (pun intended). In this episode, we dig into practical ways to make the most of quiet periods in your shop or online store. From refreshing your inventory and reworking listings to creative marketing moves that bring buyers back, you’ll learn how to turn slow days into smart business grow...

You can’t just buy what you like! Every generation has its own sense of nostalgia. What feels like junk to one might feel “vintage cool” to another. In this episode, John breaks down what different generations are buying (and why) so you can snag  better inventory and sell to everyone from Boomers to Gen Z.

Slow antique or collectible listings don’t have to stay that way! Fall is the perfect season to refresh and resell. In this episode, we’ll share online antique shop strategies to reframe older items with a cozy, autumn-ready appeal. From adding fall-inspired keywords to updating photos with seasonal styling, discover how to turn overlooked pieces into top sellers this season. Perfect for anyone lo...

After a decade selling online, John finds social media can absolutely help move items from his Etsy and eBay stores. Here, he shares some insights on how to get started (even if you've never posted on social media in your life), how to easily get tons of content out of every item in your shop, and what he believes it means to go "viral" in the antiques and collectibles world (hint: it takes far fe...

John is definitely seeing signs from his Etsy and eBay shops that the Christmas season is upon us as antiques and collectibles dealers. Here, he shares why he believes the Christmas (or holiday) shopping season is in full swing, how long you can expect it to last, and key steps you can take right now to ensure your online shop's in top shape for maximum holiday profits. Also, he's got some pretty...

It's an eyeballs episode (and no, it's not about Halloween). Here, John shares how his own eBay and Etsy stores have recently seen an uptick in views and sales: why we think this is happening, and how you can capitalize on this in your own online shop. Turn the algorithm from your nemesis to your friend, and get more people looking at your antiques and collectibles. 

We’ve had a ton of interest in opening and maintaining an antique booth, so John and I decided to share some common shenanigans that take place when you have a booth. We cover what to do when items go missing, how to tell if your prospective mall is analog or digital (and why it matters for tracking sales), how to think about stocking inventory, and even why kindness toward the people who work you...

In this latest Q&A session, John hits some best practices for listing online, and we both dive into some techniques we've used for identifying art pieces. John also relates a cool experience he had with one vintage enthusiast, walking him through successfully listing (and selling!) his first item online. 

As antiques and collectibles dealers, we're constantly bombarded with articles and tips on what's hot in the collecting world. Problem is, by the time you see that article, generally everyone else has too. When you go shopping for inventory, those hot items are either nowhere to be found or priced at top dollar. So how do you fill those shelves? John shares his tips here on how to buy items that a...

In this episode, John shares what's selling quickly out of his eBay and Etsy shops right now. He also offers some pretty priceless (pun intended) advice on why those lower-priced items can absolutely be a godsend for your business.

As collectors and dealers, we've all faced the same dilemma: to clean or not to clean those new antique or collectible finds. John shares a few thoughts on why he almost always never does. (It all comes back to his specific selling niche!)

Great customer service doesn’t start at checkout. It starts long before a buyer ever clicks “purchase.” In this episode, John shares his top tips for delivering standout service in a digital storefront, from first impressions to follow-up. Whether you sell antique books or collectible figurines, these practices will build trust, ensure buyer satisfaction (and good reviews!), and, most importantly,...

This week, John shares practical tips for shipping the large, the heavy, the oddly sized and the oh-so-breakable. Whether you're mailing vintage glassware or brittle celluloid, these shipping strategies will help you protect your items (and your profits)!

It’s time for another Q&A! We got some great questions that ran the gamut across all the topics we’ve covered so far on the podcast. John shares some excellent additional tips this time around. Whether you’re new to the antiques and collectibles world or a seasoned seller, there’s something here for you.

John opens up about the antique and collectible finds he let get away (and still haunt him), as well as the items he did bring home only to find out they maybe should have stayed behind. Lessons learned in the treasure hunt.

From Beanie Babies to Pyrex, John's seen some crazy trends come and go in his past four decades in the antiques and collectibles biz. Hear all about some of the wilder trends that came and went, as well as some of those timeless items that always seem to sell.  

Just this past week, John hit his biggest garage sale jackpot yet! Here, he shares this story and a few other fun successes that prove treasure really is waiting at the end of the driveway. He also offers a few tips on how to open the door to negotiating garage sale prices and even a few thoughts on how to have a great garage sale of your own.

In this episode, John shares his own antique-booth journey, starting with the $35-a-month shelf and moving up to the larger booths where he could sell framed pictures and even a few small pieces of furniture. He offers some from-the-trenches lessons on how to open (and, more importantly, maintain) a successful booth. Learn what works and how to make the most of your space and budget!

Surprising sales. Great listings. Lessons learned. John spills what he didn’t expect when he took his antiques online.

Our first episode answering your questions. Here, we delve deeper into some of your best questions. Lots of great stuff here on going to auctions.   

Auctions can often be the most exciting (and profitable!) way to snag inventory as an antiques and collectibles dealer. In this episode, John, a veteran dealer with over 40 years of experience, shares his top tips for navigating your first auction, from previewing lots to placing the winning bid.

Every vintage piece that crosses a dealer's path shows signs of age. That's part of the charm! But how much wear and tear is too much? John, a 40-year veteran of the trade, lets listeners know where he draws the line and how you can make smarter picks.

This week, we touch again on the importance of good inventory practices, and John shares what very well may be the best piece of advice he's ever given (works for both experienced sellers and those new to the game)!

So you've decided you'd like to start selling antiques and collectibles. Step one is getting some inventory. Here, our resident expert shares his own tried-and-true locations for snagging deals that he can reliably turn into profit. Start your journey with the foundation every good dealer needs: where to find the good stuff.