You can see all the albums I have (so far) here - Vintage Show Off Photo Albums.
Saturday, February 8, 2014
More Coloring Grouping Photos
I just added a dozen new inspiration posts to the Facebook album - Color Grouping. I am liking the album organization by categories. That should make it easier to jump to a particular topic.
You can see all the albums I have (so far) here - Vintage Show Off Photo Albums.
You can see all the albums I have (so far) here - Vintage Show Off Photo Albums.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Make Them Love It!
When you have a piece of furniture to sell, take the time to create a vision. Be creative. Show the possibilities. The main point of a good vignette is to make the customer love (and consider buying) the feature item.
The vanity below is obviously from Miss Mustard Seed, who is a genius when it comes to display. She made me love this piece, which I might not have without her vision. I might have appreciated it. I might have thought it would look good in someone else's house. She took me beyond my imagination.
A vanity can be difficult to sell because a vanity is, by nature, not very versatile. MMS didn't display this as a vanity. She created a display that makes it clear it can be used in a number of rooms. Her display leans more towards using it as a desk. Still, a customer wouldn't rule it out as a vanity.
The lines of the vanity are feminine, but the paint and accessories don't read feminine. Yet it's not too overpoweringly masculine either.
The style is an early 1900's look, but the way it is displayed, even someone with an industrial style would consider it.
Black can be a harsh color when painting. But of course, MMS knows a thing or two about paint, so she did this one well. She distressed, so it's not a dull looking solid black. She also left the top wood. The knobs are lighter and fun.
Finally, the accessories she used are fabulous! The fan, typewriter and binoculars really create a great look. When MMS is showcasing furniture, she puts just enough on it to create a vision. She doesn't over-do or hide the piece.
This piece is being shown from her home, but if you ever looked at the MMS booth at Lucketts, you'd know that this is probably very similar to how she would have shown this piece there. She no longer has a booth there - her paint venture is taking up most of her time these days.
By the way, if you have an online following, it never hurts to show your pieces there for a week or two before you put them in your booth, especially if you have plenty of furniture to sell. Don't feautre it looking all tacky in your garage with tools and junk all around. Take a little time to create a display. Let Miss Mustard Seed (and many others) be your inspiration. You might make a sale from home and avoid commission - or - you might generate interest so customers will want to go to the store to see it once it's in your booth.
Word of warning - do not try to sell items outside of the store when they are in your booth. Parking lot deals are a big no-no. In fact, doing that can get you tossed out of the store.
The vanity below is obviously from Miss Mustard Seed, who is a genius when it comes to display. She made me love this piece, which I might not have without her vision. I might have appreciated it. I might have thought it would look good in someone else's house. She took me beyond my imagination.
A vanity can be difficult to sell because a vanity is, by nature, not very versatile. MMS didn't display this as a vanity. She created a display that makes it clear it can be used in a number of rooms. Her display leans more towards using it as a desk. Still, a customer wouldn't rule it out as a vanity.
The lines of the vanity are feminine, but the paint and accessories don't read feminine. Yet it's not too overpoweringly masculine either.
The style is an early 1900's look, but the way it is displayed, even someone with an industrial style would consider it.
Black can be a harsh color when painting. But of course, MMS knows a thing or two about paint, so she did this one well. She distressed, so it's not a dull looking solid black. She also left the top wood. The knobs are lighter and fun.
Finally, the accessories she used are fabulous! The fan, typewriter and binoculars really create a great look. When MMS is showcasing furniture, she puts just enough on it to create a vision. She doesn't over-do or hide the piece.
This piece is being shown from her home, but if you ever looked at the MMS booth at Lucketts, you'd know that this is probably very similar to how she would have shown this piece there. She no longer has a booth there - her paint venture is taking up most of her time these days.
By the way, if you have an online following, it never hurts to show your pieces there for a week or two before you put them in your booth, especially if you have plenty of furniture to sell. Don't feautre it looking all tacky in your garage with tools and junk all around. Take a little time to create a display. Let Miss Mustard Seed (and many others) be your inspiration. You might make a sale from home and avoid commission - or - you might generate interest so customers will want to go to the store to see it once it's in your booth.
Word of warning - do not try to sell items outside of the store when they are in your booth. Parking lot deals are a big no-no. In fact, doing that can get you tossed out of the store.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Why I Quit Buying Coffee Tables to Sell
When out treasure hunting, I often came across coffee tables. Most of them needed painting, but they were such good deals that - for awhile - I couldn't resist getting them. Over time, I learned to resist them - both from my own experience and from watching coffee table sales in general.
Vendors in the store where I promote often bring in coffee tables. They almost always take FOREVER to sell.
At first, the vendor features it prominently. After a bit, the price is reduced. A bit later, it is moved out of the focal area and used for stacking other things in an effort to maximize limited booth space. If enough time goes by, the coffee table gets so buried that even someone looking for a coffee table might not see it.
What gives? The coffee tables were pretty. They were reasonably priced. Many were neutral colors.
Here's the deal. Some pieces of furniture have very specific uses. A coffee table is one of those. There's not too many places you can use one. As if that weren't enough, if someone wants a coffee table these days, they often prefer to use something more creative - like a trunk or a big ottoman. They can't use a coffee table somewhere else. A coffee table would look pretty dumb as a foyer table. In other words, a coffee table isn't very versatile.
There are exceptions. If you find a trendy, fabulously cool coffee table, it might sell just fine. But a run-of-the-mill coffee table? Think twice before spending time and money on one to put in your booth.
If you have a small booth or if your booth is more than a hobby, try to get pieces that can be used a number of ways in a customer's home. The more versatile the piece, the more likely you'll make a timely sale.
The table above is not a neutral color, (you know how I feel about paint colors) but it would STILL be likely to sell faster than the neutral coffee table in the first photo because this table is versatile. Have you noticed yet? VERSATILE is the word of the day! This blue table would be right at home in a foyer, or a bedroom, or a kitchen, or a living room, or a porch... I could go on. It's VERSATILE!!!
When you are buying furniture to resell, always factor in how versatile it might be. Did I use that word enough times?
One more thing about color - I don't want anyone to think that I don't love or appreciate colorfully painted furniture. If you saw my house, you'd know I am not a neutral kind of gal. But, when it came to selling furniture, I learned to limit my fun with color to the smaller pieces.
Vendors in the store where I promote often bring in coffee tables. They almost always take FOREVER to sell.
At first, the vendor features it prominently. After a bit, the price is reduced. A bit later, it is moved out of the focal area and used for stacking other things in an effort to maximize limited booth space. If enough time goes by, the coffee table gets so buried that even someone looking for a coffee table might not see it.
What gives? The coffee tables were pretty. They were reasonably priced. Many were neutral colors.
 |
| This coffee table is really pretty, but it might take longer to sell than you think. Source |
Here's the deal. Some pieces of furniture have very specific uses. A coffee table is one of those. There's not too many places you can use one. As if that weren't enough, if someone wants a coffee table these days, they often prefer to use something more creative - like a trunk or a big ottoman. They can't use a coffee table somewhere else. A coffee table would look pretty dumb as a foyer table. In other words, a coffee table isn't very versatile.
There are exceptions. If you find a trendy, fabulously cool coffee table, it might sell just fine. But a run-of-the-mill coffee table? Think twice before spending time and money on one to put in your booth.
If you have a small booth or if your booth is more than a hobby, try to get pieces that can be used a number of ways in a customer's home. The more versatile the piece, the more likely you'll make a timely sale.
 |
| Source |
The table above is not a neutral color, (you know how I feel about paint colors) but it would STILL be likely to sell faster than the neutral coffee table in the first photo because this table is versatile. Have you noticed yet? VERSATILE is the word of the day! This blue table would be right at home in a foyer, or a bedroom, or a kitchen, or a living room, or a porch... I could go on. It's VERSATILE!!!
When you are buying furniture to resell, always factor in how versatile it might be. Did I use that word enough times?
One more thing about color - I don't want anyone to think that I don't love or appreciate colorfully painted furniture. If you saw my house, you'd know I am not a neutral kind of gal. But, when it came to selling furniture, I learned to limit my fun with color to the smaller pieces.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
The One Wall Booth- part 2
Chris sent a photo asking for suggestions for her booth, which consisted of one wall. She inspired me to write the post about one booth walls. After reading the suggestions, she reworked her booth and sent the AFTER photo! Check it out!
Chris said she is still looking for an anchor piece. I love that she didn't let that stop her from creating her own. She wasn't satisfied to wait. Look what she did - she used her tall shelf to create two smaller ones and added a table top.
In the before photo you can see many vertical lines in the booth - many columns. The shelf is vertical. The shutters - vertical. The curtains and the slim white shelf - all vertical. In the after photo, the shelf table broke up the columns to make a more pleasing display.
The only horizontal statement in the booth was the ruffled ribbon, but I'm glad she removed that. Even though the ribbon was pretty, it made the booth feel even smaller and shorter. Her new look feels taller and should she ever want to stack anything higher than her wall, it won't feel as if there is a border to stop her.
Interestingly, the booth without the ribbon seems a little brighter. Notice the white wire wall shelf. See how much better it shows up? That could be just a photo quirk, but I'll bet it really is brighter there.
One more feeling I get as I look at the after photo. Is it just me or does this booth feel easier to browse? In the before booth I would probably stand further back to look through her items. In the new booth, I would be more likely to walk up close and pick things up.
All of these changes are subtle, but they truly are important! Chris, thanks so much for sharing your photos!
Chris said she is still looking for an anchor piece. I love that she didn't let that stop her from creating her own. She wasn't satisfied to wait. Look what she did - she used her tall shelf to create two smaller ones and added a table top.
In the before photo you can see many vertical lines in the booth - many columns. The shelf is vertical. The shutters - vertical. The curtains and the slim white shelf - all vertical. In the after photo, the shelf table broke up the columns to make a more pleasing display.
The only horizontal statement in the booth was the ruffled ribbon, but I'm glad she removed that. Even though the ribbon was pretty, it made the booth feel even smaller and shorter. Her new look feels taller and should she ever want to stack anything higher than her wall, it won't feel as if there is a border to stop her.
Interestingly, the booth without the ribbon seems a little brighter. Notice the white wire wall shelf. See how much better it shows up? That could be just a photo quirk, but I'll bet it really is brighter there.
One more feeling I get as I look at the after photo. Is it just me or does this booth feel easier to browse? In the before booth I would probably stand further back to look through her items. In the new booth, I would be more likely to walk up close and pick things up.
All of these changes are subtle, but they truly are important! Chris, thanks so much for sharing your photos!
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