Welcome to the pink cottage

Visit me online at Etsy or Instagram:
https://graciouscottage.etsy.com

Cottage Home & Garden, Feminine Ready Wear & Miscellany

Cottage Home & Garden, Feminine Ready Wear & Miscellany
Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orange. Show all posts

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Displays, Vignettes, Props, Staging, Arrangement & More

In the Vintage Resale Business...Dealers like to search for their next treasure but  for me doing displays in my booth is my favorite part.   Sometimes, I practice at home.  I'm working on my photos to take better pictures for Etsy.  Trying to re-invent myself during this period of the pandemic.  Good to have multiple talents.

I started selling vintage in 1990, I learned from seasoned dealers that a space can be too perfect (esthetically) and it's a detriment to selling.  Customers just want to look, admire and not disturb.  You don't want a museum or a Macy's window.

Good product should always sell.  That is why some have white shelves lined with their wares that are viewable & reachable.  A colleague of mine had that style with all 1950s items.  Right place, right time.  It worked & he sold abundantly.  So timing and location are important too.  It's getting more complicated. Hmmm.

A space (talking in an antique mall) can be too empty or too full.  There is a fine balance.  Think of the jewelry in the window of a fine jewelry store.  There are just a few pieces arranged attractively.  Now think of racks of jewelry in a discount store.  Which looks better and which would demand a higher price?

Do you want the volume approach?  It works for McD. Then you have to buy appropriately before you can sell appropriately.  Do people make more small purchases or would a few large purchases get you through?  Amortize over the months.  One size does not fit all. Not for seller.  Not for buyer.

What spurred this post?  Monday, is June 1.  Antique Station (my booth #42) is re-opening.  It has been closed since early March.  Exciting?  Yes.  I hope you stop by.  I will post some more pictures of what is waiting for you there.


 Vignette at home.  Practice.
 Fun to do vignettes with your camera.
 Of all vintage, linens are my favorite.  I wash & sometimes, even iron before selling.
 Garden grouping.
 Look at the details.
 Patio.
 Tools & hardware.  I like the contrast between primitive & refined.
Curated.  Estate finds.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Orange, CA...Chetek, WI...St. Genevieve, MO

Antique Station REOPENING June 1 @ 9:30 am

I received a voicemail just a little bit ago.  Antique Station, Orange is reopening!  No details that I have to share right now.  As I know things, I will post them.

Big Yeh, Medium Yeh, Little Yeh we all have our thoughts.

Now taking you to Chetek, Wisconsin for those of  you who like freshwater fishing.  Northern Wisconsin is a great place for lakes, resorts & water sports.

Brother retired there.  Chetek is about 2,000 people. 

This week, my brother's gym reopened in  nearby Barron.  Very strict procedures in place. No water fountains, no bathroom usage, limited to 2 or 3 in the weight room with sanitizing  and distancing protocols in place.

Starting Memorial Day weekend, Chetek blossoms to 15,000 almost overnight. Finally, spring has arrived. I remember how exciting it was way before Covid19. We will be watching how their tourist weekend goes.  Certain states are in the news & will be of interest.

French explorers discovered that area.  The Native Americans lived there.  Most city names are either French or Native American. Immigrants who settled there originally were German, Scandinavian or Polish at least when I grew up.

Which takes me to St. Genevieve, MO (French explored), and a place I want to visit as soon as the pandemic lessens.  Has anybody been there?

Full circle back to Orange, CA .  I'm almost numb the Station is opening!!

Treasures in my space (#42) are there just waiting for us.  For me to dust and for you to visit.  I will be posting pictures so you can see some of the vintage goodies in store for you.