Eight Ways to Sell Your Vintage Finds
By Colleen Allison

1. Antique & Flea Markets
Check out local papers for regularly-scheduled antique markets. And, keep your eye out for once-a-year antique markets in surrounding towns. A beach town close to where I live has a twice-yearly block party, which closes the main street to crafters and antique dealers. With 100,000 visitors in one day, it is worth the $150 price of admission.

2. Ebay
The plus side of Ebay? Your potential customers (millions of Ebay users) decide how much your vintage finds are worth. You might be able to sell your products for a much higher price than you thought possible. The downfall? Your vintage finds might not appeal to anyone! Be sure to search for "Completed" auctions to check how similar items fared. And, don't make the mistake of letting listing fees, final fees and miscalculated shipping costs cut into your bottom line.

3. Online Store
Sell your wares from the comforts of your own home. If just starting out, use payment methods like PayPal, 2Checkout, ccNow or ProPay. When you are ready to get serious, try a Yahoo Store or purchase some shopping cart software (you'll also need your own merchant account). Make sure you save a chunk of your budget for advertising, both online and offline.

4. Consignment/Selling in an Existing Store
Visit your favorite shop, and ask if they take consignments. Many shop owners would welcome some fresh merchandise - without an upfront cost to them. The owner will most likely take a split of your profits. But maybe you can request a smaller cut in exchange for working at the store, or providing some other service. Be sure to work out an arrangement that benefits both of you and get it in writing…and figure out who is responsible if your items are damaged or stolen.

5. Antique Mall
If you want your own retail store without the overhead, set up shop in an antique mall. They range in size from 10 vendors to 200+. You are typically charged for your space by the square foot. Unless you sell a very specific category of products, you can assume that there will be major competition among the dealers. You have to set your self apart from the others, whether it is in your pricing, your displays, or your unique collection of vintage finds. The most popular malls have waiting lists for dealers. If your favorite mall has a waiting list, put your name on the list - it won't cost you anything, and the list might be shorter than you think.

6. Yard sales/Tag Sales/Garage Sales
Just a plain old yard sale? Yes. Put a classified ad in the paper, mention "antiques", and strangers will be lining up at the curb. If you have high-end antiques, you obviously won't be able to ask for the same prices you would at an antiques mall or market. But, yard sales are great for getting rid of unsold inventory at the end of the season.

7. Trunk Party
What's the difference between a Junk Party and a yard sale? You send invitations to friends, family and neighbors for a Junk Party. It is an "event", not just your run-of-the-mill yard sale. Make sure you've stocked up on your best vintage finds before sending out the invites. Consider recruiting a friend or family member to host the party and show off your products. You could even team-up with representatives from other home show companies who sell other products, such as bath & body goods. Make it a night out for the invitees - serve wine and cheese (or beer and pretzels) and keep it low-pressure and casual. Give your hostess a cut of the profits. Or, give her "junk dollars", which can be used towards the purchase of your products.

8. Brick & Mortar Store
This is a goal for many junkers. Location is key. If people can't easily park- or even worse, they can't find the store - then keep looking for a different space. If you are serious about setting up your own digs, read Specialty Shop Retailing by Carol Schroeder. As an owner of her own successful gift shop, she knows all the ins and outs of the retail world.