Pick for Profit

You’ve researched your antique or collectible. Checked for price comps. Taken some great photos. At this point, the description can feel almost like an unnecessary hassle...in reality, it's anything but! In this episode, we're digging deep into what to include in online listings for vintage clothing, coins, books, electronics, even musical instruments and lamps. The most surprising details can actually help move an item, whether that's measurements, materials, accessories, even care instructions. We also discuss vintage clothing sizes and vanity sizing, and how to do basic coin grading (even if you're not a pro). We wrap it up at the end with a bit on successful title methods. Improving your descriptions isn't busywork. It's strategy. The better your description, the better chance you have of making the sale.

Think the world of automobile collectibles is all about gas pumps and petroliana? Think again. In this episode, we explore some of the less-thought-of automotive collectibles. Did you know some car manufacturers sold their own tools? That license plates were once made of enamel? Or that you can find figural hood ornaments made by glass manufacturers? Get behind the wheel and take a leisurely drive through the world of automotive signage, maps, hubcaps, gear-shift knobs, and Route 66 memorabilia. And yes, you should absolutely be on the lookout for Model T accessories (yep, they're still out there!), as well as transportation and tobacco trading cards. It's all part of the hunt.

We realize this is a total Cadillac problem: John has so much inventory from insanely good garage sales that it's become something of a management issue. In this episode, we're breaking down how to handle a flood when it happens (and how to manage or prepare for dry spells). In this business, it seems like it's always one or the other. Here, we're breaking down John's inventory system, revisiting "shop you home" advice, discussing some current home decorating trends, and talking about what John's doing to prepare for a slow winter buying season. The feast-or-famine cycle is a real part of this business. You won't avoid it; the key is to make it work for you. 

We promised a linen-specific episode, but as we planned for it, we realized we wanted to hit something far broader: home goods. On this episode, we share a real garage sale find and explain why you should always pick up hardware. (Our $4 bag of mid-century cabinet pulls will turn into HUNDREDS of dollars in profit!) We also picked up some vintage brass sash chain with surprising profit potential. We talk about trends we're starting to see in home decor (maximalism, color, pattern drenching), and, yes, we DO get to the linens: embroidery, lace, cross stitch, tablecloths, sheets, tea towels, and vintage fabric. Whether you're selling on eBay, Etsy, or at antique shows, you'll learn how to spot valuable vintage home goods, identify the details buyers are looking for, and uncover hidden profits in items most people walk right past.

In this episode, we're tackling a question sent in by one of our listeners: how do you ship antiques and art overseas? We're breaking down what we learned about freight forwarding (yep, they know how to handle customs paperwork, shipment consolidation, etc.), and we also discuss a pleasant surprise that we found by simply getting a little outside of our usual garage sale budget. We'll share why thinking beyond "yard sale prices" helped us uncover incredible resale opportunities, including a haul featuring handmade quilts, vintage Star Wars collectibles, Buffy the Vampire Slayer memorabilia, Peola Valley Pottery, LEGO collectibles, and more. It can be a little intimidating to step beyond your comfort zone, but if you move strategically, it can amplify your profits on eBay, Etsy, or in your antiques booth.

Some antiques and collectibles sell in minutes. Others sit for months (or longer)! In this episode, we're taking you behind the scenes as John updates several real listings to show exactly how he approaches slow-moving inventory. From a graniteware biggin coffee pot and a rare Lislet humidor to transferware pottery, vintage NFL jerseys, and a Czech ceramic cream pitcher, we break down the changes that can make a difference: adding listing videos, rewriting titles and descriptions with buyer-focused SEO keywords, improving photos, choosing between Etsy and eBay, and targeting decorators instead of collectors when it makes sense. Listening to John's strategies are sure to spark some ideas you can apply to your own slow-moving inventory today. 

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 Royal Vienna bouillon cups that patiently waited years for the right buyer. Here, we discuss which categories tend to move quickly (first edition books, manga, affordable glassware, seasonal décor, and DVDs), why high-value antiques often require a long-term mindset, why you should research every item in a lot (yes, every one), and why a successful eBay or Etsy shop needs both quick-turn inventory and premium pieces.

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 evaluating Hummel figurines. We also give some practical tips on buying and evaluating German beer steins. We've been amazed by how often these items have been turning up at summertime garage sales, and we want to make sure you know what to look for, too!

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, barware, DVDs (we also explain why we buy physical media), Christmas collectibles, mid-century pottery, fishing items, baskets, and even carnival and Depression glass. We promise the inventory is out there if you're willing to look for it. Sometimes, finding items to sell is as simple as slowing down, getting out of the car, and giving those neighborhood garage sales a chance.

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 collectibles that consistently sell, some surprising recent winners (roller skates?), and why you might not want to clean those concrete lawn ornaments, even—or especially—the ones covered in moss. Stay tuned for our section on summer entertaining collectibles, including mid-century barware and ice buckets, plus a conversation about audiobooks (yes, you can absolutely sell physical audiobooks), and why summer is the perfect time for savvy antique dealers to start sourcing inventory for Christmas.