Pick for Profit

Americana collectibles tell the story of American life through the decades, and with America’s 250th birthday approaching, we're anticipating demand rising across the antiques and vintage market. In this episode, we define what counts as Americana and highlight high-interest categories for sellers, including ephemera, military photographs, Norman Rockwell and Saturday Evening Post covers, folk art, vintage cookbooks, sports memorabilia, rock and roll records, automobilia and petroliana, political buttons, Native pottery, early radios, and red, white, and blue nostalgia. This episode will put you in a true “baseball and apple pie” frame of mind as you source antiques and collectibles that connect with buyers.

In this episode, we explain why we’re coming back to buying and listing pottery and ceramics (hint: it's driven by cottagecore, farmhouse, and rustic interior design trends). We cover basic definitions of pottery vs. ceramics, why crazing is normal, and what we're seeing gain renewed interest right now, including transferware, mulberry, wall pockets, planters, teapots, chip-and-dip pieces, and brightly colored kitchen pottery. A practical, dealer-focused look at spotting design-driven demand and rethinking old inventory in the antiques and collectibles market.

If you sell antiques or collectibles online, this episode focuses on business resolutions and goal-setting for antique dealers and collectible sellers that actually work. Instead of vague goals like “sell more” or “find better stuff,” we break down realistic, controllable business goals for online antique sellers and vintage resellers: goals you can plan and execute regardless of the market or the economy.

Not sure how to describe vintage glassware, jewelry, or antiques without guessing? In this episode, we’re breaking down common antiques and collectibles vocabulary sellers and collectors need to know. Everything from glassware and jewelry terms to eras, styles, and condition descriptions. An easy, practical guide to using the right words so your listings are clearer, more accurate, and easier for buyers to find.

In this episode, we focus on kitchenware collectibles that have consistently had a market, long before trends and social media attention. We also share the single resource that helped John get truly versed in kitchenware collecting early on. It's a reference he still relies on today! It’s a practical discussion about learning the market, training your eye, and understanding kitchen collectibles beyond whatever happens to be popular right now.

You don’t have to be in the glassware market long before hearing dealers say, “And it glows!” But what does that actually mean? In this episode of Glassware 101, we talk about why some vintage and antique glass fluoresces, and break down the often-confused terms uranium glass and Vaseline glass. We also dig into solarization: what causes it, how to recognize it, and how it differs from fluorescence. We wrap it all up with practical, real-world tips for identifying Fenton glass. This episode is packed with clear terminology and seller-focused knowledge to help you source smarter, write more accurate listings, and sell glassware with confidence.

Join us for a deep dive into the sports items that have proven, time after time, to be steady sellers. We talk vintage gear, regional fandom items, trading cards, and the quirky finds that surprise us every single season. If you’ve ever wondered what sports merch is worth picking up, this episode is your guide!

Is your “vintage” item actually a reproduction? In this Q&A, we explain how to spot reissues, identify counterfeits, and decide what you can and can’t sell in the antiques and collectibles market. Plus, what to do with items that can’t be sold (yes, there’s still a silver lining).

Join us for our guide to spotting high-value books: first editions, first printings, dust jackets, vintage paperbacks, and more. Discover hidden money makers and the book categories that resell best. 

Join us as we explore why advertising collectibles continue to sell, the strongest-performing vintage advertising categories, and the items that have cooled off for us as online sellers. We dig into buyer psychology and what makes certain advertising pieces more valuable than others. At the end, we reveal one surprising twist about why advertising memorabilia remains a top collectible category for dealers, thrifters, and vintage enthusiasts.