Summer is a busy time for those in the resale business. We are all busy buying and prepping for fall sales. The Big Red Barn is no exception. We have hit the road this summer and found a lot of garage sales, auctions, tag sales, clean outs, and more this summer.
We hope to have our next sale in mid to late September, weather permitting. This is a preview of the next sale! As well as some thoughts on the business.
Deciding what to buy is one of the hardest things about this business. I have mentioned in other posts, research is a critical component to this business. You need to be aware of what is hot in the markets and be prepared for it to change in a flash. Although some items remain consistent sellers, other things can go south quickly.
About 20 years ago when we started in this business, ornate glassware such as Fenton and McKee was fetching top dollar. Art pottery, McCoy and Hull, were popular and sought after. And, vintage china patterns such as Noritake or Lenox was also very popular. Today, these items might still sell, but not what they were twenty years ago!
Garage sale events, like Antique Alley and the 100 Mile Garage Sale, were back this year. We hit several of these as well as other big buying opportunities this summer. We have found a lot of great items to sell at the Stillwater Antique Mall and the Big Red Barn!
Fire King Jadeite, Fiesta, and Pyrex are still very desirable and Jadeite and Pyrex prices have skyrocketed. If you find a piece of vintage Pyrex or Jadeite at a reasonable price, do not hesitate to buy it. Pyrex is still rather plentiful, but very pricey. Sometimes you get lucky! I found a box of Pyrex at a recent sale. There were some pieces I have really not seen before (the orange refrigerator dish/casserole). Some of the Pyrex was not quite what I like to sell at the Antique Mall and will be found at the Big Red Barn. Jadeite is also pricey and has become very hard to find.
Currently, I sell a lot more farmhouse type of items, such as old canning jars, doilies, kitchen gadgets, primitives, baskets, etc. These have been popularized through many of the home renovation shows that feature farmhouse style homes.
Our Big Red Barn sale inventory is a bit more rustic. Shoppers seem to love the eclectic nature of our items. I have tried to give a preview of some items for sale at our next sale. Of course, the Pyrex, is available at the Stillwater Antique Mall! Our barns are getting full. We’ve been sorting, pricing, and cleaning for the past several months.
And, I hope to make a few more buying trips before our sale. Stay tuned!
Jackie
Big Red Barn Blog 