My mom owns an antique shop. She goes, as a vendor and a shopper, to antique shows throughout the year. Antiquing is a great hobby. But prepare yourself to get completely caught up in it!
Begin Browsing – scouting thrift stores, antique malls, field shows, and social media can help you define your aesthetic and vision—and your shopping list.
Be Specific – because there is Just. So. Much…get very, very specific. For example, if you love Pyrex, hone in on a certain color and type of product to begin your collection, like pink bowls or red casserole dishes.
Or Embrace Variety – choose a broad category and begin watching for a variety of items that fit inside it. Choose a color, texture, or material and build your collection around disparate pieces with that quality in common.
Start Small—Literally – doing something on a large scale obviously requires a serious investment of money and time. Also think about the transporting, shipping, reorganizing, and storage of those items.
Prepare to Overpay at First – when you regularly visit multiple venues, from thrift store to the antiques mall to Etsy to your favorite antique-focused Instagram feeds, you get a better sense of price points.
Maximize Your Funds - once you understand the general price range of the items you're collecting, set a budget—and stick to it.
Have fun!
(Martha)