New alley-shelf and a whole lotta Swiss Alpine

When I first rented booth 78 at Kenrick Antique Mall, I had lots of items to sell, but not a lot of good ways to display them.  Here's how it looked, last February:

A fair bit of inventory has come and gone since then, and lots has changed, but until today, the crummy little shelf in the third picture above has remained in the space.  It really was a crummy little shelf.  It's former owners thought so - they hadn't even bothered to donate it to a thrift store.  I found it in an alley shortly before the date I was supposed to move into the booth, and gratefully hauled it home in spite of it's slightly warped and wobbly nature so I would at least have something to display items on.  A few days ago, on one of my alley "shortcuts" I occasionally take for this very purpose, I found a somewhat less crummy shelf!  So today, Alley Shelf #1 was retired (I did donate it to the Value Village next door to the Antique Mall, because while it's crummy and warped and wobbly, it is still a shelf, not garbage), and replaced by New Alley Shelf.  Here it is in the booth:

New Alley Shelf in his new home, next to the Globe Drug liquor shelf I picked up a few weeks ago.

It fits perfectly in the same space as Alley Shelf #1, but is taller and deeper, which opens it up to more light, so the items displayed thereon are more displayed than just stored.

I also added a few recently acquired treasures to the booth, to gear up for the big sale this weekend!  Wanna see?

First, some more vintage clothing for Halloween costumes!  Zombies are the best scary creatures, in my personal opinion, and I think High School aged girls are probably the scariest zombies of all, so I brought in some dresses from various times and styles, so you can be a Prombie!:

Prairie/granny prombie

Square Pegs prombie

70's flamenco prombie

Floral curtains prombie

And a couple of other 70s pieces:

Men's floral 70s shirt

Blue lace polyester jacket

I also added this awesome vintage wind-up alarm clock that I picked up at an estate sale:

Now there's ticking in my booth.  If you stop by, give it a wind, will ya?

And I forgot to show you a couple of last week's additions, this pair of Glasbake dishes with a pretty autumn leaves pattern, and this cool mid-century magazine rack:

 

Back to today's new additions, I found this adorable little picket-fence shelf-thingy at the Goodwill pound store awhile back, and finally got around to fitting it in once the bigger shelf and the magazine rack made a little extra space on the blue and white table:

It's for sale for $14, but in the mean time, it's displaying some items that have been in the booth way too long.  This cute set of milk glass cups and saucers:

 And these Southern Comfort glasses:

Both of the above have new, lower prices on them, because they deserve happy new homes, sooner rather than later!  I didn't mark them with sale prices, just put new tags on, because that way they'll be 25% off even of these new prices over the weekend.  When you do a percent-off sale in your booth, the mall doesn't count items already marked as on sale.

And the best new addition this week, is a pretty big lot of some very pretty dishes.  Made in USA, too!  I read somewhere that they were once a promotional item given out by service stations.  I adore the pattern, with it's pretty blues and greens and the sort of star burst the layout forms on the dishes.:

The set is pretty big.  2 large plates or small platters, 5 regular sized plates, one large bowl, 8 berry bowls, 8 saucers and 4 cups.  The strangest thing is that I sold a sugar bowl of this same pattern very early on in my booth, in February or March, and since then I've acquired 2 more of the exact same sugar bowl.  All three have been in good shape with the lids intact, but I have never once found a creamer.  Also, I forgot to bring one of the 2 sugar bowls I still have at home with me to add to this lot.  Oops!  If it's still there after this weekend, I'll add the sugar bowl to the set for the same price, but at 25% off $46, I'm hoping it will all be gone!  Besides, I love the pretty pale blue on the sugar bowls, and the matching pair of them would be cute little cotton ball and swab holders in a bathroom if I sold them together!

Linking up tonight to these great blogs/link parties:

Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday, Me and My Shadow's Magpie Monday, Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Cap Creation's Thrifty Love Link Party, and Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt it Friday.

Hello old friends!

Hi all!  I'm finally back with internet access - Hooray!

So this is just a quick note for now to let you know to 'watch this space'.  I'll be posting again soon, but in the mean time I have to get it together and get over to Booth 78 at Kenrick antique mall and get it spiffed up and add a bunch of new goodies for the Big Sale that starts tomorrow.

The whole mall is having an Independence Day sale, Wednesday through Saturday.  Booths can participate at whatever level they want, and it looks like lots of booths will have 20% off, but the Moon Booth is doing 25%!  Much better to knock off a full quarter of the price, dontcha thing?

So don't miss the awesome deals on all the pretty things!  Pictures of all the new goodies I'm bringing in today and all the changes I've made in the booth since last I had internet access will be coming in my next post. In the mean time, here's a hint at one of my very favorite new treasures:

Happy Independence Day all, see you soon!

Guess who has two thumbs and Actually Made a Profit?

You guessed it!:

This girl again!

I am so excited, you guys!  I stopped by Kenrick Antique Mall yesterday to pay March's rent on booth 78 and get my check/info for last month and find out what all I sold.  Now, I didn't have anything available for sale until the 13th, so I'm feeling kinda spiffy at this point, because: I sold 15 items, for a total of $113.50!  Of course, my pro-rated February rent was $79.00, plus the mall's commission and the 3% per item I lost if the customer payed with plastic took off another $12.84, which leaves $21.66.  Minus what I paid for the items in question (I had to guestimate on some because of my extremely poor organizational/planning skills), I would say I made at least five bucks!

Celebratory fireworks - Wahoo!

Perhaps I'm crazy to celebrate making five dollars in the course of two and a half weeks, but here's my reasoning:

1.  When I was pondering giving this a try, I chose to consider it an educational opportunity and, expecting to lose money, at least initially, told myself that it would be like paying for a class in reselling vintage goodies.

2.  I'm already starting to learn from it.  I have a list of 15 items that sold right off the bat.  I have already sold 2 of the 3 men's hats that I started out with in the booth.  That wasn't something I originally expected to be a big seller, so now I will be looking out for more.
3.  I also told myself that if I lost money consistently for 3 months, the experiment would be over.  So this at least means I get to keep trying.

4.  It's $5 for doing something I actually enjoy.  Hundreds or thousands made doing something you tolerate in order to pay the bills is useful, but occasionally depressing.  Ten bucks made doing something that I love doing, while it won't pay the bills, at least makes me feel justified to continue doing this very fun thing.

So yay me!

Redecorated a bit already

So I've sold a few more items, it looks like.  Another hat - the brown felt fedora, an army messenger bag, a yellow ceramic big-mouthed fish, a glass... every little bit counts, right?  But I'd REALLY like to sell some clothing, since I've collected more of that than anything.  Do people just not buy clothing at antique malls?  Was it a bad idea?

I'm not sure how often it's customary to rearrange a booth at an Antique mall.  Really, there are booths I've come across that I saw a year ago that haven't changed significantly, and I'm just this upstart newby so what do I know?

But... I started in February.  Mid-February.  Right before Valentine's Day.  So I had a booth full of coats and all red heart-y things.  And then February was almost over, and Valentine's Day had passed, and nobody had bought any coats, or, come to think of it, anything red and/or heart-y.  So Monday I took out (almost) all of the coats and (almost) all of the red/heart-y stuff, and put in a bunch of green St Paddy's Day appropriate/ "hey, it's almost Spring" relevant stuff.

I added a ton of cute fun green stuff, and rearranged lots of the various tchotchkes so that the center table is now completely populated with greenery of the non-botanical kind.

I left in the booth both halves of the coat love story, because I'm sentimental like that (or possibly just mental), and the buttery soft Berman's leather blazery-y jacket, and one red dress and most of the black and gray stuff I'd had in there, but I added lots of green.  Including two big-collared 70s era double-knit shamrock-y items:

I think of this as a teacher dress for unknown reasons.

This photographs well, but it's awfully thick.  I don't
know why I keep buying things for the kitsch factor.

There are a couple of other uber-kitschy items, but there are also some great vintage things worthy of both love and a regular spot in the wardrobe rotation, including a very cute green and orange plaid skirt that I would hoard for myself if it were my size.  I think it would be super cute with some cable-knit knee socks and loafers or oxfords:

I like the length, and it's well-made.

These two dresses are super cute as well:

This is woven, but with a nubby texture.
I imagine it on someone creative and organized.

I like the cool wrap-tie on this spring green dress.

And since of all the clothing and accessories in my booth I have sold so far only an army messenger bag and two men's hats, I now know my real audience for vintage.  I have, accordingly, added another nice hat, and will continue to be on the lookout for manly goodness, too.

So, with lots of new items and rearranging, here is what my booth looks like now:

A bit more Spring-y, lots more green, and an adorable toddler-size plaid jumper.

A closer look at a few bits:

Mostly the same, plus awesome green/blue shirtwaist dress.

Lots of green, including a very funky 60s green/gray/
black/white print dress - go-go boots not included.

Lots of pretty green pottery and things.

Added some more linens and whatnot.

So what do you think?  Better?  Worse?  Do I need to knock it off with the kitschy clothes, or do they attract attention?  What do/would you do?

Polling the public: advice for a newbie seller? Anyone?

Some questions for any more experienced sellers of vintage goodies, and/or any potential or actual buyers of same:

-How do you feel about antique malls, in general?  How do you expect them to compare, price-wise, to Etsy?  Ebay?  Thrift stores?  Any other venues?

-What's your advice on a booth that is stuffed full vs. one that is less cluttered/more "designed"?

-Do you think it's worthwhile to have an item/items in the shop that are not likely to sell, but might attract attention?  For example, when I set up my booth on Feb 11, I included these:

 

Red and white jackets with "Barb" and "Dave" embroidered on them.

I did not expect a couple by those names to walk into the store, spot the jackets, and feel the need to buy them, particularly, but I displayed them prominently, allowing them to take up wall space in an 8x8 booth on the theory that it was Valentine's week and they made a sort of sweetly kitschy, funny eye-catcher that might draw people in to my booth.  I removed them on Tuesday of this week, since Valentine's Day is past and I don't expect them to sell any time soon.  I thought I might bring them back out around Halloween for a similar reason, and on the theory that a couple might consider them easy/funny matchy costumes.  Similarly, I have a couple of obnoxiously fun double-knit polyester items with shamrocks on them that I intend to put up within the next week or two, to attract attention for St Paddy's Day.  Do you think this is a worthwhile endeavor?  I mean, I'm hoping at some point these items will find buyers as well, but I don't exactly expect it, so am I wasting precious booth space?  And if so, what do I do about the other half-ton of kitschy clothing items I purchased because they amuse me?

Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated, and will earn you points on Santa's Nice list, I'm sure!

Sweet relief - it's done! Also, a few celebratory thrifts.

So my booth is now really, truly, 100% up and running.  All items actually priced now.  Here's my official "After" picture:

Booth 78, Kenrick Antique Mall, St Louis, MO

I left work at 5:00 PM on the dot and braved the snowy streets to get there as quick as was safe.  So I didn't have quite 45 minutes to work - closer to 30.  But I had, from memory, written out most of the tags on my lunch break (thanks clever Jason!) and made it out of there with 5 minutes to spare before their 6:00 closing time.  At which point I was still a little wired, so I stopped in next door at Value Village to unwind.  Which leads me to the thrifts I thrifted:

Cool little display shelf thingy.  Presumably for books,
like these of mine I placed upon it.  Like!

little ironing board with it's own tiny legs.  Came in it's
original plastic bag, which declared it the
"World's Best portable ironing board".

I love the sea-bird sort of beak on this little pitcher/tea pot.

I think when it's clean, the little mouse will be less creepy.  

What's cooler than some gold lamée flirtations?

Possibly these lenticular (I <3 that word) shoes.  Lenticular! Shoes!

I'm not sure this is vintage, but it's beautifully made.

Look at the gorgeous vintagey lining fabric - hand-stitched!
And snaps on either side above the top button.

Oh - doing Apron Thrift Girl's Thrift Share Monday again - such fun last time to see what people found, and you have to see the gorgeous lamps she got this time!

Sneak peek - vintage coats and winter clothes

I'm so excited you guys!  And totally nervous, but in a good way.  As I start to gather up my goodies for the grand opening of my booth (can I have a grand opening of something that doesn't even have a door?), I'm starting to think I've got the goods to actually make a go of this.  I've picked out some wintry vintage - coats and clothes - to go into the booth for the first 2-3 weeks.  I plan to rotate things in and out pretty frequently, and will go all spring fever on you guys once March hits, but while we're still in February, I'm hoping to tempt folks with my brrr-licious wares (so weather, could you go back to winter for a couple of weeks, starting the 11th? Or maybe the 12th, so it will be nice while I move things in...).  So here's a little sampling of some of the items I've picked out for the booth.  Please forgive the awful lighting, I didn't have any daylight, so it alternates between fl*ash, which makes the colors wonky, no-flash, which makes it grainy and dark, and lots of random lights turned on and working at cross-purposes, including a red-tinted flood light I got at a Goodwill in Chicago.  Anyway, here you go:

Berman's leather sports coat, so soft I wish they made pillowcases!

Red cropped 80s jacket: Pioneer Wear, 100% Lamb Leather.
For your edgy Valentine.

Menswear wool and suede or chamois
cardigan: "D'Italia, a high fashion design".

Red jersey knit jacket - I believe this one was from
the estate of a teacher who made her own clothes.
For your demure valentine.

Peachy polyester double-knit maxi dress - no label.

Olive green wool blend blazer by Newsport.  I Imagine it
with a crisp white blouse and trousers a la
old Katherine Hepburn or Lauren Bacall movies.

Brown and black polyester doubleknit shirt/jacket
with awesome Spirograph-style pattern.  No label.

Another doubleknit monstrosity.  Brown and white, also no label.

Menswear cardigan.  Synthetic.  Zipper.  Oh-so-retro!

I can't stop imagining the cardigan above on a
date with this awesome Brady-Bunchy dress.

A pair of girly plaid shirts.  Early 80s cowgirl chic!

Wool kilt with leather/brass buckle.  Labelled
"Laird-Portch of Scotland, Pure New Wool, Made in Scotland".

Kilt pin included, to avoid any accidental flashing.

Fabulous red cashmere coat: Ultima, "Tailored by Mr Vincent".

Pretty buttons.
This one's for your vintage luxury Valentine.

No idea what PB is.  Peanut butter?  Police bureau?
For your Barb Valentine!

Long lightweight charcoal gray wool cape with bright red lining.
For your bloodsucking Valentine.

Bright orange mohair/wool/nylon blend sweater, "hand made in italy".

Light green 60s dress- fabric is snythetic, no label.

Blue 60s dress - wool look/feel on the outside, but it's synthetic. 

Same dress as above, with flash.  Color is somewhere between the two.

Covered-sexy!  Black jersey dress with curves built-in.

Black/purple/orange/green maxi-dress.  The "belt-area" is sort of bedazzled.

Psychedelic awesomeness!

Oxblood leather jacket, Opera.

Red velvet full length coat.  Surrey Classics of Canada.
For your romantic Valentine.

This is just a sampling of the clothing.  Tune in next time for "A Tale of Two Coats".  For just as I have sent a dress and a cardigan on a date above, I have just about an entire screenplay to go with a pair of coats I have not yet shown you.  

Can't wait to show you some accessories, and some non-clothing-related items, too!