Being in the antique business is the ultimate "green" business! All these beautiful things have been loved once, twice, three times or more! There is nothing quite like hearing the gasp of someone who has "found" their treasure in my store! One person's cast away can become someone else's treasure for years to come!
There is one thing, however, that I've never been able to understand - What is it that happens to an item when it is admired and then the person decides to wait and think about it - then to return and find that it has been purchased by someone else. This happens more times than I can count in my store! I think if an item is admired, seriously by someone, that it must get a "love aura" around it so that the next person in is drawn to it! Is this even possible?
I could give a hundred examples of items that this has happened with. I had a pair of boudoir lamps - so beautiful with lovely etched shades and dangling prisms. One of my favorite ladies admired them and wanted them so badly - she even said as she left "If I come back and those are gone, I will kill myself!". I thought "Be careful what you say!". Believe it or not, the next person who walked in the door went right to those lamps and bought them!!! Imagine how I felt waiting for my other customer to return - she couldn't believe it! They were gone - but fortunately she did not kill herself!
Many times when two friends or sisters are shopping together, I wish I had two of each item because invariably they both want the same thing! Unfortunately, antiques do not come in pairs normally - unique, one of a kind - that is what makes them in such demand.
Another anomaly is that I can move something in the store, and the next person in will go right to it and buy it! Imagine a 6,000 sq. ft. antique store filled with thousands of items of all types. I walk in one morning and spot something that I think would look better in a different spot - what made me notice it and move it - and more importantly, what makes the customer spot it the same day and purchase it out of all the thousands of items. It doesn't happen every time, but more than you would imagine!
I have had this beautiful antique wardrobe painted white for over 5 years! I have had it in the garage, in one spot then another. The other day I had the bright idea that I would dress my mannequin in my old wedding dress and move all the wedding stuff to that cabinet - oh, it turned out so beautiful! Guess what happened the next day - yes, you got it - it sold!
Anyway, there is nothing quite like shopping for and owning an antique item. It has a history, and a purpose, and meaning - and you are giving it a new home and a new life! Oh, if they could only talk!
Have a great day, and stop by http://www.hendersonmemories.com/ and maybe you'll spot that special item that I touched this morning! You can also follow our great ideas on http://pinterest.com/memoriespast/ .
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