Buying and Selling

It's no secret that antique dealers are in the business of buying to re-sell. So why is it that when someone wants to buy something I just bought, I don't really want to sell it? Case in point, I was wheeling this load of newly acquired "treasures" back to my booth at the Extravaganza Saturday, when a customer who'd been buying from us all day came up and wanted to buy two metal boxes. My reaction should have been, "Wow! You want to give me money for this right now, and I haven't had to clean it up or anything? You're just paying me for moving it a few rows down?!" Instead, all I could think of was "poop." Does this ever happen to you? Why is that?

Maybe it's because I haven't had a chance yet to play with my new find and image all its possibilities. Just look at this yummy 1890s chemistry notebook. The script is beautiful. Think of all you could do with it.... Those kinds of possibilities. I sold her the boxes, but it was with a little internal sigh. Of course, next weekend, I'd have been thrilled to sell them. And if three weeks had gone by and I still had them, I'd have been sad I ever bought them to begin with! Such is the nature of buying to re-sell.

The show ended up being terrific. We had great weather two of the three days and sales were brisk. Plus we got to see many of our favorite customers from Ohio, Chicago, Michigan, Texas and Atlanta.

Heather Kramb from Maddie Lisee (www.maddielisee.com) joined us with her jewelry on Friday and Sunday. We're excited that she'll be coming up to Chicago at some point to try setting up with us there. This week, we'll get our new purchases ready for Midland -- where we will be happy to sell them WHENEVER anyone asks -- and prepare to actually take TWO days off for Memorial Day. Whew. Thanks to one and all for supporting the shows. xo