Make More Money Selling Vintage & Antiques
Become an expert, buy with confidence, and make more money with these proven resources.
If you’re a vintage and antique seller, or are thinking about becoming one, then you’ll find the information on this page extremely useful. I’ve been buying and selling antiques for almost 25 years and in the process have learned SO much about the business. I’m pleased to share everything I know about how to make more money selling vintage and antiques!
For the past seven years, I’ve written all about vintage and antiques here on my blog and have produced numerous digital products to teach and empower others to create successful vintage and antique businesses they love. You’ll find every single one of those resources listed right here.
My personal philosophy is based on the idea that in today’s vintage and antique market, it makes enormous sense to sell from more than one platform. As a result, not only do I sell via numerous platforms (an antique booth, Etsy, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace), but I teach how to sell successfully on each as well.
Are You Ready to Sell Vintage & Antiques?
(1) What’s Your Vintage IQ? <— click here
Let’s begin by taking this insightful quiz I created to determine your level of love for vintage and antiques. It’s a great place to start because it will give you a sense of your passion for the field, though I’ll admit it is a bit tongue in cheek, LOL.
(2) How to Get Started in the Business of Selling Antiques
While I intended this blog post for a vintage and antique newbie, as in someone who is relatively unfamiliar with the field, this article about getting started is not a bad place for anyone to start. I provide all sorts of suggestions on how to intentionally learn the basics of the business, instead of jumping in willy nilly.
Where to Sell Vintage & Antiques
(1) An Antique Booth
In How to Start Selling in an Antique Booth & Make Money, you’ll get the low-down on all things antique booth. Learn how I started my first antique booth, the questions you should ask before renting, what to expect as a booth seller, and how to make money doing it.
(2) Facebook Marketplace
In How to Sell on Facebook Marketplace (FBMP), I take you step-by-step through the process of selling on the platform, including screenshots with red arrows pointing you where to “click.”
It also includes a FREE handout that you can find in my Member Library (gain access when you subscribe here). I’ve had huge success selling certain items on FBMP in 2020.
(3) Etsy
Selling on Etsy is remarkably straightforward. It has far less permutations, rules, and regulations, than eBay. The vibe is extremely positive and friendly–not words I’d generally use to describe eBay, though most of my experiences on eBay have been very, very good.
Discover 10 Reasons Why You Should Sell Vintage on Etsy and 13 Reasons Your Etsy Shop is Struggling
(4) eBay
Certain products sell much better on eBay than on other digital platforms. This is due in no small part to the fact that they have an enormous audience.
I find that unusual antique items, many electronics, and cameras sell better on eBay than anywhere else. This is not just because the audience is bigger, but also because male buyers gravitate toward eBay, while female buyers toward Etsy.
Conclusion
The only way to figure out which of your vintage and antiques sell on which platform is to test the markets and keep track.
What to Sell to Make More Money (MMM)
I offer multiple ways for learning what specific vintage and antiques to sell in your business. Discover the best items to buy and sell through:
(1) Sales Reports
My monthly “What’s Selling” blog posts (2017-2020) identify everything I sold in that month, via every platform. I also provide the original amount I paid for each item as well as what it sold for. I don’t think anything could be more helpful than seeing what’s actually selling out in the real world, do you?
(2) 50 Of My Best Selling Vintage & Antiques
In this 4-page, PDF product I list 50 vintage and antiques that sell well for me over and over again.
(3) Vintage Style DIY Projects
Depending upon where and how you sell, handcrafted items with a vintage look or using vintage materials may provide a good source of inventory.
Check out all of my [mostly] diy farmhouse projects to see which might fit in with your vintage aesthetic. Many have corresponding tutorials in my Member Library (join here) that you can print out and have on hand.
(4) Collecting Guides
Be sure to make use of the 50+ vintage collecting guides that I have available on my blog–for free! Many of them have corresponding “cheat sheets” in my Member Library (join here) that you can print out and have on hand.
Where to Buy Vintage & Antiques So You Can Make More Money
This article covers 15 great places to look for vintage and antiques.
Resources to Help Price Vintage & Antiques
- In the 9 FREE Resources to Help You Price Your Antiques article, I outline nine ways to get insights into the value of your antiques.
- Check out my 10 Free Price Guides, including: ironstone, Pyrex, baskets, and more!
- Find additional free Price Guides in the Member Library (get access when you subscribe HERE). Topics include: Fenton, Yellowware, Flower Frogs, & Cameras.
- Pick up the Savvy Antique Seller Price Guide, which contains 400 pages of vintage & antique prices with full color photos and all sorts of additional info.
5. Use eBay’s search tool to learn what items are selling for on the platform. This article explains, step-by-step how to search sold listings.
Learn More About Vintage & Antiques
(1) My Collecting Guides
As I mentioned above, I’ve written over fifty vintage collecting guides filled with practical info, including history, identification, values, and more. Typically I add one such blog post each month.
(2) Topical Index of All My Resources
Be sure to utilize this list of over 1000 resources I’ve created on a broad array of vintage and antique topics, including subjects like Amberina glass to yellowware and darners to postcards, business resources, cleaning guides, diy projects, and more!
(3) Canning Jar Guide
Dive deep into canning jars through this intesive Canning Jar Guide: History, Values, & Types. NOTE: More guides are coming!
(4) Commercial Guides
Pick up vintage and antique guides at sales whenever you see them for reasonable prices; buy them at the bookstore; and/or borrow them from the library.
How to Clean and Care for Vintage & Antiques
As of the writing of this page, I have sixteen blog posts covering topics like how to clean rusty metal, antique ironstone, and grungy novelty candles, along with posts on how to revive dry wood, repair wobbly legs, and remove scorch marks on linens.
How to Take Great Photos
Quality product photography is essential for selling succesffuly online. I give real, practical tips in this article: Product Photography: Taking Photos That Sell.
Final Thoughts
I hope you find these resources helpful! I am constantly writing new blog posts on all of these topics and developing new products to help you grow a successful vintage and antique business. Feel free to reach out to me if you ever have any questions or topics that you’d like more information on–I love hearing from you!
Thank so much for stopping by!
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10 Vintage Items Often Overlooked & Undervalued at Garage Sales:
Bye for now, 
I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂
