What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques [May 2020]

Hi there–I hope you had a nice weekend! It was hot, hot, hot here in New York. I am NOT a hot weather person, but that didn’t stop me from doing a little bit of garage saling with my sweet husband on Friday afternoon.

Today I’m posting about what’s selling in vintage & antiques [May 2020], and all-in-all, it was a pretty good month. Total vintage and antique sales for May were $717.28.

It’s been a difficult few months for those of us who rely on antique booths, gift shops, and other brick-and-mortar stores for selling our antiques. Hopefully, businesses in your state are beginning to open up and sales are starting to take off. Mine opened on the 5th, but for just four days a week (down from seven).

Let’s get this post started and take a look at what sold in May.

What's Selling in Vintage & Antiques [May 2020]

What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques: Facebook Marketplace

Total Facebook Marketplace sales = $365

So I made a HUGE discovery last month: here’s how it happened. During the pandemic, with my antique booth closed, I spent some quality time assessing and organizing my hoard stockpile selection of quality antique goods. It suddenly occurred to me that I should give Facebook Marketplace (FBM) a try. 

Previously I had sold mostly modern household goods on FBM and had never tried vintage and antiques because of the [false] idea that they would not sell well. But I had nothing to lose and a hoard to reduce.

And so WOW, things are flying out of my garage (and other forgotten locations) like crazy and I couldn’t be happier, especially since the items that are selling are (1) large and (2) items (artwork, especially) that sell very slowly from my antique booth.

I’m super hopeful that this selling trend continues and is not a symptom of the pandemic that will vanish once things return to “normal.”

I’d love to hear in the comments if you have experienced similar results with FBM. Let’s take a look at what sold in May.

green chalkboard with alphabet: it's what's selling in vintage & antiques [May 2020]A vintage green chalkboard with an alphabet border sold for $30 (cost: $5).

black chalkboard with oak frameA genuine black slate chalkboard sold for $35 (cost: $3).

Man and woman balancing on white horse (Museum of Dance poster)A 1989 National Museum of Dance poster mounted on foam core sold for $10 (cost: $3). It has been hanging around for a while and I tried to sell it several years ago for $20, which is what I started it out at on FBM. I was pleased to get $10 and let it take up space in someone else’s house.

Painting of lilacs with white picket fenceQuite a number of years ago I bought several pieces of artwork at an indoor flea market for very reasonable prices. I sold a watercolor of a raccoon from that bunch right away and it covered the cost of all of them. 

This original watercolor of lilacs in full bloom hung in our bedroom (against a lavender wall) for several years, but I grew tired of it and felt it was rather dark. It sold for $60 (cost: $12).

painting of pink peonies with black frameA small acrylic on canvas of pretty pink peonies sold for $24 (cost: $4).

antique pink shabby chic mirrorA shabby chic beveled mirror sold for $30 (cost: $3).

Vintage oval wooden mirrorA beautiful oval wood-framed mirror sold for $40 (cost: $10).

13" flat screen tvA 14.5″ flat screen television that my husband received for his 25th work anniversary sold for $30 (cost: free or 25 years of labor, LOL).

3 vintage pink towels with floral motifA set of three vintage pink towels sold for $10 (cost: $1.50). I love these towels but they lack functionality due to their small size, so off they went.

Tupperware baking set for childrenA child’s Tupperware baking set sold for $10 (cost: $1). I have tried to sell this set every which way, including my booth, Etsy, and eBay. I finally unloaded it.

wooden wreath standA wooden wreath stand sold for $15 (cost: $5)

Vintage Pepsi Message boardsA pair of Pepsi message boards sold for $50 (cost: $2 each). I initially sold just one for $30 to a Pepsi collector but I mentioned that I had another one–locked away in my antique booth. A fellow dealer picked it up for me so I could sell it to him for $20. 

What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques: Etsy

Total Etsy sales = $138.94

vintage mod black, brown, & white floral fabric A 2 1/2-yard piece of 1960’s Mod polyester fabric with a bold white flowers on a black background sold for $25 (cost: $1).

vintage flour sack fabricA collection of six flour sack fabric scraps sold for $11.99 (cost: $1).

vintage green jewelry presentation boxA green necklace presentation box sold for $10 (cost: $1)

vintage beige velvet jewelry presentation boxA beige velvet necklace and earring presentation box sold for $28 (cost: $5).

antique leather jewelry presentation ring boxAn antique leather ring presentation box sold for $23 (cost: $5).

vintage tiffany cardboard jewelry presentation boxA vintage Tiffany’s cardboard jewelry box sold for $27 (cost: $5). This  item sold via Etsy’s “Offsite Ads” program, for which they charged me $4.57, or 17% of the sale price (+ shipping).

Houbigant quelque fleurs vintage perfumeA half-filled bottle of Houbigant’s Quelque Fleurs perfume sold for $23.99 (cost: $1). This is the second item sold via Etsy’s new program, for which they charged me $4.86. This reflects 20% of the item’s sale price.

Keeping in mind that Etsy likely picks “good sellers” for this program, I probably don’t need their advertising to sell it. In other words, it will sell on its own. I therefore opted out of the program. It might be worth it on higher ticket items, say $100 and over, but not on lower priced ones like the Tiffany box and this perfume.

Here’s how to opt out of Etsy’s Offsite Ads Program:

  1. On Etsy.com, click Shop Manager.
  2. Click Settings.
  3. Click Offsite Ads.
  4. Click Stop promoting my products.

 

 

What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques: eBay

Total eBay sales = 112.39

Christian Dior clip on silver earringsA pair of Christian Dior clip on earrings sold for $19.47 (my starting price) (cost: $5). I’ve found that designer jewelry in general sells pretty well on eBay.

vintage opal ringA gold-filled (essentially gold-plated) opal ring finally sold for $17.94 (marked down from $35)–after hanging around for about a year (cost: $5).

vintage bakelite brown beadsA broken strand of chocolate Bakelite beads sold quickly for $19.99 after I sent an offer to someone had made it a “favorite.” My starting price had been $24.99 (cost: $5).

vintage woodland native american ash splint basketAn Eastern Woodland Native American ash splint and sweet grass basket sold for the fixed price of $54.99 (cost: $5).

You may remember that I wrote an entire blog post about Native American baskets of the Northeast not too long ago. It highlights all the factors you should be looking for and contains an informative video as well.

What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques: Vintage Blog Shop

Total Vintage Blog Shop sales = $100.95

vintage mother-of-pearl heart pendantA Mother-of-Pearl pendant on a sterling silver chain sold for $19.99 (cost: $5).

vintage intaglio brooch with violetsAn antique intaglio brooch with painted violets sold for $17.60 (cost: $5).

sterling silver and aquamarine braceletA sterling silver and aquamarine tennis-style bracelet sold for $30.40 (cost: $5).

vintage sheet music: Three Little SistersThree Little Sisters sheet music sold for $12.99 (cost: $2).

antique ironstone platterAn antique “John Edwards” ironstone platter (9 3/8″) from c. 1880-1890 England sold for $20.

What’s Selling in Vintage & Antiques Expert Tips

  • Facebook Marketplace (FBM) is turning out to be a GREAT place to sell vintage and antiques. If you’re a people person than it’s doubly fun because you get to experience the pleasure of buyer’s happiness when they see their item in person.
  • Art, mirrors, and chalkboards sell well on FBM. This is true at the moment, but I’m hoping it holds true even beyond the pandemic.
  • Duplicates: If you have more than one of an item that someone buys from you, make sure to mention that fact. Often they will decide to buy the second item. Ka-ching.
  • Fabric, like the mod floral piece and the flour sack scraps (above), sell well on Etsy. Last December, a two yard piece of pretty flour sack fabric sold for $25.
  • Presentation Boxes: I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but PRESENTATION BOXES sell like crazy on Etsy!! So far this year I’ve sold ten of them for a total of $238.
  • Quality costume jewelry at reasonable prices sells. This month, six pieces sold for a total of $125.39. That’s an average of over $20/piece.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I sold last month and that it helps inform your buying and selling choices. I’d love to hear how your business did in May and whether you have any questions or problems that I might be able to help with. Leave a comment below!

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Bye for now,

Diana

I’d love it if you’d pin me 🙂

various vintage and antiques with text: what you need to know about what's selling in vintage & Antiques [May 2020]

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17 Comments

  1. Thanks for all your valuable information! I, too, have been successful in selling a few things on FMP. Just yesterday I sold a pair of Waterford Happy Celebrations toasting flutes. During the time my antique mall was closed, I was very active with sales on eBay and FMP.

    In my antique mall vendor booth, June has been my best month so far…who hoo! I purchased an antique fireplace surround at GW for $1.99 😱 and sold it for $150 so that was my big sale in my booth! I’m a small booth vendor, and July 1st I’m moving into a larger space. I’ll be a booth vendor a year in August. The future is bright!

    1. You’re welcome Kathy! I love helping other sellers out whenever I can 🙂 Congratulations on such a great June!! I’ll be finding out how things went for me when I go to tend my space this Friday. I’d love to see a photo in the FB group of your fireplace surround, if you have one.

      Wishing you all the very best on your move and happy anniversary–one year is a BIG milestone. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the business–

  2. Loved all the info on what sells where. As a new seller I am still finding my feet and your newsletter and blog are very helpful, especially with pricing. Thank you so much.

  3. Congratulations on cleaning out your garage! I can’t believe what people will buy! However, trash to treasure! I haven’t tried FBM because I live in such a remote (rural) area and would have to ship everything or coordinate a time to meet. Our Thrift Mall opened late in May and I have actually sold more than ever! Who would know?? I enjoyed seeing all your scores and hope to learn more about smart shopping for “quality treasures”. If you have any tips or advise for the best way to ship items, please share!!

  4. Diana, thanks for sharing all your solds with us. I was particularly interested that you are doing so well on FBM. I haven’t had much luck there, but will try again. I have a huge picture frame that I really don’t want to ship!

    I’ve been hit by the Etsy Offsite Ads too on seven sales. It’s been a big OUCH. Unfortunately I can’t opt out.

    All the best.

  5. Thank you for addressing the Etsy opt-out option! On the recommendation of another seller, I opted out last month. I was afraid we wouldn’t sell anything ever again… but that was a baseless fear. Sales continue as before. Slow but steady. My friend and I sell mostly jewelry on our Etsy site, and I try to only list items that are $35 (Canadian) or more.

    Thank you!

  6. Good to know of your good luck with Marketplace; my daughter has had good luck selling furniture to unwanted bedding to wedding supplies. I think people are looking for DIY projects to fix up areas of their home as many are still sticking close to home. Marketplace gives you an excuse for a ride and a chance for a bargain! I have thoroughly enjoyed going through the places where I have my booths as I am not going to many other places yet. Yesterday, it was a trip to daughter’s to celebrate Father’s Day, then Staples for ink, and Petsmart (next to Staples) for cat supplies, then home! I do miss shopping!

  7. I love seeing what you sell. Fantastic ! I really need to do this. I gotta !!! I have a similar chalk board like yours at the top….for kids….what size is that ?

  8. Hmmm and to think I gave all my jewelry presentation boxes to our local thrift store. Live and learn….so thank you so much!

  9. Thanks for sharing Diana, I always enjoy your posts. I am still selling on EBay after taking you challenge. I’d recommend it to anyone wanting to start selling online. Thumbs up !

  10. So fun to read these posts! Thank you for your time. FYI, you can only opt out of Etsy offsite ads if you sell less than $10,000 a year 😞

  11. Hi Diana. Thanks for another helpful and interesting post, I always learn something useful. While sticking close to home, the last few months, I started selling on FB Marketplace through porch pick ups. My experiences have been positive. I am still learning and have a question. How do I browse FBM for the most recent items listed. TIA. Cheryl

  12. I’m just now sorting all my inventory in the garage. I would love to get rid of it all. My booth is doing well and requires constant attention with new items, moving things around, rotating items in and out at different times, and re-pricing up or down. I appreciate your posts on what sells and where. Thanks for sharing.

  13. Thanks for sharing your successful sales at Vintage Charm! It is always interesting to see what people buy!

  14. I, too, have had great success with FBM. We live in a small town that is close to Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville. I’ve found that advertising in those larger cities gets more sales, and people are willing to drive an hour to get a good deal. Items for sale around the Christmas holiday is an especially great time, no matter what the item. We’ve made a tidy profit from this venue.

  15. Hey Sunshine, I have been selling for about 15 years. My Dad owned an antique store all of my life, it’s in my blood! I tried selling in consignment booths, too pricey! I have been selling from market place for about 4 years now! I love it! I also sell from home, I bought a building, and set it up in the backyard, I average about $200-400 a month, depending on what I can find to resell! Good luck!

    1. Sounds like you thoroughly tested the market and figured out what works best for you Beth! It’s what I encourage everyone to do since markets vary so widely from place to place and person to person. I wish you continued success with your profitable business!!

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