GOOD FRIDAY WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE GOD GIVEN BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY, MEMORABLE DAYS
SUZANNE AND I TOOK A LITTLE DRIVE DOWN A FEW "MEMORY" LANES TODAY, IN THE GLORIOUS SUN-GLOW OF EARLY SPRING MUSKOKA-STYLE. WE DROVE TO BRACEBRIDGE FROM GRAVENHURST ON MUSKOKA BEACH ROAD, MY FAVORITE COUNTRY LANE IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT; AND WE VENTURED TO SOME OF OUR OLD AND FAMILIAR HAUNTS…..VISITING THE HOUSES WE USED TO LIVE WITH OUR YOUNG FAMILY. YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T A SAD JOURNEY, BUT ADMITTEDLY, I SAW QUITE A FEW GHOSTS TODAY. I AM READYING MY "MUSKOKA AS WALDEN" BLOG-SITE, FOR THE MONDAY, APRIL IST (NO FOOLING ABOUT IT) RE-LAUNCH, WRITING COPY WITH COMPANION PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY WELL KNOWN REGIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, FRED SCHULZ, ALSO OF GRAVENHURST.
THIS IS MY AMBITIOUS NON-BOOK PROJECT, TO PARALLEL ONE OF MY FAVORITE CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS, "SUPERIOR; THE HAUNTED SHORE," BY WAYLAND "BUSTER" DREW, AND ONE OF CANADA'S MOST ACCOMPLISHED PHOTOGRAPHERS, BRUCE LITTELJOHN. HAVING BEEN AN ASSOCIATE IN LOCAL HISTORY, WITH WAYLAND FOR MANY YEARS, I LOVED TO CHAT WITH HIM ABOUT THIS SIGNIFICANT BOOK, NOW IN SUCCESSFUL REPRINT, AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO UNDERTAKE SUCH AN ENORMOUS PROJECT. HE WAS ALWAYS HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOUNG AUTHORS, AND I FELL INTO THIS CATEGORY. I CERTAINLY WISH TO PAY RESPECT TO HIM, BY DEDICATING THIS UPCOMING BLOG PROJECT, FOR MUSKOKA, TO HIS MEMORY. WAYLAND WAS A FORMER TEACHER AT BRACEBRIDGE AND MUSKOKA LAKES SECONDARY SCHOOL, AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY. IF BY READER SCRUTINY, I WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A QUARTER OF HIS CALIBER, AS A WRITER, IT WOULD BE AN HONOR…..AS I BELIEVE HE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST WRITERS IN OUR COUNTRY.
TODAY ON OUR MOTOR TRIP, WE SAW THE MAGNIFICENT EMERGENCE OF THE ROCKS AND EARTH OF A LANDSCAPE, THAT HAS BEEN ENTOMBED FOR LONG AND LONG…..THE SUN DRENCHED WOODLANDS OF LEANING BIRCHES, SHADOWED DARK UPON THE REMAINING SNOW. HOW VIBRANT THOSE EVERGREENS APPEARED, CONTRASTING AGAINST THE DEEP BLUE OF MUSKOKA SKY. WHEN WE ARRIVED ON THE MAIN STREET OF BRACEBRIDGE, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE OUT STROLLING ABOUT, AND SITTING ON THE BENCHES UP AND DOWN MANITOBA STREET. ALONG THE DRIVE, PAST THOSE LANDMARK LOCATIONS, (I REMEMBER AS A FORMER HOMETOWNER), I WAS PLAYFULLY RECALLING ALL THE OLD GANG……FRIENDS AND FAMILIAR FACES, AND I SENSED THEY KNEW I WAS THERE. A COUPLE OF TIMES, I HAD TO LOOK BACK, BECAUSE I REALLY THOUGHT I'D SEEN AN OLD MATE, FORMER GIRLFRIEND, BUSINESS ASSOCIATE, OR WRITING COLLEAGUE, WAVING BACK AS WE DROVE PAST. YOU'VE PROBABLY HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE, RE-VISITING A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE YOU ONCE DWELLED……..AND EXPECTING TO FIND IT THE SAME AS THE DAY YOU LEFT.
AS A KID I WAS ALL OVER THESE TOWN STREETS. EVERY DAY. IT WAS MY HOMETOWN AND I TOOK EVERY ADVANTAGE TO ENJOY IT ALL. FOR EACH YEAR I LIVED THERE, I EXPLORED IT THOROUGHLY, AS IF IT WAS A NECESSARY MISSION; THEN AS A WRITER, ANCHORING ONTO FAMILIAR FEATURES, ARCHITECTURE, AND THE PEOPLE, BY HANDSHAKE AND FAMILIARITY, WHO LEANED ON THOSE OLD DOORWAYS, AND WANDERED THROUGH THAT ANGLED PATH CUTTING MEMORIAL PARK IN TWO…..PLUS THOSE WHO COULD PASS A SPRING AFTERNOON BASKING IN THE SUN, ON A CLEAR PARK BENCH. I WANTED TO KNOW THEM ALL…..ONCE AGAIN, AS A MATTER OF HALF REDEMPTION FOR THINGS AND EVENTS I'VE MISSED…….AND PART, AS A MATTER OF REKINDLING THE LIBERATED FEELINGS I ENJOYED AS A KID, LIVING IN GOD'S COUNTRY……MUSKOKA.
I SAW THE SPIRITUAL AURA, THAT FOR ME NOW, IS THE COMMONPLACE OF THE DAY. I CAN'T DRIVE ALONG THESE TOWN STREETS, LIKE ALICE, AUBREY AND LIDDARD STREETS, OR SHADOWY COUNTRY LANES, SUCH AS GOLDEN BEACH AND SANTA'S VILLAGE ROAD, OR EVEN BEAUMONT DRIVE THAT I BIKED A THOUSAND TIMES, WITHOUT SEEING MYSELF AS A KID, PEDDLING A BIKE WITHOUT A CARE IN THE WORLD. WHEN I DRIVE ALONG THESE FAMILIAR ROADS TODAY, TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THIS UPCOMING BLOG SERIES, I KNOW THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT REFLECTION I CAN OFFER IN RETURN, AS A TRIBUTE, IS TO MY HOME DISTRICT AS A CELEBRATION……MUSKOKA BEING ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING AREAS ON EARTH……..A STRONG SPIRITUAL PLACE THAT HAS GIVEN SO MANY OF US INSPIRATION TO LIVE-ON AND PROSPER.
I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN FRED AND I, AS WE EXPLORE MUSKOKA, AND BRING OUR DISCOVERIES TOGETHER. THERE ISN'T A DIME OF REVENUE BEING RAISED BY THIS PROJECT, AND NOT A PENNY OF GRANT MONEY WILL BE USED TO FINANCE OUR TIME. THIS IS A PROJECT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS, BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TO DEDICATE, TO DO IT WELL. THIS IS OUR TRIBUTE TO THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LINK TO "MUSKOKA AS WALDEN," ON MONDAY EVENING, TO VISIT THE REVAMPED BLOG, WHICH WILL BE PUBLISHED DAILY FOR AT LEAST THE COMING YEAR. IT HAS BEEN FUN TO WORK ON, AND I HOPE IT PROVIDES A LITTLE LIGHT, ENJOYABLE READING FOR YOU…..IF YOU HAVE THE TIME TO SPARE.
THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS ALWAYS CAME THROUGH IN THE CRUNCH
WHEN WE NEEDED A BIG SALE - IT JUST HAPPENED
IN A NUTSHELL, HERE'S WHY I HAVE STUCK WITH THE ANTIQUE TRADE, FOR THE PAST THREE AND A HALF DECADES, OF ACTION-PACKED ADVENTURES. LIKE A SHIP ON THE OCEAN. STARTING IN THE VALLEY, HITTING THE PEAK, THEN BACK INTO THE VALLEY, BUT ALWAYS IN ANTICIPATION, OF THE NEXT BIG SWELL, AND THE RESULTING SLIDE DOWN INTO THE HOLLOW……ONLY TO REPEAT OVER AND OVER. AS WELL, IF YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO OPEN YOUR OWN ANTIQUE SHOP, HERE ARE A FEW INSIDE TIPS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU DECIDE.
WHEN SUZANNE AND I BEGAN BIRCH HOLLOW ANTIQUES, IN THE LATE 1980'S, AS I'VE NOTED MANY TIMES PREVIOUSLY, WE DID SO TO GET A HEAD-START ON OUR RETIREMENT. SUZANNE IS JUST NOW RETIRING AFTER THIRTY-ONE YEARS AS A TEACHER. EVEN THOUGH I HAD BEGUN WITH AN EARLY ANTIQUE BUSINESS, STARTED WITH MY PARENTS IN 1977, WITH THIS NEW FAMILY ENTERPRISE, I RECOGNIZED HOW LONG IT WAS GOING TO TAKE, AS PART-TIMERS, TO GET IT TO THE STAGE WE COULD ACTUALLY DEPEND ON IT AS AN INCOME PRODUCER. BEFORE SUZANNE AND I WERE MARRIED, I WARNED HER ABOUT THE DIFFICULTIES MARRYING A WRITER, WORKING AT A NEWSPAPER. BUT, I TOLD HER, THAT WITH MY TINKERING IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUY AND SELL INTERESTING OLD STUFF, TO SUPPLEMENT OUR INCOMES. I WASN'T WRONG ABOUT THIS. THE BUY AND SELL OF VINTAGE-WARE IS STILL A FASCINATING, RELIABLE WAY OF MAKING A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS. I KNEW, WITH A YOUNG FAMILY, WE COULD NEVER DEPEND ON IT ENTIRELY, BUT AS ONE OF THE "PODS" OF OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE, IT WAS A SECURE ALTERNATIVE TO OTHER SOURCES OF INCOME. THE BEST PART WAS THE LIBERATION OF BEING IN CHARGE OF YOUR OWN SHIP, AFTER YEARS OF BEING PART OF A CREW.
YOU DON'T OFTEN SEE "GET RICH" SEMINAR PITCHES, PROMOTING THE "BUY AND SELL" OF ANTIQUES, AS A WAY TO MAKE A MILLION BUCKS. I VERY SELDOM READ ANYTHING, THAT SUGGESTS BUYING ANTIQUES FOR INVESTMENT. ACCEPT OF COURSE, IN THE PAGES OF ANTIQUE RELATED MAGAZINES. WHILE THERE'S "HOW TO BUY REAL ESTATE WITH NO MONEY DOWN," MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAMS, THERE ARE VERY FEW, IF ANY, ADVOCATING THE PURCHASE OF ANTIQUES, TO BUY AND FLIP FOR A QUICK PROFIT. YET DESPITE WHAT IT DOESN'T GET IN PUBLICITY, THE PURCHASE OF ANTIQUES AND ART FOR INVESTMENT ADVANTAGES, HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AMONG ASTUTE COLLECTORS AND DEALERS, WHO KNOW THE RELATIVE SAFE HAVEN, OF BUYING AGE, QUALITY AND PROVENANCE.
WHILE ART AND ANTIQUE INVESTMENT MAY NEVER SURPASS THE MONEY BEING SPENT BY REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THE PERCENTAGES OF INVESTMENT DOLLARS THAT ARE DIRECTED TO THESE RESPECTIVE AREAS. I CAN TALK CANDIDLY ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE THE MOST MONEY I EVER LOST (BUT MADE UP FOR OVER TIME) WAS IN REAL ESTATE SPECULATION. WHILE OUR ANTIQUES AND ART HELD THEIR VALUE, AND INCREASED SOMEWHAT, DURING THE HOUSING MARKET COLLAPSE OF THE EARLY 1990'S, OUR NEARLY NEW HOUSE DROPPED ABOUT THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN TWO YEARS. EVEN THEN, THAT WAS JUST A FIGURE ON PAPER, BECAUSE HOUSES STILL WEREN'T SELLING. WHILE IT WAS BAD, IT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE DEVASTATION OF THE MOST RECENT HOUSING DISASTER IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT TO A YOUNG FAMILY ON A TIGHT BUDGET, FINDING OUT YOU'VE LOST THIS MUCH MONEY IN VALUATION, WAS ENOUGH TO STOP US FROM EVER RELYING ON REAL ESTATE SPECULATION TO FEATHER OUR RETIREMENT NEST. THANK GOODNESS WE HAD OUR LARGE COLLECTION OF ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES TO BALANCE THE LOSSES WITH SOME MINOR GAIN.
NOW I SHOULD FOOTNOTE HERE, THAT OUR REAL ESTATE LOSSES WERE ON PAPER, AT THAT TIME, NOT BECAUSE WE HAD TO SELL FOR A LOSS, OR HAND OUR HOME BACK TO THE BANK. IT WAS CLOSE, ADMITTEDLY, UNTIL THE LATE 1990'S. WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND US, TO FRIENDS WHO HAD ALSO BOUGHT HOUSES DURING THIS PERIOD OF THE REAL ESTATE SURGE, FROM ABOUT 1986 TO 1989, WAS THAT BANKS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEVALUATION OF PROPERTIES THEY HAD MORTGAGED; AND SOME HOMEOWNERS WERE ASKED TO PUT MORE MONEY DOWN, AS THEIR ORIGINAL DOWNPAYMENT HAD BASICALLY EVAPORATED IN THE MELT-DOWN OF REAL ESTATE VALUES. WE LIVED IN CONSTANT FEAR OF GETTING A LETTER FROM OUR LENDER, ASKING FOR MORE MONEY TO GUARANTEE THE $105,000 WE HAD BORROWED. LIKE I NOTED EARLIER, THANK GOODNESS WE HAD ENOUGH ANTIQUE INVENTORY, AT HOME, AND IN OUR BRACEBRIDGE SHOP, TO BE ABLE TO STAY AFLOAT, BY HAVING SOME SIGNIFICANT SALES DURING THOSE TUMULTUOUS YEARS.
I CAN SO CLEARLY REMEMBER, THE WAY WE CAME TO RELY ON OUR ABILITY TO BUY ANTIQUES AND COLLECTABLES, RESTORE AND RE-CONDITION PIECES, FROM FURNITURE TO VINTAGE QUILTS, AND TURN A SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT PROFIT, WHILE STILL HANDLING THE EXPENSES OF THE SHOP. NOW THAT IT'S EASTER, I CAN TELL YOU ONE LITTLE FAMILY STORY, ABOUT HOW THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, WITHOUT FAIL, USED TO SAVE THE HOLIDAY, FOR THE KIDS; AT LEAST AS FAR AS EASTER TREATS WERE CONCERNED. THE SAME HAPPENED AT CHRISTMAS. WE HAD TO COUNT ON SOME BIG SEASONAL SALES AT THE SHOP, TO MEET OUR BILL REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WERE SUBSTANTIAL, INCLUDING RENT AND MORTGAGE SHORTFALLS, AS WELL AS CONTRIBUTING TO "FOOD ON THE TABLE." CHRISTMAS PRESENTS AND EASTER TREATS UNFORTUNATELY FELL BEHIND THE OTHERS, AS MANY FAMILIES TODAY CAN RELATE. SO WHEN HOLIDAYS ROLLED AROUND, WE DUG INTO OUR CUPBOARDS AND STORAGE, TO FIND VINTAGE PIECES WE COULD OFFER FOR SALE. EVEN OUR COVETED HEIRLOOM PIECES HAD TO GO, IN ORDER TO SURVIVE FINANCIALLY. MANY SACRIFICES WERE MADE, BUT IT GAVE OUR ANTIQUE BUSINESS THE FUEL IT NEEDED TO MAINTAIN VIBRANCY.
THE BEST STUFF FROM HOME WOULD ARRIVE IN THE SHOP THE WEEK BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS. IN THE CASE OF EASTER, WE REALLY COUNTED ON THE SATURDAY, FOLLOWING GOOD FRIDAY, TO HELP US RAISE ENOUGH PROFIT TO GIVE THE BOYS THEIR SEASONAL TREATS, AND A NICE DINNER FOR FAMILY. IT WAS CLOSE EVERY EASTER, FOR FIVE YEARS. WE SEEMED, PARDON THE PUN, TO BE ABLE TO PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT, BETWEEN THE THURSDAY BEFORE, AND THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO GO EASTER SHOPPING ON SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER OUR STORE CLOSING. IN THOSE DAYS, THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF SHOPS OPEN WHEN I CLOSED UP, AT 6 P.M. ON THE SATURDAY EVENING. AND YES, THERE WERE OCCASIONS, TWO YEARS I BELIEVE, WHEN WE HAD TO POSTPONE THE EASTER BUNNY VISIT, TO MONDAY, IN ORDER TO OPEN EASTER SUNDAY, TO LITERALLY RAISE AN EASTER EGG FUND. I HATED THESE OCCASIONS, BUT WE HAD NO CHOICE. WE HAD A BIG MORTGAGE, A SUBSTANTIAL RENT TO PAY, INVENTORY TO PURCHASE, AND UTILITY AND CREDIT CARD BILLS TO PAY-DOWN. EVERYONE HAS MOMENTS LIKE THIS, AND THE NECESSITY TO PAY FOR THE CHOICES MADE. I KICKED MYSELF IN THE ASS EVERY DAY THROUGH THOSE YEARS, HATING MYSELF FOR NOT HAVING PAID ATTENTION TO THOSE ECONOMISTS, WHO HAD BEEN PREDICTING A BUBBLE BURST SCENARIO IN THE HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET.
THE POINT IS, WITH MY WRITING GIGS HAVING DRIED UP, DUE TO COST CUTTING AT THE NEWSPAPER, AND THE RADIO STATION I WROTE FOR, THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS WAS FORCED INTO OVER-DRIVE BY SHEER NECESSITY. I FOUND OUT, UNDER PRESSURE, JUST WHAT IT COULD PERFORM WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN. I WAS AMAZED AT HOW RELIABLE A NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE BUSINESS COULD BE, IF RUN AS A NORMAL RETAIL OUTLET…..BUT INSTEAD OF NEW INVENTORY…..WE SOLD "OLD". WE FOUND OUT THAT ASTUTE BUYERS WERE OUT THERE, LOOKING FOR SOLID INVESTMENTS IN ART AND QUALITY ANTIQUES. WE DIDN'T HAVE A MASSIVE INVENTORY, BUT BECAUSE WE HAD GONE TO ANTIQUE RETAIL BOOT-CAMP, FOR MANY YEARS BEFORE OPENING BIRCH HOLLOW, WE KNEW HOW TO MAKE LOW BUDGET ACQUISITIONS, THAT HAD A BIG PUNCH, AND HOW TO PRICE SENSIBLY, TO INCREASE THE CYCLE OF EARNING. WE WEREN'T OPERATING A MUSEUM HERE. WE NEEDED TURN-OVER, AND YES IT DID, FOR MANY YEARS, BECOME LIKE ANY OTHER RETAIL ENTERPRISE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAD TO TREAT ANTIQUES THE WAY THE HARDWARE STORE MARKETING HAMMERS, NAILS AND FREEZERS. DAMN THING IS……IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM. WE STARTED MODIFYING A TAD, AND SELLING NOSTALGIA ITEMS, LIKE VINTAGE (BUT STILL USEABLE) KITCHEN WARE, THAT ACTUALLY RIVALED THE PRICES OF NEW INVENTORY AT THESE SAME HARDWARE SHOPS. BAKEWARE FOR EXAMPLE. A LOT OF FOLKS LIKED THE IDEA OF USING VINTAGE CORNING-WARE AND PYREX, FROM THE 1960'S AND 70'S, AND WE JUST ALLOWED FOR THEIR PLACEMENT IN OUR STORE, AS "KITCHEN COLLECTABLES." THIS SHIFT FOR US, MADE BIG FINANCIAL SENSE, AND IT'S SOMETHING WE STILL DO, ALL THESE YEARS LATER. WE BECAME A SHOP THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN IN A TIME WARP, STUCK IN THE 1950'S THROUGH 1970'S, SELLING NEARLY NEW INVENTORY, WITH THAT GENUINE "RETRO LOOK." HELL, WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE, AND WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO INVENTORY, "NOSTALGIA" WAS THE BIGGEST SELLER….AND WHAT ULTIMATELY RESCUED US AS A BUSINESS. FOLKS WERE INVESTING IN NOSTALGIA, JUST AS THEY ARE TODAY……REPRESENTING SIXTY PERCENT OF OUR BUSINESS INCOME. FOR US, IT STARTS OFF WITH OUR BOYS' BUSINESS, UP FRONT IN THE OLD THEATRE BUILDING, (MUSKOKA ROAD, IN GRAVENHURST) SELLING VINTAGE VINYL, MUSIC MEMORABILIA, AND INSTRUMENTS. THEIR IDEAS IN PART, COME FROM THOSE WICKEDLY PRECARIOUS DAYS OF THE EARLY 1990'S, WHEN THEY USED TO HELP US AT THE SHOP…..EVEN AS KIDS, LEARNING THE TRADE, WHICH THEY HAVE CARRIED ON INTO A FULL TIME PROFESSION.
THE SATISFACTION OF PROVING THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS IS A SOLID PRODUCER
There are times when I am harsh on the antique community, of which I am deeply and profoundly imbedded. Some of this comes from my own adventures, some good and some bad, experienced over the past thirty-five years in the profession. I've been at the bottom on numerous occasions, but I've also been privileged to ride the high side, many times, in great expectation of things to come. Our family has used the antique business in so many different ways, to celebrate life and work the way we want it to be. Sometimes it works and often it doesn't. Yet we still live the life of antique collectors and dealers, that offers fascination and odyssey, as daily fare.
On those Saturday's before Easter, while under duress, I always seemed to be able to sell enough, to be able to make a small profit to re-direct to gift and chocolate purchases, to keep Andrew and Robert satisfied, and believing, that the Easter Bunny, (who was a little balding and drove a Festiva) was a generous critter after all. Sitting here in my office, overlooking the snow-laden lowland (we call The Bog), here at Birch Hollow, I still warm my spirit, glancing now and again, at the two plush Easter bunnies, I purchased for the boys many years ago, on one of those last minute trips to the store; late on Saturday evening, when the sales stickers went on the yet-to-be-sold chocolate treats. It was a business known as the Economy Store, here in Gravenhurst, and I arrived at the shop at about a half hour before closing, with twenty bucks and change, to stretch over some price-reduced inventory. I wasn't disappointed. I was able to get these two bunnies for five dollars each, and with the remaining ten, two chocolate rabbits each, and some smaller bagged candy-eggs. I think it worked out to within four cents of what I had to spend on treats. But I did it, and the shop had produced enough to buy a turkey and the trimmings as well. This isn't meant to read a pathetic reminiscence about how tough our family had it back then. Thousands upon thousands had it far worse than us. It's about the fact, that our modest, tiny antique shop, came through for us, not just at Easter and Christmas, but for so many months and years ever-after. What we have invested in antiques and collectables, have always, at the very least, held their value, and produced a small but adequate profit. So when I see today's antique dealers gouging with their asking prices, I write from experience, that it will backfire one day…..and it will completely turn-off the market-place, that does know value for every dollar spent. Antique dealers can give good value for their wares. But it's obvious to me, that hard times have not sculpted these dealers, as they influenced our family. I'm glad we had those tough times, of near economic ruin, because the fact we survived when many of our associates failed, means that the business has an historic dynamic that can, like "the little engine that could," survive what's thrown down as an obstacle……and continue to be a vibrant component of any retail neighborhood. Wouldn't that be great. Antique and collectable shops popping up once again, on the main streets of our Canadian cities, towns and villages. The way they used to be! Well, here's the thing! Dealers need to get in touch with the retail world around them……and join up before it's too late…..and another economic recession changes the rules about those who can survive, and those who must fail to clear the way for others.
Suzanne and I, and our boys, Andrew and Robert, are sold on the inherent values and good economy associated with antiques and collectables. Pursued correctly, and with sensible proportion, knowing the pitfalls before you wind up buried in one, the hunt and gather of "vintage" inventory, for re-purchase, is a solid retail strategy. If, of course, a speculator is of the patient-variety, who without limitation, subscribes to the theory……..life isn't scripted, so learn by immersion, be tutored by experience, and allow wisdom to grow by being open and flexible to changes and "new normals;" then the antique business will adorn you like a well fitting, comfortable vintage suit. If on the other hand, you are one who wants the best for the least effort, try real estate instead.
Thanks for sharing some time with me, on this rekindling Easter weekend.
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