Just for fun and I use the term very loosely-- as the New Year is almost upon us-I started to make a list of the antiques shops that we have sold in and no longer sell in. It is quite a list--actually it is quite a long list. We have been involved in the selling antiques since 1989.
Shops can be good shops-but they might not be a good fit for a particular dealer and their style of merchandise. Road projects can kill a shop. Letting in reproductions and crafts can kill a shop faster than a cancer. Good dealers retire and are hard or impossible to replace. Shows are the same way. Shops can go out of business in a flash--and shows can just fade away.
Our list is not meant to be a negative comment on any location or shop. We look at it that we were old friends for a while and then just grew apart and are in each others' rear view mirrors. Those shops marked with an asterisk are no longer in business:
*Prairie du Sac Antique Mall (so long ago--I think this was its name!)
*Hoff Mall Antique Center, Mt. Horeb WI
*Middleton Antique Mall
*Delafield Antique Center
*Watertown Antique Mall
Gurnee Antique Center
Delavan Antique Mall (now Lauren's Antiques and Art)
Lake Geneva Antique Mall
Geneva Street Antique Mall
Ridgefield Country Church Antiques
Where are we now? Happily selling in Odana Antiques Mall in Madison and On The Square in Walworth. Our show selection is changing. One day shows are golden--but there are not many of those. We are selecting shows better with an eye to up front expenses and the best use of our time.
This business can be great fun. Stocking shops and shows can be challenging and tiring--but it always keeps our interest.
You just sometimes have to say good-bye to old friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment