If you’re looking to become self-employed but you need a business idea, take a look into antiques dealing; it can be a very lucrative and interesting industry to get involved in. Here, we run through some basic steps on how to go about setting up an antiques dealership to see if we can inspire you.
Research and Experience
Your first research topic will need to be the different areas of antiques that you could go into. You need to choose a niche as the number of different options is huge and there is a lot to learn for each, for example you could choose to specialise in furniture, jewellery or artwork. The key to becoming an excellent antiques dealer is to know how to recognise valuable items. Good old-fashioned reading is your best friend here, as this is the fastest way to learn the tricks of the trade.
There is no official licence that you need in order to be able to deal in antiques, however there are qualifications you can get to prove your expertise. If you’re planning to start your own business, these would be important in helping you to build a good reputation. Another way to get your name out there is to join antiques dealer associations; as well as networking opportunities, they can also offer leads on new products. And finally, as with any potential career it is important to get hands-on experience before you make the leap, to make sure you will enjoy it.
Set-Up
When it comes to starting your antiques business, the first thing you need to do is collect an inventory of items to sell. This can be costly so make sure you have the start up capital you need before jumping in. The best places to look for your items are thrift shops, online stores focusing on second-hand goods, garage sales, car boot sales, house clearances; anywhere where you could find items being sold with values which have been underestimated. When choosing what to buy, they need to be items you’re interested in so that you can show your passion for them when it comes to selling. Hopefully by the time you come to buying your inventory, you will have a good idea of classic pieces that always sell well, but you will also need to take into consideration current trends when replenishing your stock to make the most of rises in demand of certain antiques.
Marketing
Nowadays, the internet is your most valuable tool when it comes to marketing. Not only are there low overheads when it comes to advertising yourself online, but it is also where you will find the majority of your target market residing. Social media is key when it comes to marketing your own business, in particular Instagram, where you can upload brilliant photos of your products with enticing captions. The more engagement your posts receive, the more likely they are to appear on people’s feeds and searches, so make sure they are interesting enough to spark discussion in your comments. You could always use kenji.ai to increase your follower count too.
By following these few simple steps, you could soon be your own boss running a successful antiques dealership. For more ideas for money-making ventures, take a look at diseasecalleddebt.com.