Cool Blog Post on Shopping Nashville from Designer Roger Higgins

Thanks to Scarlett Scales for passing along this blog post from the Nashville Design firm of R. Higgins. Cool post and some great shopping tips.
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Stuff I'm doing/ I've done

1. Hired marketing intern in New York for Harwinton.
2. Placed ads in trades for Springfield and Harwinton
3. Landed Media Sponsorship for Connecticut show (Connecticut Cottages & Gardens)
4. Exploring new opportunities
5. Working on Groupon offer
6. Writing Press releases
7. Invoicing Vendors
8. Dispatch travelling team to Pennsylvania shows
9. Preparing for Brimfield/Harwinton trip
10. Listening to Graham play Thomas the Train

Promoting Responsible Consumerism

In the process of always trying to figure out ways to better market antiques, art & vintage design, I am trying to boil it down to the simplest concept. While the green angle resonates strongly, it doesn't get to everyone. Same goes with the retained value approach. While both arguments are compelling they lack the "lightbulb moment". Perhaps they could be combined under the banner of "responsible consumerism" (flashier name needed). The concept behind being a responsible consumer is simple. Buying antiques, art & vintage design is the responsible thing to do as a consumer. Little to low environmental impact, much less likely to end up in landfill than big box items, retains value and last longer which reduces the need to replace every few years. Money saved in the long run can be used to invest or take a vacation. All we need is a catchy way to illustrate. Thoughts?

Restoration Hardware Exposed!

For several fives of you who have been long term readers of our little blog, you might remember my previous diatribes against Restoration Hardware. Just got this little gem of a website detailing the Lawsuit filed by Los Angeles Gallery Obsolete against Restoration Hardware. If you, or someone you know is trying to make a living buying or selling antiques, check out this website and help stop the crap that companies like Restoration Hardware are trying to do.

Don Johnson makes me sound coherent.

Don Johnson (the antiques writer, not the actor) actually made about 10 minutes of my ramblings sound semi-intelligent. Check out the article about our use of Groupon in this week's edition of Antiqueweek- More cool stuff this week including the Nashville reviews in Maine Antiques Digest (cover of section B for those of you who get the paper). Links later for those who don't. Trip to Nashville later in the week and a May Extravaganza update.

Where are the designers?

One common refrain among dealers is there has been a decline in the number of desingers frequenting shows in the last few years. I am interested in hearing thoughts as to why. Of course I have my own ideas.

1. Furniture manufacturers have embraced the production of new things that look old. Look no further than Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn. Is anyone bothering to make anything that looks new anymore.

2. Because of the proliferation of items made to look old, the need to do the legwork in finding material has been made much easier for designers.

3. Shelter magazines that have long been advocates of antiques and vintage have embraced the made to look old new material.

4. The antiques/vintage industry has failed to embrace methods to inspire a new generation of customers.


Not that all is lost, talented people within the industry are working to address these issues. Anyone care to chime in??

New Vendors in Harwinton

Just updating the new vendors added since my last update- enjoy


Singwood Antiques
Robertson Antiques
Pam & Martha Boynton
Palisades Trading Company
Nancy Wells
Leonard Ayers
Donna Sterling
Crones Collectibles
Antiques at 30B
Anne Meyer

The genesis of an idea.

At many outdoor shows that tend to kick of in the spring the weather is always the wild card. Our April Springfield show over the last ten years has been anywhere from 80 and sunny to 30 and snowy. It sure makes it tough to plan for the show. Well, this year we've decided to try something different. The Fairgrounds has ample indoor and covered space that normally wouldn't get used in April, so why not allow outdoor vendors to use it in case of a bad weather forecast. I'll let you know how it works.

pure vintage chicago: Round Top Texas Recap

Another view on Round Top from Melissa at Pure Vintage Chicago-


pure vintage chicago: Round Top Texas Recap

Reports are coming back now-

Finally getting reports back from the Spring Texas Round Top. To summarize and give it a letter grade, I think it weighs in at a solid B. Many people I spoke with were encouraged and reported good to great results yetthere were still too many people saying they needed to sell more to raise it above a B.

Another common refrain is that the shows are simply "too long" with nearly two full weeks from start to finish. It sure makes it expensive to stay on the road for that long for dealers, and nearly impossible for customers. Not sure where the impetus will come from to shorten up the event, but it might be needed. It reminds me of Brimfield years ago before the town stepped in and began to regulate the chaos of the ever expanding show.

If a picture is worth a thousand words- here are 2000.

Just starting to post vendor photos to the Harwinton site. The first photos are for J & J of Tuscon with more to follow today. Click here to view their gallery to see more photos or enjoy these.