Pickers Selling Tip - One Lesson We Learned In Pricing To Sell

We are a small time operation. Not even close to some resellers in size and budget. This means when we pick something it has to sell  faster. We have fallen into a trap from time to time called EBay, Etsy, 1rstdibs imaginary selling price world.

Here is how that works. You pick something a little unusual and cool and for this case I will use some slipper chairs we found on Craigslist. I actually bought 3 of them from another reseller for 105.00, We did the research and the only comp we found was these.

They are priced now at 1200.00 on EBay. 10 months ago when we found our chairs they were 2400.00.  So at first we figured go for the moon and undercut these by half. Nothing. We went down and down. Finally a pair sold for 500.00. Then we priced the last chair at 299.00. Sold right away. So on a 105.00 investment the market was actually 800.00 on these three pieces. Of course since then we have moved on and rolled that money many times into other pieces.

Their way = 2400.00 asking price is now 1200.00 asking price (10 months later).

This way = 105 investment. In 30  days it becomes 650. Lets say for argument I keep 350 and invest back 300 looking for 600 in the next 30 days. So in 2 months when this all started I have made 850. I can roll this out to the full 10 months. Turning your inventory makes you money.

Rule 1 - Sell your freaking stuff and roll the money.

Rule 2 - Be aware of the real market. Do research on selling prices no I wish I get this prices.

Here is a cool newsletter for Mid Century and other area's of vintage stuff. Collectors Weekley

Morale of the story is know where  you are as a seller. If you have a big beautiful store you could price and sell these differently. If your just starting out EBay prices may make you wait for a pot of gold that will never come. Have a great picking day.

Our Ebay  store

Cool Adrian Pearsall Pick - Biomorphic Fun

Click Here!
As time goes by and focusing on mainly mid century furniture I have come to put the pieces I see in different categories. On the bottom are Ikea and Scan design type furniture. They go after the mid century market using newer versions of the classics and in my mind its like an Andy Warhol painting versus a Andy Warhol print. For my own personal taste a Corvette kit car is not a Corvette. Are there pickers who like and resell these pieces? Of course. Just my preference I am always looking for real 40-60 year old mid century stuff. If you are interested in this area check out Ikea Hackers for some great idea's. It obviously can be fun and profitable if you focus on this area, it's just not for me.

My hunt is always for 50's, 60's, and a few 70's pieces of mid century modern furniture. Broyhill,

Lane (one of my favorites) Bassett are just a few of the signatures I look for. These manufactures made some cool looking fun pieces of furniture in the mid century era. Most were made in the U.S.A. A BIG PLUS IN MY MIND, but they also worked with big named designers on some of their stuff.

Just one example is Drexel furniture line Precedent. These were made in the 50's had a very famous designer named Edward Wormley design around a 100 pieces for them. Drexel mid century is not really Danish modern in it's influences so normally a Drexel piece does not blow my skirt up. On the other hand the Edward Wormley stuff does....blow my skirt up. F.Y.I. Adrian Pearsall spent a little time with the Drexel Precedent furniture line also in 54.

So it pays to do research and learn history on these name brands to understand better who did what.

My favorite picks by far though are the real deal designer pieces with actual signatures or markings. Milo Baughman, Finn Juhl , Paul McCobb, Hans Wegner, Paul Evans, Adrian Pearsall are just a few of the people who influenced furniture design. When you find any real, not in the style of or attributed to, real deal pieces it makes me want to just explode. It is neat to see a piece of furniture in good condition and so beautiful. The prices on this stuff is going through the roof of course but after you find them I take the time to research them properly and learn everything possible about the person who designed it and why.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The above pictures are of a Biomorphic planter coffee table I picked this weekend. It is an actual Adrian Pearsall piece. You will see many copy's but this is one of the real ones. Actual value is always based on how long you want it to take to sell it. Sell it quick for around 500 or wait on someone willing to pay more.

Whatever you pick, learn it and you will make better decisions and that means more money. Happy picking!

Picking Is Just The Beginning - True Dat!

Hope everyone had a great week end. I did myself found some ok, good, and great pieces. Now the real work starts. First off it is fun finding some good items to resell. That's a given. It takes a lot of discipline, and good time management to be successful in the area with a little luck thrown in. Don't get me wrong I have noticed its all peaks and valleys. Some times there is more targets then you know what to do with and other times it seems you cannot find anything that fits a good pickers buying parameters to save your ass. Peaks and valleys.

It all evens out though if you keep your efforts at a high level. So no worry's.

Then comes the part of the pickers world many fail at to be really successful. So you go picking in your favorite category your good at and you find a bunch to cool stuff to resell. Now what? Well you need to take the steps necessary to SELL IT!

That's right selling it is the only way to be successful at really being a good picker. If you are alone and doing this on your own it takes a lot of discipline to finish the cycle. What is the cycle?

FIND IT - RESEARCH VALUE CORRECTLY - DECIDE ON IF TO ENHANCE IT (REPAIR OR RESTORE TO SOME DEGREE) - PRESENT IT TO YOUR SELLING CHANNELS PROPERLY

I am lucky my partner in life matches up with me in wanting to be successful in picking. We both love mid century and she is great at refinishing and research. Me, I am the finder, logistics, and good at picking up big things. If you are alone you have to be everything and do it in a timely manner. It does you no dam good to find good stuff and have it piling up in a room. You have to finish the cycle or you are now on a hoarder reality show and all of us feel sad you can't get in your bathroom no more.

Finish the cycle!