Bloglines
Inflationary Times Good for Antique Dealers, Collectors and Families
Daryle Lambert, Founder of 31 Club
With news of inflation heading in an upward direction in energy and food, is anyone really at all surprised? My family has been feeling it for almost a year now. When the newscasters give us the latest figures, do they truly believe we need them to announce it to us? We all go to the grocery store and the gas station and can put two and two together. We know there’s inflation, but this period of time might be just what’s needed to revitalize our families, as well as the Antique and Collectible Markets.
When money is tight, families will likely spend more time together cleaning out their houses of unwanted junk and be on the lookout for items that might be of value. We’ll probably see an increase in the number of garage sales and an increase in items coming up for sale at auction houses. Isn’t this just what we need? I believe this period of time will be like a child going into a candy store. There will be all sorts of candy for us to choose from, and the knowledgeable antique dealer will always spot the best.
Our goal at the 31 Club is to make our members one of the best. For those of us who want to make money selling antiques, collectibles and fine art, the time couldn’t be better. The weather is improving, and soon the kids will be out of school. Be sure to include them in your treasure hunting plans, because all the children I’ve run across enjoy going to sales. Often my children have pointed me in the direction of some real treasures.
Aside from these upcoming hard times being good for those of us in the antiques industry, I believe it will be a good time for family. When a family’s gasoline bill out paces their mortgage payment, it makes sense people will be spending more time in their homes with family and friends rather than running all over creation looking for fun, dining and entertainment. We’re likely to go through a period of nesting as the cost of going out for a simple hamburger will likely cost more than some are willing to spend. Eating at home may become a necessity rather than a choice. Driving around the block a couple of times just to clear our heads could cost us big on gas, so we just might have to head down to the basement and begin working at that workbench we forgot we owned in order to clear our heads. Maybe at that workbench, we’ll be able to construct a toy for our kids, or teach our children something about building.
Days of reading together, cooking together, enjoying family meals while discussing the day’s events, watching educational television and family shows together might just be a great remedy for what seems to ail us. We might even find that walking together after dinner and getting to know our neighbors could bring us amazing joy. Imagine that!
Rather than finding it necessary to continually looking for entertainment outside the home, the hike in prices can produce interest in family events and the sharing of common interests again and again. Like Collecting. Collecting is likely to become more popular, and from this interest, groups will be formed and deeper relationships forged.
Parents might even participate with their children, once again, in hobbies such as stamp and coin collecting. Some of my greatest joys are now coming from talking with my nine-year-old son about Snow Globes, Foreign Coins, Webkinz and Nascar. This is a great way for us to spend a quality afternoon or weekend. Many people were writing off the Antique and Collectible business, concerned that there were no new collectors, and that the younger generation had no interest in anything that didn’t scream high tech. But, this tightening of the family budget may produce the next crop of antique and art collectors.
If this scenario sounds like what goes on in the town of Mayberry, and Andy and Aunt Bea might be stopping over momentarily with a delicious out-of-the-oven apple pie to share with you, would that really be all that bad?
I truly believe that in addition to being good for the Antique and Collectible Business, the hard times ahead can be good for our families. By staying home and working together, money is saved and a real sense of joy and pleasure will return to our homes once more. No longer will we have to settle for the artificial pleasure that the world had convinced us we couldn’t live without.
These times seem to be returning, not by choice, but out of necessity. These changes in our lifestyle may leave us with withdrawal symptoms for a while, but in truth, it might be just what we need to get back our sanity. When we do, I’m guessing we’ll feel like we’ve found heaven on earth. When you get off a spinning merry-go-round, it’s often very difficult to keep your balance. But once you keep your feet planted firmly for awhile, it sure is feels great. What a wonderful time this can be to reflect upon, and see through clear eyes, the wonderful and magnificent world God created. And just maybe, we’ll find some good antiques, too.
About Daryle Lambert:
Daryle S. Lambert is founder of the 31 Club, an antique and collectibles club where members learn about antiques, learn to buy and sell profitably, and reinvest profits for continued growth. The club is based upon his book, “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles.” His daily blog can ee found on the company website at www.31corp.com
Mr. Lambert has been a collector and dealer for over 40 years. During that time his entrepreneurial endeavors have included starting businesses in real estate, oil exploration, and financial securities. Throughout his career, his love of collecting and dealing in antiques and collectibles has remained a constant source of enjoyment and profit.
