How To Maximize Your "Real Estate" or Floor Space in an Antique Mall

In Brick and Mortar antique malls or multi-group shops where you lease space to sell your antiques and collectibles, space is at a premium. You want to get "the most bang out of your buck". This article is about how to maximize your "Real Estate" or square feet so that you are taking advantage of all selling space available to you

Getting Elephants into a Volkswagen

I rent space at The Collinsville Antiques Company in New Hartford Company. I rent a half a space which is only 6' X 9'. When I went "shopping" for spaces in a variety of shops I took into consideration how I would be able to pack in as much as I could in "smalls" in a very small space.

I actually took quite a lot of time to draw out plans and imagine my space before I moved in.

Here are Ten Practical Tips How To Maximize Real Estate or Use Floor Space Effectively :

1. Go As High as You Can With Shelves ( within the comfort zone): Either build or acquire tall shelves or stack shelves and cabinets to create height.

2. If possible ask for a corner booth so you can utilize the side without a neighbor. Position shelving so that one shelf side faces inward and then use a "back-up" shelf facing to the aisle.

3. Use sheets of plywood to "expand" your wall. Paint or cover your new wall with fabric.

4. If you have a lot of pictures to hang...look for a booth space with walls. If you have lots of pictures only...sometimes you can work out a deal to rent just a wall in a shop or antique mall.

5. Light your showcases.Customers need to see what you have

6. Glass shelves in showcases show better. Add mirror to the back of showcases. You can buy mirror squares in home improvement stores.

7. Dual purpose your collectibles: Use a vintage porcelain bucket to hold kitchen gadgets; Turn a bowl over to use as a pedestal for another bowl: roll vintage kitchen towels and stick in a vase or beverage glass: use a step ladder as shelves to hold vintage games:

8. Hang as much as you can! Hang doilies and pot holders on the side of shelves: Hang plates on walls etc.

9. Hang items from the ceiling or overhead if you have beams or rods etc. Or create a "bridge" shelf from one side wall to the other side wall overhead.

10. Use old doors, shutters, lattice to hang objects on.



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:

C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.