Saturday, February 21, 2009

What Does Tea Have to Do With Selling Antiques and Collectibles?




One afternoon I was sending out announcements about my second book,Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes to the obvious market, "cottage collectibles dealers". (I did a Google search). Then I thought to myself, what are cottage collectibles....they can be anything from Shabby style furniture to pretty plates to tea cups. Bong....a bell went off...tea cups.....why not send my book announcements to businesses and services related to "tea"..

I picked up a copy of "Tea Magazine" and began to poke through the articles and advertisers.
There were so many brand new "markets" to tap into.....i.e. tea specialty stores to tea rooms to tea magazines and B and B networks etc.

"Tea folks" like vintage and/or Victorian items such as tea cups, silver, pretty plates, serving pieces, cake plates....etc.

The point I am making is think about what you sell...how can you develop new "markets".

So what does tea have to do with antiques and collectibles...plenty. After my first email mailing...a tea related magazine contacted me about doing an article on cottage collectibles and others visited my website or bought my book.

Helpful Hint
Add some novelty to your world view. Vist new shops, read different types of magazines, walk up and down the aisles of the library, visit different types of antque shows(that are not your usual interest) i.e. toy shows, doll shows, Modern. Get ideas.......be open to new ideas. If you prepare yourself to find the unexpected...you will bump into a new idea.

Share your ideas ...and don't worry about giving away your secrets........when you help others you help yourself!


Photo Courtesy of Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Stytle Homes

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 cafĂ©.

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.

1 comment:

  1. This article caught my eye because I own a tea shop where I sell vintage home goods. I sell tea, and offer my guests a free cup of fresh brewed tea and scone. They can sit at a table or roam the shop with it. Most of them comment that the shop reminds them of their grandmothers home and love the calm surroundings. Your website will be included in my monthly newsletter, so they can learn more about vintage. Shabby chic is not one of my favorite terms. Somehow it conotates the image of junk recycled. Please feel free to visit my webpage, www.kristeas.com or my facebook page KrisTea's.
    Thanks Dianne for teaching us all about antiques and collectibles!
    Kris Sanders
    Berkley, Michigan

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