Buying and Selling Skillfully in Today's Antique, Collectible & Art Markets

Cecil's Carnival Horse Medallion Bowl currently available on eBay. It previously had 23 bids but did not reach the reserve price.

Timing is everything, and right now the time is right to be buying at bargain prices. At times like these, when people are stricken with fear, we'll be able to make our best purchases. Barry Bond’s last home run ball just sold for under $400,000. What a bargain, considering the record setting ball brought over $1,000,000. The one who bought Bond’s ball in this cautious market will be smiling all the way to the bank in a very short period of time.

Our 31 Club Member, Cecil, listed a Carnival Glass Bowl and it did not meet its reserve although it was a rare pattern with horse heads. It should have found a buyer. He also has a Weller vase listed presently for $2,700 which might be worth $4,000 to $5,000. This is the time to make money by knowing what is worth the money and what isn’t.

When negotiating on price with a seller, you can back down on price now by saying the market is soft, knowing that the best is still the best and will bring top dollar regardless of the times. Yes, the market is fluctuating, but that is what we need to be successful. A constant market eventually works against us. If the market is stagnant, the seller will want too much and the buyers will want to wait for a better price.

Over the next few months, you should be able to complete several steps in your race to the millions, because out of fear, people will likely to be selling their better items. You’ll be able to buy at prices that can make you fat and sassy. Buy where there is little interest, and then sell in the right selling venue.

In my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, I spoke about taking time to consider where to sell each item. In our marketplace today, this will be a very important decision to make. Remember, where you sell your items can likely make the difference in the level of profit you’ll see. Sell at places that specialize in what you are offering. Rookwood might bring a huge price at the Cincinnati Art Galleries Auction, but you might find it priced reasonably during these times in Texas. California Art might be bringing record prices in California, but what kind of prices would it get in Kentucky? So, keep your eyes out for items that seem out of place. You might be able to cash in on this. The 31 Gang did this very thing when we spent $240 to purchase a Harvey Joiner painting that hadn’t sold at auction from an east coast auction house. We later sold it at an Indiana auction house close to the Kentucky border for about $3,700. Why there? Harvey Joiner is one of the most collected artists in Kentucky.

Ebay might not be the best place to sell at the present time. The problem with eBay is that it is very impersonal, while an auction house can have the feel of being a part of the family. In hard times, that is often what we search for. Early’s Auction is an auction house that doesn’t do online auctions. They had their spring art glass sale this past weekend, and I understand prices were very firm. Considering that almost all plane traffic to Cincinnati was cancelled, they still had excellent results. Now when you consider they don’t do online auctions, this makes their sales success even that much greater.

This is the time to know your markets, act on them, and carefully consider the selling platform that might get you the biggest bang. When you do that the big money will come your way. Remember, collectors are a special breed, and they often won't buy a piece from a shop at almost any price. But let them get involved in bidding at an auction who represents what they collect, and it often seems the sky’s the limit. In the Antique Trader, Antique Weekly and The Maine Antique Digest, you will find a list of specialty auctions. If you have items that fit theircategorizes, do yourself a favor and list them there.

Buy, Buy, Buy. This may be the chance that won't come along for the next ten years. In these markets is when the easy money is made. Jjust be sure you have the knowledge to take advantage of it.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

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OUR GOAL IS SET - ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Will Do The Rest

The weather is changing and it is getting cooler, but now is the time for our members to get into high gear. Most dealers are thinking the season is about to end, but not for us.

Yes, the pumpkins are out, the leaves are changing colors, and bad weather might be approaching, but we can turn this to our advantage. Less competition means more success for the ones that are ready to go that extra mile.

The consignment shops will still be open and so will antique malls. Don't forget about the classifieds in your newspaper. With other avenues closed, people will start to sell their things in the classifies.

This is a great time to post fliers in the pet shops, court house, grocery store and even schools, if they will allow it. There are many places to post your ads and this is just a short list of them. (Refer to my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles for more detailed information and resources.) Be sure that your ad lists the things that you are looking for and gives your phone number and email. At the end of your ad you might want to say that you buy estates.

With the flea markets closing and garage sales being finished for the year, you can become the market in your area for people that have items for sale. Take advantage of this great opportunity to advance your steps in the race while others are closing up shop or thinking about the upcoming holidays.

We, of the 31 Gang, have set our goal for the rest of this year, and it is to complete Steps 1 through 8. You might say that we are being rather aggressive, but why not? If we fall short of 8 steps, that would mean we would have done three or four times the goal I spoke about in the book, which was 1 step every six months. Not bad for a band of merry women and men. But, if we do complete 8 steps, it will mean that the gang has completed 8 steps within six months and that accumulating wealth is very possible. You set your own pace.

I am so excited to see Justin, Cathy, Lisa, Cecil, Cynthia, Vicki and Susanne begin their journey with us. I am waiting to hear from more of you, and I am sure that the field will be bunched up as we cross the finish line together at the end of our MILLION DOLLAR RACE.

Good Hunting to all and to all have a great race.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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I FOUND A REAL GEM - His name is "Andrew Slaw" - He Likes Collecting

What a wonderful afternoon I had Sunday. It was spent with Andrew Shaw, a wonderful 15-year-old, and his mother, Anne.

How can I tell this story? It won’t be easy for me, and I’m not sure that I can keep a dry eye. You know God always has a way of bringing you back to earth when you least expect it. This is what has happened to me by meeting this wonderful and bright young man named, Andrew Slaw.

It all started so innocently when Andrew came to the Chicago Antique Market to have me appraise some of his things. But I promise you, it didn’t end there. After I had talked to Andrew for awhile, I could see that he was soaking up each word that came out of my mouth, and he wanted to hear more. The questions just seemed to pour from his lips in an unending stream. Each answer he received seemed to make his eyes glow brighter. After we talked for awhile, I asked his parents if, some day, he could come to my home with them and I would show him some of my son's collections. I also found out that Andrew was an avid garage sale and flea market person.

As he walked away from me, my eyes began to follow him on his trip through to rest of the market. Into this booth and out of that one seemed to be his pattern, often stopping to take a better look at an item in the many cases he passed.

I really didn’t expect to see him again, but to my surprise, I received a call from his mother asking if they could come by for a visit.How can you refuse a young man with so much spirit?

Staying on the phone for an extra few minutes, Anne shared with me that Andrew had spent a large percentage of his life in the hospital. She said that the ailment he suffers with is Familial Dysautonomia, and you can find more about it on line.

Our visit was scheduled for four o’clock Sunday afternoon and I couldn’t wait for the doorbell to ring. When it did ring, there stood Andrew with that wonderful smile, carrying a small wicker case.

We went to the kitchen and he began to take his prized possessions out for me to examine. There were the penny cards, hot wheels, wooden animals and a signed baseball. Each one had a special story behind it. I soon found out that Andrew knew his things better than I did. He had done his research and shared it with me.

I plan to spend many more hours with him while he teaches me about life and collecting. He happens to be our newest member of the 31 Club, and you better watch out or he will be the winner of our race.

Andrew left me with this quote " LIVE FOR THE MOMENT." After meeting him, I can assure you that this is permanently etched in my mind.

If you would be interested In supporting this cause you may call 847-913-0455.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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BETTER THAN EVER - Charles Lotton's-New pieces

Can you believe it, Charles Lotton's new Mandarin Red Show was definitely a hit. I attended the show last night at his gallery in Bloomingdale's here on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, and as I entered, there was barely room enough to walk around.

I was amazed at the crowd that had gathered for his new showing. The gallery was on the sixth floor at the end of the hall, but no one seemed to have a problem finding it, as shown by the attendance.

Charles, his wife, and the staff were kept busy just answering questions from the guests. It was a good thing that they had the help of Jacqueline, their studio manager in Crete, Illinois,Brynna and Miles because they never got a break even to sit down.

I was able to talk with Charles about the future of Lotton Glass, and his plans aren't slowing down. One thing that he shared was they are considering changing their furnaces from gas to electricity. He told me that he would have to see how it affects the glass and its color. In some situations though, they might have to use both.

One interesting tidbit that I did get out of him was that he is planning to have a class on glass technology and the secrets that he has accumulated over a lifetime within the next six months for his sons and grandson plus other interested parties. This should be of special interest to all that love his marvelous glass.

I also found out that one of Charles main interests today is a program called Multiplication Network, an outreach program, and he is also working with a group that is training pastors all over the world.

There is no glass that is being produced today that can come near what Charles Lotton is making at his studio in Crete, Illinois. Anyone that is fortune enough to own a piece of his work will be well rewarded.

We've added four new pieces of Charles Lotton Glass to our Gallery and Marketplace. Be sure to take a look at these early pieces made in 1977. These pieces represent some of the first items made from Charles' personal formula for glass. Prior to 1977, Charles bought glass from other sources.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

ONLY A PHONE CALL OR VISIT AWAY – Antique & Collectible Treasure Found

I have been talking to several of our members, and I want to digress back to some of the lessons that we have covered already.

Patience is the most important thing that I will teach you in your search for wealth. The quick fix may satisfy us for the moment, but it will never achieve the lasting results we are looking to obtain.

I have been asked to submit the answers to several questions given to me by an antiques publisher for an upcoming publication. The answers to these questions have given me the chance to re-examine my thoughts on several subjects and to check to see if I come up with the same answers as I did the first time. I did, and one subject is patience.

This opportunity to share my thoughts comes at a very interesting time in the development of the 31 Club. Allow me to restate what I’ve written about in my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles: This race we are in is a long race. If you haven’t found that treasure yet, I can assure you that as each day passes you are learning more, and this will guarantee your day is coming. In my 40 plus years of dealing and collecting antiques, there hasn’t been a single person that I have run across that hasn’t been rewarded for their study and consistency in this business. I can assure you that the opportunities in this field far out pace any others that I know of, and your efforts will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams if you stay on track with patience.

I want you to think back to the many stories from my book about Kentucky Derby Glasses, Paintings, Pottery Vases and Figurines. Each one of these stories might have been the thing that changed the direction in that person’s life. Until that purchase was made and became the turning point in their journey, no one was writing about them. Their stories might have been fairly common up until that discovery. But though patience and determination, they stayed the course. The rest has become their personal history.

There is also the misconception that this business is built on Luck. There is no luck in the stories of people I have written about in the book. In Cecil’s case, when he found the Derby glass, hundreds of people had already passed it by. Where was their luck? Cecil wasn’t lucky, either. He just had the knowledge to recognize its value. No luck involved there.

Knowing the value of hundreds or thousands of rare items will assure you that your time is coming to cash in on your hard work and knowledge. In 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, I have shared with you the industry secrets that only the most seasoned professionals know about. Things they’d rather not share. These will be the keys to your success. You’ll be so much better equipped to be buying and selling items others just don’t know enough about as you study this and re-study this book again and again, using it as a springboard for your own research and study. People will soon be saying about you, “Wasn’t she/he lucky to have found that special treasure.” But you’ll have a big smile across your face because you’ll know luck had nothing to do with it. While others are waiting and waiting for their lucky star to shine on them, many wonderful treasures will be coming your way because of your knowledge, not your luck.

You are just one phone call or visit to an auction, antique shop, or mall from that special treasure. Each treasure of increasing value you come across, as you ascend the steps, will lead, in time, to your personal pot of gold. You will shine when you have the patience to put in the time to educate yourself on value and rarity and rely on the 31 Club for help. I love to talk with our members! Remember that, and take advantage of that.

One day, Warner and I were having a normal day until the phone rang. “Do you buy antiques,” the lady on the other end asked. In my best Southern drawl, I said yes we do. She asked if we would mind coming to their house to look at the things they wanted to sell. Of course we did, so we made the appointment.

One phone call on a rather normal day made us more than $200,000 over the 6 months that followed. What if we had received the call but not had the knowledge to realize what we were being offered? Someone else would have been writing this story. I am glad it is me.

Remember, those of you who are 31 Club members can call us or e-mail us if you need assistance. We have an extensive library of resource books and access to pricing services. Call and ask away. That’s what we’re here for.

Good Hunting!

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.