Skiing Collectibles

You can find treasure wherever you are. I’m skiing this weekend, and this means I should be looking for some treasures in this area. Just count the items that might be collected if you are a ski fanatic.

How many different type of skis have there? Trick skis, jumping skis, and trail skis just to mention a few. If you find these special skis signed by a skiing legend it might well be a true treasure. Now let’s look at a few other items of interest. How about clothing worn by someone such as a movie star or President. These could bring a great deal of money.

Examples of the first wares worn by the pioneers of skiing should prove to be quiet rewarding. How about the different trends that have occurred over the years and some of those strange ski outfits that have appeared on the scene over the years. You know they will make a come back.

Ski medals and trophies should be in great demand, if they were won by a person of distinction. Posters and other paper items listing special event in ski history can be added to any collection owned by the avid collector, and their value will be greatly enhanced if signed. Signed photos of the rich and famous, such as Jacqueline Kennedy in a ski outfit signed by her could bring a good price.

You are probably asking what about the Olympics and all the treasures that can be found that pertain to Olympic Skiing. There have been thousands of events and tens of thousands of contestants.

Skiing has a long history and ski's were used for purposes other than pleasure. Vintageskiworld.com has 1958 U.S. Military Ski's selling for $295. Not only might these appeal to collectors of ski memorabilia, but those collecting military memorabilia as well.

By looking at other's interests, you will find that the list of items people collect is larger than your mind can comprehend. The interesting fact about buying items that others might have interest in is that it makes you a much more informed and well rounded individual. One of the greatest results of this is that your bank account will grow while you're learning, and you will be spending your time with some of the greatest and most interesting people in the world.

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Art, Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Art, Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE, plus MENTORING from me whenever call me. Or, order 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles and your membership is FREE and you still get mentoring. Either way, you're in. I know it sounds crazy to get all this for about $20, but I assure you, I'm offering this. If you've read this far, why not hop aboard.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

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Daryle Lambert: American Indian Artifacts

We have talked about the out flow of items from this country to Europe and Asia, but what about the things that are native to this country. American Indian items are bringing unbelievable prices these days, and most dealers are completely unaware of the breadth of this market.

Arrow and spear points can bring thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars, but how do you recognize them? That question is one that you, as a member of the 31 Club, should be asking The answer is books, books, and more books. There is so much written on this subject that you can really get your teeth into this research and benefit tremendously. Just think about the possibility of finding a spear point for $150 and selling it for $10,000. Wouldn't that make your day? You can do this only if you recognize one of these special pieces when you see it. Ninety percent of what you see in the market place today is common, so most dealers don't take the time to study where the rarity in this field of Indian artifacts lies, but not you, right?

The great thing about Indian artifact treasure is that there are so many areas to study. How about Banner Stones and Peace Pipes. Do you know much about them? Cradle Boards and Saddles are two more items that the average person would know very little about, but you can take advantage of their lack of knowledge and increase your bank account substantially it you know their value. The list is almost endless Drums, Gloves, Hats, Dolls,Clubs, Blankets, Belts, Baskets, Bags, Jars, Leggings, Moccasions, pipe bags, pipes and last but not least Rugs. I am almost tired out just listing the things that the Indians made that, today, can help us reach our goal of being financially independent.

The wonderful amount of knowledge that you will receive in your search of these items will help your understanding of our history in this country's early days. All the things that I just listed were functional items used in everyday life, and not meant to be decorative. These are true relics of the past history of this country and will be appreciated by those who collect them.

There were many tribes in each state as they are laid out today, and these tribes often came into conflict with one another. As you study, you will find how their paths crossed and the consequences of these meetings. Wow, what a interesting subject to delve into. And while your're at it, wouldn't it be great if you made a huge amount of money based on your studies?

But Daryle, what kind of money are we talking about? A beaded bag may bring over $20,000, while some baskets can command $10,000 or more. Bowls and other pottery might sell for $25,000-$35,000. Beaded pipe bags might bring $20,000-$30,000. But Daryle, where is the big money?

Have you got a phase one American Indian blanket? If so, you could be looking at a half million dollars or more. Now is that enough money to get you excite?. I remember the gentleman on the Antique Road Show that was told his blanket could receive this type of bid. I thought he was going to have a heart attack. This blanket had been used as a comforter on his couch, and the dog had slept on it.

When you study this, you are introduced to real Indian life right hear in this country. Think how much fun it would be to visit the places where the items were made. Remember the phrase, "Buy American"? As items originally from Europe and Asia are being returned to their countries, here is your chance to buy American.

Remember our 31 Club Member, Cecil R.? He became friends with a lady in Evansville, Indiana who often asked him to either buy or sell items she had collected. One day she ask him to take a look at an Indian blanket she had. Cecil looked it over, and rather than try to buy it, he told her that she should have one of the leading auction houses look at it. I will never forget this story because this is the way our 31 Club will operate. We want to make money but also be honest and help others if we can. You see, she had been good to Cecil in the past, and he recognized this rug as something special, so he wanted to help her. Could he have bought the rug for $5,000 or $10,000? Maybe. When she took it to the auction house, they gave her an estimate of $250,000. Do you think Cecil made a friend for life, or what.

Discover how our book can be the tool that helps you become financially free simply buying and selling antiques, collectibles and fine art.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building and start your own race to your millions! Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

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COMMUMITY IS WHERE IT’S AT - Can 31 Club Antiques & Collectibles Wealth Building Help? Let us know.

Your antiques & collectibles wealth building community is in action. I just received an E-mail from our members, Ann and her son, Andrew, asking if any of our members had a Microsoft Frontpage 2003 that they might donate to the program that has been set up for research to find the cure for the ailment Andrew suffers from.

You might remember my earlier blog about Andrew and the zest for life that he maintains. I will never forget the statement Andrew made to me when he and his mother came to visit me. He said, "I live in the moment." If this community can help, it would be so greatly appreciated.

This program is called FD NOW, an abbreviation for Familial Dysautonomia. What Andrew suffers from is a fatal neurological disease. To find out more about this you can call 1-847-913-0455.

We, the members of the 31 Club, are out front when it comes to researching and sharing our lives, our stories, and our information & knowledge with others. This is why I can say that, and this is just one recent discover we've made that won't be found in any book.

The couple we acquired three Charles Lotton Miniatures from shared this great story with us recently:

In 1972, when Charles Lotton was just getting started as a glass artist, he visited Lilian Nassau, a noted Tiffany dealer in New York who had an interest in his work. During that trip to New York, he happened to meet another couple, Howard & Paula Ellman, who right on the spot, purchased the very first Magnum Paper Weight Charles Lotton created. This wonderful, extremely large piece still adorns their home and as friends come by, they usually ask the Ellman's, "Where did you get that Tiffany?" The Ellmans also purchased several other pieces from Charles, three being the minatures.

Here's where the story gets most interesting. Upon looking at the paperweight, Mr. Ellman noticed that it wasn't signed. He told Charles that, one day, his work was going to be very famous, and he should sign and date each piece. Charles thought that this suggestion was a good one, so ever since, he has signed and dated each piece. I called Charles to ask him about this, and he confirmed this story.

Cindy is doing a wonderful job getting our message out and I think that you will be hearing more about Lotton Glass in the days ahead.

The Old Turkey is gobbling, and the apples are ripening, so that must mean we are approaching Thanksgiving. This Holiday doesn’t get as much attention as others, but there are still great pieces that advertised this Holiday, and they can bring you a pretty penny. Pre-1950 Pilgrim tin signs and cardboard stand ups could substantially fatten your wallet. Get the pun? Also, any original clothing would command a fairly healthy price.

Don’t forget Christmas is just around the corner, and you could be stocking up on items to sell for this Holiday. We encourage all our readers and members to consider our book/membership 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, as gifts for your friends and family members. It's not just a book, it's a living, breathing link into a community of like-minded people, willing to share their lives and resources year in and year out.

Over the next two months, this country will come together to celebrate the holidays. My hope is that all will give thanks to God for all that he has provided and continues to provide for us each and every day.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got an Erte Bronze, Lotton Glass, and many many more high quality items priced reasonably with no buyer's premiums. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your piece to us. No high fees selling with us.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club Wealth Building 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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WOOD BLOCKS - This can be Confusing. Antique Prints

When I was a small child I played with wooden blocks that had the alphabet and numbers on them. It was great fun spelling words and adding up the numbers. People told me that wood blocks brought a lot of money at auction. This confused me, because I wondered how that could be. Yes, some of the block sets could bring several hundred dollars if they had beautiful graphics on them, but I didn’t think that was what they were talking about. I was right.

In the art world, there are a group of works called "Woodblocks" that are very special. These prints are made by first carving out patterns in wood then inking these blocks and placing the ink onto paper. Each color in this process is applied by its own block. Some pictures may require as many as ten or twenty blocks to complete the picture.

The Chinese did this type of work, first, a round 220 A. D. There are also records of the Japanese and even the Egyptians printing in this manner. Later, many artist from other countries started to produce these images, and they became very popular. Today it is not unusual to find Wood Blocks at auction that bring $10,000 or more.

Once you have seen several of these prints, it becomes easy to identify them. I have to admit, I personally enjoy looking at them. The work involved in producing these pieces require great artistry plus time. I think they should command great valve if they are well done.

If you have spent the time in your search to acquaint yourself with the names of the better artists that produced these "Wood Block" masterpieces, don’t be surprised that the asking prices may be rather low. This can play to your advantage. Why? Because there are very few people that have the knowledge to spot these items of value.

Let me give you a few examples: A Gustave Baumann, 11 by 10 inch print will commander prices of $7,000 to $15,000. A Helen Hyde 20 inch piece, $2,000 to $5,000. An Abraham Abramovitz 14 ½ by 10 inch print, $3,000. II could go on and on

Be sure to check every frame you see whether it is hung on the wall or not. You might find a real treasure sitting in someone's basement on the floor. Add these to your list of things you want to know. This just might prove to be wise judgement on your part.


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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ANOTHER KEPT PROMISE - Treasures Still Out There. Art Pottery

I will always do my best when it comes to satisfying a promise that I have made to you. Just a few days ago, I got a report about the great find one of our members made and his surprise when it sold at Cincinnati Art Galleries auction.

Here's the great report: Cecil R bought a piece of pottery just from his experience of looking at quality pieces. It was totally unmarked, but there was something about it that said, "You be sure to buy me," which he did.

This goes back to lessons that I have shared with you in the past. The more items you visually examine, the better your eye will become at detecting quality even if the piece isn’t marked. I am going to let Cecil's words speak for themselves. Here is a E-mail I received from Cecil yesterday.

"Daryle: Perfect timing on the article about knowing quality. I recently bought a vase at auction that was not signed and I thought it may be a rare piece of Camark Pottery (which was made in Arkansas). However, when I got home I found that it was similar, but not Camark. After a few days of it sitting there, I had to put my "research cap" on and find out who made the piece. To my amazement, I found out it was made by Owens Pottery of Zanesville, Ohio and that it is one of the rarest patterns made by Owens! The pattern is called "Opalescent Inlaid" and was only made in the last year and one-half that Owens was in business, which was from 1896 to 1907.

The vase was not marked in any way, but I knew it to be a quality piece when I saw it at auction, just by examining the craftsmanship of the vase. I bid the piece to $25.00 and the auctioneer almost said the magic word "Sold!", when another bidder decided he like it too. I won the bidding at $80.00. Even though I did not know at the time who made it, I was certain that I would make a reasonable profit. Last week, the vase sold at auction in Cincinnati. The price: $2,400.00! Not bad for a piece that was unmarked and unsigned! CECIL"

Quite a story, wouldn’t you say? With in a year, I know we will be publishing several stories a week like this from our members. I am sure that your name will be among the ones we list. I would like for the ones writing the obituary for this business to tell Cecil that these aren’t the greatest times in history to be selling Antiques and Collectibles.

It won’t take long before you will begin to develop the eye necessary to spot these unmarked treasures. You see, Cecil didn't have any idea who made that vase. He only knew that it might have looked like a piece that he had seen previously by another company and was a piece of quality craftsmanship. It turned out to be even better than he thought.

Great guns! Just four more steps in Cecil's race to his millions from this sell. You bet I am sure that Cecil has read my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles. The only worry I have is that he might beat me to the finish line! I am looking back every day to see which one of you is gaining on me and the 31 Gang.

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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FREE THINGS CAN HAVE VALUE - Take Advantage of these Opportunities

This is the auction season, and it can help make us wealthy. During this season, all the top auction houses have their catalogues on line for your viewing. Where else can we get, for free, so much information on the items that we are looking to buy? If you see something of interest in their online catalogue just download it and add that page to your growing information files.

I know that Early’s Glass Auction, Cincinnati Art Galleries and Treadway Gallery, just to name a few, have their auctions listed on the web. Later you may want to buy these catalogues, but for now, as we are getting start in the race, we want to save all the money we can while maximizing the knowledge that we are consuming.

Go to eBay and scroll down to the bottom of their homepage and find live auctions. Now you are ready to see what is really being offered for sale in the antique and collectible markets. Just click on each auction and examine the pieces that command premium estimates and store this in your memory. If we had to buy this information we couldn’t afford it.

Just some additional information for you --after each sale, the auction houses post a "not sold list," and if you examine it, you may find items that are worth making an offer for. I have found many pieces that I purchase from the auction houses after the sale and doubled or triple my money on them when they were sold. You must ask the auction house to send you this list in an email. They will be more than glad to do it. You should find the place to ask for this email on their homepage.

I may be sharing a great story with you within a week about where I purchased a piece after a sale, and if it is what I think it is, there may be as much as 400% potential profit to be had upon its sale. Not bad, and sure worth the wait if it is correct. Quality not quantity. Remember that as we continue our journey together. Time is on our side, and we don’t have to be in any hurry.

Knowledge is king in any business and in most situations, it is very costly. But not in ours. Isn’t that wonderful! This is so much better than sitting around and watching television all night, don’t you think?

The 31 Club is waiting for your questions, and guess what. The answers will come to you free, I guarantee it. I spoke to a young lady the other day, and she said, "I don’t want to bother you." My response was, "that can never happen, because what excites me the most is helping our members become wealthy." So let my phone ring off the hook or my email say you need more help. That's what will make me happy.

Thanks for your prays for my friend, I am glad to report that things are much better now. Be sure to drop us a line if there is anyone we can remember in prayer for you.

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

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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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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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

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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

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Pass The Word - This Business Just Got Easier

The first 90 days in the life of our company have been exciting and encouraging, and we’re off to a great start. Now is the time to start thinking about giving a 31 Club Membership to your friends and family for Christmas. There would be no better gift than the gift of membership to this unique club. We will be keeping the Charter Membership Program open through December 31, 2007. All charter members will have no future fees to stay active with us. So, for about the price of a really good pizza, your friends and family can have access to us, plus a copy of our book, “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles” for your help in getting us started.

Those of you who keep in contact with us truly know that I am dedicated to helping you succeed in ascending the 31 Steps and reaching the financial goal you have set for yourself. With that said, the staff and I have voted to extend another great benefit: The Associate Program. You can use this program should you come upon an item that is a good buy, but you might not be in a position to purchase just yet. The company can buy this piece, provide for it being sold, and give the member a generous percentage of the net profit for finding it. Call or E-mail us for the details.

We are in this together, and we will not leave any stone unturned to assure your financial success. Your club is providing you opportunities to get you moving forward by blazing a new trail. PASS THE WORD!

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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A Sure Thing - Do You Know One? Gold – Silver – Platinum

I do take risks in my buying, but it is very controlled. You know our rule: We try to buy our items at 25% of their retail value. This give us room to discount them and still make a respectable profit. Could the things we buy be worth even less than that? It is possible, but unlikely. Using this 25% rule in your buying won’t guarantee that you will never make a mistake, but it will be so seldom that your other purchases will always more than cover the mistakes and still leave you reaching your goals. I explain this further in my book that can be found at www.31corp.com or on Amazon by searching for Daryle Lambert.

But what if you could even reduce the risk to practically zero, would that interest you?

There is a way of doing this, and I see my friends the jewelry dealers doing it ever day. They almost always have a risk-free transaction when they buy.
How is this possible you may ask? It is very simple. They use the market price of the material that the item that they are buying is made of, as a measure, to price their purchases. If I buy a bracelet that has one ounce of 18 carat gold in it, I can access the gold value by using a formula to estimate its value compared to it being pure gold. What do I mean by that? Quite simply, if an ounce of 24 carat gold is worth $650, then an ounce of 18 carat gold would be some fraction of that. This would also hold true for 14 and 10 carat gold.

You can figure the value of all metals by calculating their market price by the weigh of the piece you are buying. This standard will hold true for silver, gold, platinum or any other metal.

So, once you know the value of the metal by weight in the piece you are buying, the rest is easy. Let’s say I buy a ring that has a half ounce of 24 carat gold in it and the price of gold is $650 an ounce, then the value of the ring is $325.00. This does include the value for its design or any stones that it might contain. So if my purchase is $150, I have made $175 plus the other values the ring might have due to its design or stones, even if I just sell the piece at the market metal price..
To be a jewelry dealer, you must carry a small gold scale with you to weigh each item. There must be a discount for any other material in the piece, but often the things like stones can be worth more than the metal.

My friend Warner once called me about a gold bracelet watch that he was looking to buy. It had hallmarks that indicated that it was 18 carat gold and was a french piece. After buying it for $200, through research our estimate for its value was $5,000.00. Not bad for a days work.

You should keep this in mind, but be sure to do your home work before going out to buy jewelry.

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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eBay - King of the Hill

Do you remember as a child when you played "King of the Hill?" How much fun was it to beat everyone else to the top. I can still feel the excitement as I pulled myself up that hill ahead of everyone .

But, once you were the King, and everyone else was trying to pull you down, it wasn’t nearly as much fun. I think that is where eBay is at the present time. They are in a position of having to defend themselves from newcomers.

I have been using eBay almost since its inception, and their changes have been in the process of capturing more and more of the market each year. This has been accomplished through acquisitions of their competitors and by an increase in their fee structure.

This has proven to be very successful for the company, but now, they are seeing new competition on the horizon. Companies like "OnlineAuction.com" have introduced the no listing fee format, and it is catching on. Why should this matter?

I believe it matters, because in my humble opinion, the number of unfinished listings, meaning sold listings, will be eBay's undoing, unless they change their policy. The sellers will soon realize that they are losing so much money on uncompleted sales in listing fees, that it can’t be made up by the profits on their completed sales. eBay has tried to combat this by encouraging the sellers to list their items without reserves, so that most of the sales will be completed. This, however, puts the seller at a disadvantage, because they can’t protect their items from selling at a price that isn’t acceptable to them. The way eBay has encouraged this is by making the reserve price too expensive to use.

So, I've been thinking about this, and have some thoughts of my own. Call them my predictions, if you want, or just one man's opinion. But, I believe eBay offered the month of September with no listing fees to see if the increase in final value fees would offset their losses in listing fees. I think eBay will soon eliminate all listing fees. Why? For months now, they have been inching up all of their other fees, the ones outside of the listing fee itself. Things like gallery photos and listing style fees just to name a couple. Their other service fees, such as PayPal, Pro Stores and eBay Stores, have also increased. If they can maintain their profit margins, without charging a listing fee and increase the number of listings, I think this will give them what they're looking for.

This would be a huge blow to other companies trying to compete. I am not sure that other companies that have chosen this route could survive. And, eBay can’t continue to increase their profits each month, if competition offers the seller and buyer a better deal. So the only solution for them is to make it unprofitable for their competitors, because of their dominance in the market place.

My next thought is about why eBay has a "sign in" for the completed sales section. You see, I believe, and I'm going to make another prediction here, is that they are considering charging for their archives service like Ask Art, ArtPrice, ArtNet and Priceminer.

I stated in one of my early blogs that the market will always find a way to correct itself, and the companies that are in control will either change or be replaced by others. We'll see if this play out in the coming months.

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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"EXCITEMENT ABOUNDS" - The Chicago Antique Market.

Can you believe that another month has come and gone? The 31 Club is approaching its three month anniversary and the excitement within the club is amazing. It is hard to get on the internet today and not come across something about our club and the new vision for the Antique and Collectible industry that it is presenting to the world.

Our members are making money and learning at the same time. Their input is so important to our future, that we ask every day if they know of ways that we can improve the club on behalf of its members. Your staff of Cindy, Chris and Clarke are tireless workers that will stop at nothing to provide the members with the best.

This weekend you will be represented at the Chicago Antique Market by Cindy, Joshua and myself, and we will be getting the message out about the 31 Club to all that attend. We will be sharing the new vision with as many people that will listen, and there will be a table where people can sign up. Come and visit with us either Saturday or Sunday.

There will be qualified buyers present if you have something to sell. Also, I will be appraising items that guests bring to me. This will be a wonderful time spent shopping, looking, eating, or listening to fabulous music.

A new feature this month will be the exclusive area where only the finest will be shown , on stage. This will be conducted by Boris Yovanovich. His twenty plus years in this business will provide a wealth of information for all that enter his space. There will be some of the best Art that has been presented at the market ever, and many other quality items. Boris specializes in one-of-a-kind items that are unique and desirable.

There will be a full mix of dealers with an unlimited array of choices for those with discriminating taste. This will range from high quality art to fabulous jewelry and vintage clothing. Also, you will find the best Art Pottery and Art Glass that can be found anywhere. Not to leave out high quality Posters, Oriental Rugs, Lighting, Prints and so. So many other things that you will find desirable in the many booths.

One of the dealers happens to be a friend of mine for over fifteen years. Can you imagine my surprise when I ran into them at the Market. Doris and Mike have the most wonderful array of items that you can find anywhere. Unbelievable Bakelite jewelry, Rookwood and Roseville pottery, and Native American items can found adorning their fabulous booth.

One of my favorite people at the Chicago Antique market is Maria Tirabassi. She is an artist that I think will rise to the top of the heap in the future. Her paintings are light and airy with an almost childish quality. I was passing her booth when her paintings caught my eye, and I stopped in my tracks to admire them. Asking the lady there if she was the painter, the answer was no, but she told me her sister was. I found out she would be in her booth later. I returned and found Maria to be a delightful person and definitely the one that had created all of these wonderful pieces of art. If you go to our website, you will find several of her canvases there.



I am so excited to be invited back to the market by Sally, and I can tell you that her enthusiasm is contagious, and I am infected.

Hope to see you at the market, and keep those letters coming!

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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Treasures at Home - Just Look Around

I have been promising you a great story, and here it goes.

Remember the small book that I told you about in one of my blogs, R. H. Conwells, "Acres of Diamonds"? This is its sequel.

Sally Schwartz, our host and the owner of The Chicago Antique Market, shared this story with me. Her love of people and of the finer things brought her to the place in life that she wanted to create that special place where people could come together for a exciting and adventurious experience. So, Presto! The Chicago Antique Market was created.

"The next few years have been like a blur", she said. "The response has been overwhelming, and the public has definitly bought into the vision of something special for downtown Chicago. The Market has been in transition to make that experience even more exciting over these years." As this vision was unfolding, Sally realized that additional capital might be required, but the question was, from where? Now, the story begins to get very interesting.

As I have been expanding my friendship with Sally over these few months, our conversation often leads us to discuss paintings and how their value has increased the last couple of years. There are record sales being establish almost every day in the art world.

Unbeknownst to me, Sally had inherited a painting from her grandparents, and it had been hanging on her wall for many years. Her grandparents had purchased it from the Art Institute of Chicago, years ago. As a child she had spent many hours mesmerized by this wonderful painting of two little girls.

Asking a longtime friend in the art profession about the painting, and getting a suggestion to show the piece to another dealer, that is exactly what she did. The dealer offered to help her in the sale of the painting.

Are you sitting down? That painting brought $120,000.00, and Sally no longer has to worry about financing the vision that she had created for the Chicago Antique Market. Acres of Diamonds had been on her wall all along.

Sally has been one of our earliest 31 Club Members, as well as one of our biggest fans, inviting us each month to participate at the Chicago Antique Market.

A more complete account of Sally's story, written by our own, Cindy Stackler Nieder, can be found here.

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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Out of the Gate - Sky is the Limit!

Yahoo! The 31 Gang has broken out of the gate in the $1,000,000 Race.

Our enamel on copper painting, that was purchased for $35.00, just finished on eBay for $313.00. The Doulton figurine that was purchased for $65.00 finished at $80.79 and the music box didn't sell. Our $125.00 invested returned a net of $335.63 after fees, definitely more than double and completing our first step in the race. Plus, we still have the music box to sell later!

We will be listing the two Meissen figurines that we purchased for $340 on eBay, and hopefully, we will be making one or more steps on them. Patience and consistency will get us across the finish line, and I hope that there are a lot of you there with us.

Yesterday, I was able to purchase three miniature Lotton vases. But before I let the person off the phone, I asked if she had anything else that I might be interested in buying. Her response was, "I have several other Lotton pieces, and I would be glad to sell them to you whenever I can find them."

The lesson here is to never leave a person after a purchase without asking if they have other things to sell. They may have other pieces. If they do, you can buy them at a price that is acceptable to you. How do you know this? Because you were able to purchase the items from them already, at a prices that you could accept.

As you can see, The 31 Gang isn't making just one purchase to meet its goals, but multiple ones. In our first purchase, only one piece out of the three reached our goal, but the combination of their sales prices got us over the top. It is fine to put all your money in one item, but it isn't always necessary to do so for you to take the next step.

Now that the weather is changing, there may not be as many house sales and garage sales for you to attend, but there are still more places to search than you will ever be able to visit. Auctions, Consignment shops, antiue shops, shows, just to name a few. There will be newspaper ads to answer, ads in the for sale section of the Antique Trader, AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and The Bee will provide happy hunting grounds for you all winter.

I want to thank each and every one of you for your concern and support as we work our way through the death of our friend.

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

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

Some Things that Shine - Can Really Sparkle Later

When buying good leaded crystal glass, you should have handled a lot of pieces before you invest in this field. You want to be able to recognize the weight and designs on the better pieces you encounter, because it is easy to get fooled today. Also, being acquainted with their marks will come from familiarity. I don’t know of a book that shows the marks, so if anyone does, write and let us know. Often, all clear glass looks alike, but it isn’t. In your search, these differences will become apparent. There has also been an influx of what I call copycat pieces that are coming into the market today.

It would seem easy to say, all that is necessary to recognize this glass is to look at the bottom of each piece, right? Wrong. I often have taken a piece from one room to another trying to get just the right light on it so that I could pick up that faintest piece of a mark, such as Lalique, Steuben, Baccarat, and even cut glass. Did you know that some of the best cut glass that was ever produced is marked? Most people don’t. These companies usually marked their pieces by acid etching the mark or by signing them with an electric marking process. Often these marks are almost invisible to the naked eye with out proper lighting or magnification.

Once, as I was attending an estate sale, and running very late I must add, there, on one of the card tables, was a huge frosted glass frog. I picked it up like probably 100's of other people during the day, but put it back down when I couldn’t find a mark on its bottom. After spending several minutes searching the rest of the sale and finding nothing, my mind wouldn’t let me forget that frog. I re-entered the room where it was located, picked the piece up again and examined it from top to bottom, but came to the same conclusion: Nothing special.

Going to the car and being ready to get out of there, I stopped in my tracks, re-entered the house, picked that darn frog up and said, I am going to find that mark or it's going to kill me. Believe it or not, there it was, as clear as day, and marked Lalique. I pick it up and went to the counter and asked the price. The answer almost made me start laughing right there. They told me $25.00. Paying very quickly and running out the door, I discovered in researching the piece that it was quite valuable. Putting that darn frog on eBay and waiting for the seven days was difficult but worth it, $650.00. Yahoo!

You will find most of this glass will be over-priced, and this is where the discipline comes in. Don’t ever over pay, even if you can make a small profit. We are waiting to make our money work for us, and that means at least doubling the price we pay for each item, if not more. However, there are a lot of people that don’t know the rare pieces made by these companies from the common ones. when you do, it will give you a tremendous advantage over them.

Stay with the best names in the clear glass, because the copycats, as I have called them, have very little value in the secondary markets.

If it sparkles, look at it carefully, because you just might find that special frog yourself.

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