Learn How to Sell, Source, and Succeed in the Antiques Trade

What You'll Learn

This video is all about what you can expect to learn from this program--The Business of Antiques. Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co. and Margaret Schwartz, Owner of The Modern Antiquarian cover eight sections of topics in over fifty videos.

The first section is about How to Tackle this Course as they discuss issues like Perfectionism, Impostor Syndrome, and Procrastination. In section two, Toma and Margaret will lead you on a journey through The Founding Principles of Your Business--important topics such as Mission, Vision, & Core Values will be examined. And in section three, they get into the nitty gritty of Administrative Maintenance, covering important tasks such as Getting Your Tax ID Registered, Credit Card Processing, Articles of Incorporation, and the Day-to-Day of Operating Your Own Business.

If you're not making money in your antiques business, then it's just a hobby. In section four, Margaret and Toma teach you How to Sell Antiques covering important topics such as: Antique Fairs, Antique Collectives, Social Media Selling, Your Own Website, and Container Sales. Section five is chock full of the Basics of Inventory. You will learn how to get a Vision for your Inventory, How to Find Your Niche, How to Select Your Point of Sale, as well as Your Warehouse Management. You will also be introduced to Visual Merchandising. Section six is a Deep Dive into Shipping covering both How to Receive a Container as well as How to Safely Ship Antiques to Your Clients.

Section seven is what Toma likes to call: Show Me the Money. In section seven, Toma and Margaret examine Different Pricing Models, How to Price Your Product Appropriately, How to Photograph, How to List Inventory Online, and finally an enlightening Discussion on Sales Cycles. And section eight wraps things up by taking a look at you, you, YOU! The two will guide you through a wealth of knowledge on Social Media, Marketing, Advertising, P.R., Networking, Email Marketing, and Event Marketing. They will even help you Nail Your Elevator Pitch!

HOMEWORK: The Business of Antiques – Course Prep

Get familiar with what you’ll learn in this program and set your intentions.

Step 1: Action Step

Set aside a notebook, binder, or digital folder for this course. Divide it into 8 sections to match the topics above. This will be your personal workbook and road map.

Step 2: Skim the 8 Sections

Review the major areas you’ll cover in this course. Divide your notebook into 8 sections to match the topics below. For each section, write one sentence on why it matters to your business.

1. Mindset – Antique Dealer Training Introduction
   (Perfectionism, Procrastination, Impostor Syndrome, Orientation)
2. Founding Principles
   (Mission, Vision, Values)
3. Business Basics
   (Brick & Mortar, Website, Fairs, Online Marketplaces, Collectives, Warehouse Sales, Pop-Ups, Trademarking)
4. Inventory
   (Style, Sourcing, Warehouse Management, Trends, Systems)
5. Shipping
   (Receiving Containers, Delivering to Clients)
6. Selling Antiques
   (Pricing, Photography, Sales Cycles)
7. Marketing & Outreach
   (Branding, Ideal Client, PR, Events, Email, Social, Networking, Pitch)
8. Pulling It All Together
   (Celebrating your progress: You Did It!)

Step 3: Reflection Prompt
From the 8 sections, choose the 2 that feel most exciting and the 2 that feel most intimidating.

• For each of the 4, write one sentence on why you feel that way.
  (Example: “Marketing excites me because I love social media,” or “Shipping intimidates me because I’ve never dealt with customs paperwork.”)