The antiques market is doing well at the moment, with so many people trying to live a more eco-conscious lifestyle. Antiques have been owned in the past and therefore the customer is only part of a chain – the item has not been produced at great energy and water expense solely for them. It is for this reason that now could be a good time to start an antiques business, which could involve both buying and selling of antiques. This could prove to be a rewarding, fun and successful business venture and this post will offer a few tips for getting started.
Start With Research & A Plan
As with any new business, you first need to start with research and a business plan. You might have a good eye for antiques, but this does not mean that you know how to start a successful business in this field. You need to become an industry expert and discover who your competitors are, who your target market is and how you can stand out from the crowd. With this information, you can then write a business plan that you can use to guide you in the early stages as well as bring stakeholders onboard.
Choose A Location
When opening an antiques business, you have a few options these days. You could open a shop, set up market stalls, work from your home or have an entirely online operation. It will depend on your requirements and your budget, but you should make sure that you have a strong online presence either way.
Develop A Strong Online Presence
Following this, you should have a professionally designed website for your business that provides detailed information on the stock that you currently have as well as information on how people can sell their antiques to you. You should also be active on social media and use digital marketing to increase your visibility online.
Stock Up
Before opening up, you will want to make sure that you have a few items ready to sell to start bringing money into the business. You should invest in a few quality items in a range of categories, such as watches, artwork, ornaments, furniture and jewelry.
Spread The Word
In addition to developing a strong online presence, you also want to get the word out in the community about your business and encourage people to bring their antiques for you to buy. You can do this by telling friends and family, attending and hosting local events and taking out an ad in the local paper.
Find Fragile Goods Transport Specialists
You also need to make sure that you have fragile goods transport specialists that you can use to safely ship your antiques. Moving fragile goods can be a real challenge and will be key to your success, so you will want to use an online tool that will help you to compare your options for each item.
Now could be a great time to start an antiques business and this post should help you to lay the foundation for future success.
