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From Asheford Institute of Antiques: Can Million-Dollar
Garage Sale Finds Still Be Had?
NEW YORK CITY – With the current Internet frenzy regarding the Mission chairs she once picked up after a seller offered her a nominal
auction of a garage sale bowl that was bought for $35 in Connecticut, and fee to just “haul them away.”
sold at Sotheby’s for just over $720,000, Mark Davies, an online collector For others in the market, garage “saleing” has become more about
and dealer in porcelain for over thirty years, says he believes that finds of strategy. Bruce Hodgson, an antique and vintage jewelry dealer from
this caliber, while still quite rare, are more common than people might South Florida, says that over the years, even though he’s developed a
know. “I haven’t made six-figures, or anything like that,” says Davies, “but multitude of different systems for acquiring inventory, he keeps coming
over the years I’ve purchased multiple examples from yard sales that I went back to garage sales. “There’s simply no replacing box-lots,” says Hodgson.
on to resell for hundreds of times more than what I paid.” In some “Everyone can see a beautiful walnut table that was passed on down from
instances, Davies says that he’s earned thousands of dollars off of items he Grandma, but what’s often not seen are the pieces of family jewelry that
found discarded at the end of a sale. “They were literally throwing the stuff just get dumped into the bottom of boxes.” Hodgson says he can’t recount
out.” says Davies. While not every outing can bring in such rewards, the number of times he’s come across rings and broaches thought to be
Davies confesses that if he had to add-up his best inventory finds over the worthless that ended up helping him set monthly sales records. “I’m very
last thirty years, hands-down, it would still be his picks from Saturday particular about what garage sales I go to,” says Hodgson, “I plan my route
morning yard-sales that provided the most return on investment. around neighborhoods with retirees—the older the folks—the older the
Many dealers acknowledge that sourcing out good quality items can stuff.” Hodgson also believes that having a lifetime worth of experience
be tougher today than in the past, since it’s not only those holding the in the jewelry business has helped him immensely when it comes to
garage sale who are doing their research, but also the customers. Cheryl competition from the Saturday morning price-checkers. “It’s not nearly as
Oaks, an antique dealer from Irvine, California says that sales she easy to identify a genuine piece of antique jewelry from a picture on a
attends today are littered with armies of phone-holders conducting phone, as it is in person,” says Hodgson. “You’re definitely going to be
online price-checks and and bid comparisons. “It’s obviously not what handicapped if you can’t bring some prior knowledge to the sale.”
you want to see,” says Oaks, “but by the same token, I’ve found that While most dealers would likely agree that garage sale competition
a lot of people tend to get frustrated when they can’t get quick and has been getting stiffer over the last ten years due to the public’s increased
definitive answers, and will often leave an item behind because they’re awareness of “value” items, many would also argue that there are simply
unsure about its actual value or authenticity.” Oaks believes that a more garage sales now than ever before due to the aging boomer popula-
lot of this has to do with information overload. “They’re not really tion. For Mike Horlock, who has been picking sales in the Atlanta region
professionals, they’re just punters out looking for something to do,” she for the last forty years, it’s become a delicate balance. “Prior to the
says. “When they come across an item they can’t readily identify, they boomers disposing of their goods and chattels, most of what I found was
become inundated with a slew of online examples, which tends to headed straight to flea markets for resale - today, it’s pretty much going
create uncertainty.” Oaks says she’s lost out a few times to the Saturday straight to antique and vintage shops.” Horlock says he would have been
morning crowd, but in the long run, says that some of her best lucky to come across high-value garage sale items back then, but today,
inventory still comes from garage sales, including some original Stickley it’s almost a common occurrence. Visit asheford.com for more articles.
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