Page 31 - JOA-July-22

It was wonderful to be around Martha and watch her move with the Where does your love of antiques come
times. You should see the TikTok video she made as the set-up was fin-
ishing up, with the title “The Great American Tag Sale.” from? How did you start in the business
https://www.tiktok.com/@marthastewart/video/7089240331295755563?i of buying and selling?
s_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7099469019372389934 My mother doesn’t know where I came from because our whole
My friend Jim Clinko and I got a chance to have a few laughs about house was Mid-Century Modern. She said I was an alien. And my
setting up the tag sale and tease auctioneer Frank Kaminski a bit, all father threw everything out. That was a big key. My father threw out
while making sure things are displayed at their best because “The all my toys, he threw out all the
Queen don’t like Boring!”
cool stuff.
He came home once from
Were there a lot of younger fans and his job as a policeman and
body shop worker with a
antiques enthusiasts attending? Coca-Cola fountain. It
Yes. There’s a lot of young people interested in this, but it’s catego- looked like a boat engine.
rized and seen differently by them. Their personal taste comes from My eyes grew big – I saw it
such a mix of visuals. We saw these things in use when the old people for five minutes and it went
had them and we acquired a taste, a like, for it. in the dump.
And there is a lot to learn from Martha about lifestyle. She is changing I was always attracted to
– she is projecting to the younger people with social media and with her beautiful, older things. I would
friends like Snoop Dogg – he’s really funny. rather be at my grandmother's
where the beautiful things were than
at home. I was a sponge.
Such friends. She
I've been dealing in antiques
really likes him! forever. I’ve had so many jobs
She loves him. I saw her that day as starting from when I was really young,
she was ending a FaceTime call with and I’ve just always had that drive to get out there and see what’s what.
him and she was glowing. What sells, and what its backstory is.
I’ve known Martha for almost 30 I’ve worked everywhere from supermarkets and Carvel, to having
years but at this event, I saw her in a my own business, to working at Tiffany’s (where I met Martha) and
new light, a young light, a hip light, have learned something from every job I ever had and every person I’ve
and a Martha Stewart light. She has all ever met. All this makes me curious to see what else is out there - to
these facets. She came out and talked learn more about antiques, about how they came about, and how they
with visitors, took selfies, and had a were made. I have had so many great life experiences because I let them
lot of fun. happen — and it always works out.
And she gets the job done. I enjoy every minute.

Tell me more. Do you plan out where and when
She is in command. Things would not get done if she wasn’t there.
She knows what she wants and she had a model in her head of how she you are going to buy antiques to sell?
wanted this Tag Sale done. For instance, she wanted the tables staggered. I tend to live spontaneously. It’s very freeing, and I am open to any-
This slows down the traffic so people see more, and buy more. thing and everything I see. I just go with my gut.
No one makes a move until she is in the room and things are done Just this morning I had a feeling I should get out there and travel
to her satisfaction. This is not just decoration, this is Martha and her around on Long Island. I was talking with Frank Kaminski this morn-
aesthetic, her brand. ing and he knows how I operate. He told me, “If you have the feeling
to get out there, get our there!” I did, and I scored some great stuff. I
ended up buying some marvelous Mid-Century
Modern Art. It always works out in the end.

What do you like to buy

and sell?
I like buying things that sell fast (chuckles).
But I really like finding stuff that is really old,
well-made — stuff you will never see again.
Stuff that speaks to me. I love buying and sell-
ing and talking to people. And learning from
Martha. This is an amazing life.
And there is nothing like a touchy-feely
antique show like the Brimfield Antique Flea
Market. I’ve been selling here for years.
The experience, the
smells, the people. I
hope shows like the
one in Brimfield
continue on for
100 years. It feeds
my soul.

Catch up with
Vinnie on Instagram
@manzo6907
photos: Martha Stewart
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