Have you ever thought about starting a vintage booth business? Here’s what you need to know to get started. It’s pretty easy and so much fun!
Window shopping
Vintage shopping
Thrifting
Flea Markets
Yard Sales
I love it all, how about you?
And after a whirlwind year of “Thrifting with the Gals“, a series I host here and over on Instagram, I was craving just a little something more.
After all, I really thrifted a lot last year…
So, the next natural step for me in setting my 4 top thrifting goals for 2022 was to find a vintage booth where I could begin reselling and flipping some of those vintage finds.
*Truth be told, this vintage window booth is a creative outlet and hobby for me and not a primary means of income. I love collecting and decorating and am so excited for this next adventure. So, if this is you, too, these tips and tricks are for you.
To learn more about the business side of an antique booth, visit my friend Joanna over at the Antique Startup, who teaches the skills, tricks, and strategies needed to start and run a profitable antique booth business.
What Should I Look for When Choosing a Vintage Booth?
3 Key Elements to Look For When Choosing a Vintage Booth
- Convenient Location | If an antique booth is inconvenient, you can quickly lose interest. And it can become a nuisance rather quickly. How far away is it from where you live? Are you willing to drive that distance once or twice a week?
- Significant Foot Traffic | Not all antique malls get good traffic, so do your homework! Check in with some of the other vendors, and if there are a lot of booth spaces available, that is a clear warning sign.
- Personable Staff / Owners: You will want to like the people who work at the antique mall, staff, and other vendors.
It’s essential to look at the contracts and monthly charges, of course, but it is all worth it if the traffic is there, you enjoy the people, and it’s all convenient for you to make it worthwhile!
I looked at just two locations before I found this window space, offered to me by The Vintage Soul in Manchester, Vermont.
The other antique center had at least a year’s wait and a very long waiting list. And this window space at The Vintage Soul stole my heart right away, a mile away from our home and in the heart of our 4 season resort town in the mountains of Vermont.
This space suits me perfectly.
It’s open, airy, and bright.
To say I got a tad lucky is an understatement. I was prepared to have to wait up to a year or so for a space to open up.
It’s been an absolute whirlwind getting everything ready, but I couldn’t be more excited!
You may also enjoy “Thrifting with the Gal’s” monthly round-up, Spring Thrifty and Things.
You may also enjoy the post, 11 Creative Ideas to Display Your Vintage Collections.
What Do Customers Look for in a Vintage Booth?
I spent this entire week bringing in just the right pieces I thought our seasonal Vermont shoppers would enjoy. Every town and customer can be very unique. And I have quite a collection of treasures already from a year out, “Thrifting with the Gals“.
Here are My 9 Vintage Booth Tips:
- Choose 3 or 4 oversized ticket items, and make up the rest with smaller vintage finds.
- Showcase each piece as it could be used in one’s home.
- Don’t clutter your vintage booth, but have plenty of merchandise available.
- Make it all accessible for the customer to walk around and touch.
- Supply a stack of business cards so the customer can reach you with any questions.
- Vintage booth shoppers are not like those of us who like to pick. This is important to remember. They want a pleasant shopping experience and want to be sold.
- The entire booth should be aesthetically pleasing.
- Plan on fluffing and restocking at least every 1-2 weeks.
- Use risers, like stools, to stack up your merchandise.
How to Start Selling in an Antique Booth
First, I ordered these adorable custom price tags with my logo on one side, along with this blue jute twine to tie them onto the merchandise.
Custom price tags are a charming way to show how much you care for the items you are selling, adding value to your brand, too.
Next, I ordered this custom sign to hang proudly in the booth with my Dabbling & Decorating logo.
Do you have a partner, spouse, or friend who uses your tools and never puts them back where they belong? My third suggestion is a “Bag of Lady’s Tools.” I swear by these ever since my girlfriend introduced me to them! I always know where they are, and since they’re pink, nobody feels the urge to steal them…
They are perfect to have on hand to hang that valuable picture, fix broken merchandise, touch up dings and dents, etc… Helping to keep your booth in tip-top shape.
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The first day setting up was a very long day for sure…
But the owner, Lisa, couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating. And her nickname is MacGyver!
She nicely offered me price tags and a non-smudge pen to use until my new price tags came in, and she even fixed a broken wheel on a French market basket that I wanted to show off in my booth.
She has the best candy treats, too, with an old-fashioned candy counter available in the store!
Love the beautiful flower touches she added to my booth too.
You may also enjoy the post JUST 4 BLUE DISHES ON THE 4TH OF JULY.
As this week ends, my vintage window booth is all set up at the Vintage Soul, and next week, I’ll be adding all my custom price tags and signs and starting back out to go “Thrifting with the Gals.”
And if you’re ever in the Manchester, Vermont area, stop in and say hello at The Vintage Soul. It is there you will find all my collections in the window. Yeah!
You may also enjoy the post, Vintage Booth Winter Window Display and Meet My Ol’ Gal, Miss Mannequin Dress Form.
You may also enjoy the post, Let’s Make a Homespun Vintage Booth Wall Display.
What I Have Learned From 2 Years of Having a Vintage Booth Business
I can hardly believe it will be two years in March of 2024 that I have had this vintage window booth. I’ve learned so much since first writing this blog post. The biggest takeaway is knowing and understanding what your customers are looking for and want to purchase. It’s not the same for everyone. Here’s what I have learned:
- Vintage plates, dishes, and platters really don’t sell well. This may simply be because of the area we are in, a three-season tourist resort town.
- Large price tags make a statement. The bigger and bolder, the better. I now use these Hang Ties.
- Signage is vital to inform and sell customers.
- Refresh what doesn’t sell, mark it down, and move it out.
- Have small, easily sellable items that catch a customer’s eye, like bouquets of dried hydrangeas or a basket of inexpensive Christmas ornaments.
- Monthly revenues can fluctuate significantly. Don’t take it to heart.
Most of all, have fun!
I’m so glad you dropped by, and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you enjoyed your visit with us here today from our Home in Vermont.
Be sure to also check out our Home in Coastal Maine, where we spend summers and weekends when we are craving a walk on the beach or a visit with old friends.
I’ve created the above custom pin just for this post! Hearing from you makes my day and your comments mean so much to me! Please join me over on Instagram & Pinterest to see more!
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These are such great tips. I ran a vintage booth for a while after I closed my boutique. It was so much fun. Hugs to you.
Thank you Renae, aren’t they so much fun to have? Happy holidays to you, I’m so glad you joined us this year.
I wish you had written this a few years ago when I had a booth. It was so beautiful and fun to play with as I displayed everything so perfectly. My problem was I hadn’t researched foot traffic. Even though I found it, no one else did and eventually the building was closed and sold. All that said, this was a fantastic post and makes me wish I could do it again. My life long dream is to have my own store. Sell homemade pies, repurposed finds and antiques with a place in the back for classes or tea parties.
Loved being with y’all this year and following along with what you found. Y’all have the best stuff up north. Seems like most of it is so different from our things. Cheers to another year of thrifting and best wishes on the booth. To have a window is awesome!!!
Thank you Cindy, yes foot traffic is everything really. It’s funny because I want the window to look so nice too, but you have to actually sell things to stay there, haha. So it may not always look the way I want it to but it’s been loads of fun. Happy Holidays Cindy!
Your booth looks so good Ann! The locals are going to love your spot!😊 Pinned!
So sweet of you to say. I’m always so happy to see you stop by🤗
You have done a really nice display. It looks fantastic!! I have a collection of vintage/ antique items. I love to shop for them. It is my addiction!! I have always wanted to do a booth. How do you decide how to price your items? This is my main issue- that’s holding me back. Thank you
Hi Stephanie. I agree with you it can be a challenge. I decide based upon the customer base of the shop and the value an item sells for online. And I am always open to offers too😃
This is so exciting Ann. I’m thrilled for you and your new adventure and can’t wait to take a ride to see it in person. We used to drive through Manchester when bringing our son to college in Poultney. We always stopped on our way back just to enjoy the wonderful area shops. Wishing you lots of fun and luck!!!! Awesome!!!!!
Wow Kathy, Poultney? I went to GMC🙌🏻
This is so exciting Ann! Before I started gardening, I had always wanted to have a booth at a vintage shop. I will just live through you. Love all your vintage goodies.
Thank you Kim it’s really been a lot of fun💃💃
Hi Ann. Fellow thrifter here! Your booth sounds so exciting! Wishing you tons of success!
I hope to start a little vintage business of my own. Maybe online or as pop up barn sales. Or maybe a combination of both? My collections are boardering on a hoard! Lol!! But thrifting is my thing, so I don’t see myself stopping any time soon!
I’m with you Donna. Good luck to you in starting up a vintage business💃
Crushing on your vintage blackboards! I’ll be in Vermont this summer and stopping by!
Aren’t those so cute. They’re children’s learning slates😃
Ann I am not local but my friend is often shopping in Manchester.
Can you send me an email? I can’t send you one directly from here I’m afraid🙈
Congratulations, Ann! I know you will have roaring success! You’re observation about the wide range of differences in antique malls, booths and thrift stores is so true. I am thrilled to watch the evolution of your booth business!
Thank you so much Kristine. It’s going to be so much fun😃
Hi Ann! Love your new shop! Are you selling your Autumn’s Delight dishes? I would love to buy them. Can you email me?
TY! And good luck with your new venture!
MaryAnn
Hi MaryAnn yes I am. Are you local to the area?
Ann, this is so exciting!! Perfect next step for you…and a great excuse to have to keep thrifting!! Congrats!
Thanks so much Jennifer been so much fun💃🏼
Ann,
I’m so excited for you and your new venture. I’ll share a link to your post. on Sunday.
Thank you so much Rachel💃🏼