I'm trying to keep my brain active and my body functioning, though at times both tend to argue with the LOL factor.
I realize I need to learn about stuff in order to describe it properly in a sales setting. That is the brain part. I know I need to keep moving, the physical part, so the slow walks through thrift shops and garage sales has a two-fold purpose. And I'm stretching my income and having fun. I find good stuff and great prices on ah, pre-owned items that I use or resell. Sometimes the items go to family members....'Where did you get that amazing sweater?' A: 'Ah, my grandmother knows this little ah, boutique'.
I live in northeast Phoenix and am within easy driving distance of eight or nine Goodwills, a St Vinnies, (St Vincent de Paul), two animal rescues thrift store, a church charity shop and a Savers.
Depending on how I map my trip, I can easily hit a large circle of stores, all close to home, without driving any distance. What I shop, I concentrate on specific categories of stuff; things I know about. OR can teach myself about. In addition to the thrift stores, there are a constant round of estate sales, garage sales, a few live auctions and the occasional church rummage sale.
Rule number one: when shopping for resale: buy what you know about,
Rule number two: If it's a quarter or a buck, you probably cannot be hurt.
Memorize both!
The good news about such shopping is that you are creating yourself a real job and one that allows you to work from home, as I do. I recall the day, that with a visiting younger sister in tow, I located an estate sale, a very odd estate sale I discover, as sis asked what exactly we are doing. Sis isn't big on used. (Am I related to her?), as we walk through tables and tables filled to over flowing the pots and pans. That's it. Pots and pans: cookware, cast iron, stainless steel, enamel, frying pans, large and even larger pots; someone was a collector.
One of my passions over the years is for vintage Revere Ware. My mother received a set as a wedding gift in 1939. I bought my own pieces from the Rome, NY factory outlet store in the early 60's. I love to cook in it. I love to clean those shiny copper bottoms and hang them on a rack. I like how it cooks and how it cleans up.
It was obvious, this day, that I'd found my pot of gold. I told sis: "Look for copper bottoms, anything with copper bottoms". The woman running the sale kept an eye on our pile, as it grew and grew. Good thing I drive a station wagon. I filled the back that day. I know about Revere Ware, it's history, how to identify the vintage stuff, how to clean it and when not to buy it. I know some tricks to cleaning the copper; I even bought a polisher to make the copper shine.
At the top of my (mental) checklist when out shopping is Revere Ware. This weekend, as an example, I found two lids. Last weekend, it was three pans without lids. At fifty cents each, I did not turn any away.
Find of the week: Four Fujimori Humoresque 7 1/2" salad plates, $2.00 at Goodwill, (50% off day), sold for more then $100. How did I know to buy them, (as I am not a china expert?) The plates were in excellent condition, had a very unusual shape and design AND did not say, 'made in China, dishwasher safe'. And they were two bucks!
Ruth K Greene sells on eBay to keep busy. An award winning fiber artist, she divides her time between her studio and computer. She gives the occasional workshop or talk relating to her art. Her writing includes columns and on-line journal publications including MAM magazine and Find Woodworking magazine. You may contact her at rkgreene8@gmail.com.
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