Hi friend! Like you, I am a really big fan of antiques and collectibles. I have been buying, collecting, and even selling for over 30 years now. Many of my good friends are Antique Dealers, sell at Antique Malls or Antique Shows, or sell Vintage Items or Vintage Collectibles. This is a particularly rough time, with shops closed, flea markets cancelled, and much uncertainty.
BUT…..there is a silver lining. While you might not have the gift of income, you DO have the gift of time. So, let’s make good use of that time, and build a strong marketing plan!
One thing I hear over and over again from the entire Antique and Vintage community is this: I KNOW I need to be using Social Media to market my business and attract new customers and clients. But I just don’t know HOW.
Well, worry no more. Because I do! And I’m excited to show you how!!!
Antiques and Collectibles
I think it’s best to spend a minute introducing myself. Because, let’s face it. If you don’t know a thing about me, or why I’m even qualified to invite you on this journey with me, then you won’t read one more word. And that would be a huge BUMMER. Because I know 100% I can get you and your Antique or Vintage business up and rolling on Social Media.
A Tiny Bit About Me
My name is Mary Meier-Evans. I’m married to Will Evans who is equal parts quirky and hunky, and we live in Texas. Both of us have the collecting bug. Bad. Like, real bad. I collect Vintage Christmas. Will collects Folk Art. I love Needlework. Will loves Vernacular Photography. Mid-Century Tea Towels stop me in my tracks. For Will, it’s Marine Corps antiques. We love our Antiques and Collectibles! Our home is kind of a hot mess! But we love it!
Mary and Will, treasure hunting at the Paris Flea Market Les Puces de Saint-Ouen
Will learned to buy, sell and trade WWI uniforms in his teenage years. I grew up enjoying long hours of wandering the Antique Malls of East Texas with my parents. My first apartment was furnished with English Antiques I could only afford, one-piece-at-a-time.
As our kids have gotten older, Will and I are able to travel more. In fact, I am also a Travel Blogger. We prioritize our travel around Antique Shows, Auctions, and Flea Markets we want to attend in the US, as well as Europe. We have drug stuff home in suitcases you would not believe! Or….maybe you would!
As I’ve worked hard to grow my Travel Blog, I am grateful for my years as a non-profit consultant. As a consultant, I helped structure and implement many Marketing Plans, that included developing or improving Social Media for my clients. Those skills come in handy as I work to promote and build my own Travel Blogging Business.
Recently, Will and I opened our very own Antique Booth at Benny Jack Antiques on Riverfront in Dallas. I also built a site to showcase all the goodies that are not available in our Booth. It’s a LOT of work, and a LOT of fun to be on the selling side, as you all know!
What I Began to Notice:
As my husband and I travel, we both take lots of pictures for my Blog Posts, as well as our Social Media posts. I got in the habit of asking Antique Dealers, or Show Promoters, or Antique Malls their Social Media names on Facebook or Instagram, so I could “tag” them, introducing my Blog readers to them via Social Media.
Time after time, I got the same answers:
“I Don’t Have Social Media.”
“I Have an Instagram, but I don’t use it.”
“I’m on Facebook, but I only use it for personal stuff.”
Hmmmmm. I wanted to know more. So I started asking questions. And here’s my conclusion.
In my experience, people involved in the Antiques and Vintage worlds are some of the smartest people I know. They are well-read. They are students of History. The have sharp minds, and a quick eye. Many are actively placing ads in traditional paper publications, so they know the value of advertising.
So, why, time and time again, were these accomplished business owners, whom I KNEW wanted to make more sales, not using the world’s BIGGEST and FREE Advertising platforms?
And Then I Realized….
It comes down to one common reason: Many of you simply needed someone to show you HOW. Not a grandkid who “is on their phone all the time so they must know Social Media.” And not a sales-y marketing guru who does not know one single thing about the Antiques or Vintage industries.
Y’all need someone to show you step-by-step, in a format you can refer to as MANY times as needed, with examples SPECIFIC to your industries.
And guess what, y’all. That someone, is ME!
Antique Dealers
OK all my Antique Dealers. All My Vintage Dealers. Here’s the deal. The world is going digital. Like it or not, it is. Why do you think there are so many on-line places to list what you are selling? I can promise you it’s not because no one is buying from those sites! They are!
But here’s the bigger question….regardless of WHERE you are selling, do you want more people to know about you and the amazing treasures you have for sale? You bet your sweet bippy you do!
Do you want more people to know about your next Show, or where your brick-and-mortar is, or what booth you are in at you local Antique Mall. Um, yea you do!
But do you know HOW to share that information on Social Media, in a way that more than your spouse and your friends from college will see it? I can teach you!!!
Do you want potential clients and customers to know more about you, your background, and why you are THE go-to dealer for whatever you are selling? Two words: Social Media.
Antique Shows for selling Antiques and Collectibles
How about all my Antique Show Promoter friends. Are you happy with the traffic at your show? Could you use a little more…or a lot more??? Are you taking your Show or Flea Market on-line until we can all enjoy face-to-face buying and selling again?
What if you learned how to promote your Antique Shows or Flea Markets on Social Media…..and then….what if the Dealers at your shows learned to promote themselves AND your Show or Flea Market too?
Did you just hear the internet explode? Because I sure did!
That’s a LOT of collective chatter that is guaranteed to raise the awareness and visibility of your Antique Shows or Flea Markets, drive more traffic, help your dealers cultivate more clients, which leads to more antiques and collectibles sales. And suddenly, you find yourself with a WAITING LIST of dealers who want IN….! I can teach you how to get the word out on Social Media!
Antique Malls for Selling Antiques and Collectibles
All my Antique Mall Owners and Managers. Same deal. A whole lot of dealers talking about their treasures for sale in your Mall….Social Media is FREE advertising! FREE! All it costs is your time. You talk more, with intentionality and purpose, about your Mall on Social Media. And your Dealers learn to do the same. Woah, baby…you are going to see RESULTS!!!!
How to Be More Productive with the Time you DO Have!
Which leads me to another important issue for ALL of us: TIME. We all need more. I do. You do. Owning your own business is HARD work. Time consuming work. And I know some of you believe you simply don’t have the time to learn how to use Social Media.
But right now….all we DO have is TIME!
I know this for certain: the world is going digital. And businesses that don’t have a Purposeful, Attractive, and Consistent presence on Social Media, are in danger of missing out on thousands of potential clients and customers. Thousands.
If you are going to spend any time at all on Social Media, make that time COUNT! Would you rather spend 5 minutes on Social Media looking at pictures of people’s pets, or would you rather spend those same 5 minutes on Social Media growing your potential customer base? That’s a no brainer!
I can help you! Step-by-Step. Learn the basics of Social Media. At your own pace.
I can help you learn how to use Social Media to raise the visibility of your business, attract new clients and customers, and increase your sales. And maximize the time you DO spend on Social Media to really make a different for your business, by selling MORE antiques and collectibles.
How?
Getting Social with The Curious Cowgirl
FREE TRAINING! Yes! FREE! Who does not love FREE? On my Podcast “Getting Social With The Curious Cowgirl” I offer FREE training in every episode! You can find my podcast wherever you listen to podcasts!
WORKSHOPS! Topic specific workshops offered via ZOOM. At the end of March, I’m teaching on Instagram. How to create interesting content, how to better utilize Stories, and all about hashtags! Instagram has TRANSFORMED my Antique & Vintage business, and I know it can for you too!
The cost is $45 per person, and the next workshop is scheduled for the end of March 2021, so email me at marythecuriouscowgirl@Gmail.com and I’ll send you all the details!
There’s so much we can do….TOGETHER!
xoxo
Mary, The Curious Cowgirl
Vintage Christmas….can’t get enough!
Tags: Antique Dealer | Antique Mall | Antique Shop | Antiques | Collector | Digital Course | Estate Sale | Flea Market | Vintage
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