The world of antiques is as green as it gets

                   Nothing is more "Green" than an antique

I'll bet the "Green" movement very rarely thinks of antiques as being Green products, but the truth is they are the ultimate recyclable. There's no production impact on something that's already made.

Recently  I caught up with Vince of Greenspot Antiques for an interview. 

Here's part 1 of that interview:

Q:  I love that your niche in the antiques marketplace is that you promote antiques as being Green, but this is not a new philosophy for you is it?

A: Being GREEN?  we never even thought of it.   We form a part of a long history of people who salvage, restore, and re-use items because of their beauty, heritage, and simply because we consider it a shame that excellent materials are thrown out because they are "dated" or "out of fashion".

  We're not green, we simply ARE real antiquers. The GREENS have simply caught up to our common sense and ethos these days.

We understood years ago that the future was 'green' and named our store for it.  Because we are generalists AND specialists this cut across all themes of our enterprise - All our products, processes AND creations are green by nature. What better name than "GREEN SPOT".  Every action we take in our business is designed to leave a green footprint behind us as we move.

We put our intentions to the test recently in purchasing our own building, from 1904, and renovating and restoring it using ONLY used materials (well, 95%) , mostly from the internals of the building itself, wiring, windows, doors, etc. We restore antiques using only low-toxic materials (shellacs, beeswax, analine dyes, animal hide glue).

We have calculated our CARBON footprint, and it is NEGATIVE, when you take into account that we are carrying forwards generations of carbon-saving practices (An antique could embody up to 8 generations of NON polluting human activity -- we call it the ULTIMATE GREEN factor).

Q: The term "Trading Post" has lost it's original meaning these days. Now a trading post is something more equated with souvenir and gift shops. But you have a bonified TRADING POST at Green Spot Antiques. What can you tell me about that?

A: Our Trading post is simply a method where we provide a "redecorating" service for our customers.  Sometimes their tastes change, families downsize, or they must move. 

Sometimes they know exactly what they want as a replacement for their treasured antique item, sometimes they don't.  our Trading Post is designed to offer them 50% of the current RETAIL price as store credit for their item.  They can use this store credit to purchase another item NOW, or at some time in the future.  Many customers see this as both a very handy service, and a clear indication that we stand behind our product.

In two years, we sold the same pump organ 3 times to different customers, and have many happy repeat customers using this service.  They have come to trust us and know we offer very clear and honest evaluations and service.

Q:  What are the hot items on the antiques market in Ontario?

A: HOT items, whatever we sell, of course !   A Hot item is based on presentation and dealer trust.  We have a large and varied group of collectors awaiting watches, clocks, toys, ephemera, and even some items of furniture. These are our 24-hour flips, we phone, they come, they buy.  They know we KNOW what they are looking for, exactly, so little time is wasted for either party.

In the general markeplace, we find that you have to work hard to sell an item. At last weekend's show, we purchased 5 chocolate molds from a dealer. They were in a box, along with another 40 or so... a jumble.  We picked out 5 that had good appeal, put them in OUR booth (same show) and sold 3 of 5 for 8 times the money.

We simply presented them as special, and talked up the customers.  In this business our best margins are on the things that don't sell themselves  No-one has a problem selling a fine piece of Meissen or a Van Gogh,  metal chocolate forms do take work instead.

We consider ourselves retailers, not antiques dealers. We measure costs by the square foot, and we work very hard to sell an item. When we take an item for consignment, we charge 50% of proceeds -- as our philosophy is that the SELLING IS THE SERVICE and makes the item what it is.

Short answer to your question?  Organ Keys, door knobs, iron stove elements have been made HOT by us in our store, but are NOT hot in the general marketplace here in Ontario.

Industrial Art is becoming a growth market here, but that also applies to the States, as in Chicago where it is HUGE!

I laugh these days when I think some of our best sources are the metal recycling yards in our vicinity.

Q:  Are there specific antiques that you think Canadians go for that Americans aren't buying right now?

A: Not really, other than they stricly Canadiana pieces with historical ties, or community ties, the two markets are quite similar.

Q:  One of the best things I love about antiques, is the way people can save money by re-purposing an item made for one particular use, and retro-fitting it to perform another function for them. Does that play much of a part in your business?

A: Did I say we're called "Green Spot" ?  We take 10 antique organs apart every year for their decorative parts and elements. These become shelves, backsplashes, wall art, table bases, keys become decorative (we even had one piano playing customer make his doorbell out of a set of 5 old piano keys together in a wooden box, wired into his home), and more.

Table legs, gingerbread, corbels, all become something else, while retaining their original look and adding charm to new interiors. Yes we encourage re-purposing.

Check back here tomorrow for part 2 of this interview with Vince of Greenspot Antiques.

Find out more about Green Spot Antiques at:

Green spot antiques
http://greenspotantiques.com/

Antiques Recyclers-Salvage Chic
http://greenspotting.ning.com/    

On Twitter at http://twitter.com/greenspotting

                          What I'm up to:

  Things move fast in the auction world, those in the know make more $. Stay informed w/ my newsletter. No spam. I promise. Sign up below for Auctionwally's Sunday News.

Newsletter sign up, win collectibles, no spam