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My week in Brimfield - how to bring young people into the business
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Brimfield will always be the best place to find the unusual
One part circus, one part flea market, one part networking seminar, to me, that's what the Brimfield antiuqes show is. It's often stated that the antiques trade is just not getting enough young people into the business anymore and I think to some degree that is true.
Want to get a 20 something interested in the business? Bring them to Brimfield in May of 09. You can't walk this show and not be impressed with the diversity of culture. Is Cajun music your thing? No problem, the sound of the accordian can be heard coming from a tent in May's field?
If food is on your priority list you can get anything from those famous hot sausage & peppers sandwiches that only seem to be able to be found at shows and fairs, to the "Pilgrim", a New England treat that is basically a Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich.
You'll find palm readers, UFOlogists, and dealers that will carry a thousand different variations of one type of collectible.
There is rumored to be well over 5 million postcards at the show, crates of antique buttons, probably more costume jewelry than anywhere on the planet.
But don't think for a minute that the show only caters to people who prefer small collectibles, no sir. You can get it in the big size a Brimfield, from amusement park ride cars to complete solid Victorian wall units. If you want to hire a tractor trailer truck to bring your finds home with you, and you have the pocket book for it, you can fill that truck in style. And you can probably get it filled by someone dressed as Elvis.
Ice cream will protect you from a giant squid!
I know people who go to the Brimfield show with antiques dealer friends just to witness the event. At any given time you may find an artist in one of the fields taking advantage of the plethora of human activity.
Sure your thinking what plethora? It's just a bunch of people trading junk. No not true, it's for certain that the majority of people are there to buy or sell antiques, but there's always a lot more going on. The estimated 5000 displays at the show, guarantees this.
Why, the young lady pictured above found out that ice cream is a deterrent to giant sea squid!
Upon leaving the show after viewing the premier of the antiques comedy "Mothballs" our way was blocked by rowdy Viking women, but after assuring them that we had no Hummel figurines to loot, we were allowed to pass without harm. Unless you count splitting a seam from laughter!
After viewing the movie Mothballs we were attcked by Vikings
Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd, and networking with people in the business is one of the most important reasons to make the show. I spent a lot of time with friends from Worthpoint the social networking site for antiques dealers which is making it's presence felt in the antiques world by participating in all the major shows throughout the country.
People always ask me what the best find I ever had was, and my cliche of an answer is always the same, because it's true.
The best thing you can ever find in the antiques business is a great contact. A treasure is gone once you've sold it, but a friend in the business will send you referrals, help you with information and bring you access to more merchandise than you ever dreamed of.
Like all businesses, the antiques trade is a people business, it's just a little quirkier than most. OK, a lot quirkier than most, but it's NEVER boring. That should be enough to get that kid to come to the show with you!
Thanks for reading.
AW
AW w/ Thom Pattie & Dan Borsey of Worthpoint.com
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