Trash Talk

About 10 years ago I first heard the phrase “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”  When I am out scouting for items to resell, I think about the friend who told me this and wonder if what I pick will be appreciated and sought after by adventurous shoppers.

The business of buying and reselling is a gamble – but it is something that helps supplement our income.  With the nagging threat of a job loss on the forefront, coupled with the horrific price of health insurance that we pay out of pocket, my little business is not only fun but a necessity at this point. 

 

One rule of thumb that I keep in mind when selecting items to sell is to think outside of my safety zone.  This means that every now and then I need to buy something that I would not necessarily use in my own home. For example, I recently found a Mid-Century modern Starburst wall clock at an estate sale.  Yea, not my style, but a few days later it was purchased by a young couple who loved it. 

I adore old scales, clocks, ironstone, transferware, old floral Sunday oils (with holes, too), galvanized buckets, rusty baskets, oil cans and chippy painted furniture.  Though not elegant and refined, these old pieces have personality with their aged and weathered appearance and fit “my style” of decorating, which I describe as an eclectic mix of cottage and English style decor.

 

The vintage store display below was one of those finds that I thought would be wonderful out on my patio to hold potted plants.  Instead, it is for sale in the shop.  It would be just perfect in a kitchen!  Wouldn’t it be great to display old crockery bowls and neatly stacked piles of French towels?  Or, better yet, use for a little mini bar – after all, it says “Perfect Cocktails Every Time With Holland House.”

 

My favorite egg basket sold the other day and now I am having seller’s remorse for putting it in the shop to sell.  That’s how it goes though – can’t keep everything!  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.  The search is on for another one!