First off, can't thank this forum enough for the vast amount of knowledge you guys readily give. I've started a business I'm sure very few are into so I hope you find this at the very least somewhat interesting.
I'm in the antiques and home decor industry. I sell unique antiques I find as well as custom lighting and tables etc. I just jumped in using the ready, fire, aim approach and I'm refining my process as I go.
I started about 9 months ago and we've managed to be right at 45k in sales so far. Obviously the MAJOR problem with this industry is the fact that I have to hunt down every unique piece I sell. Not that I don't enjoy that but it does make it harder to scale. What I personally see as my future is having around a 50/50 mix of custom built lighting/furniture to unique pieces. Which would alleviate the problem most antique dealers face of having 100% unique antiques. The custom pieces have a much, much better margin. So using a common sense approach I'm trying to push those first and the antiques second. The reason I'm not ditching the antiques all together is because it completes a certain look we're trying to achieve.
Another issue is the sales channels I've been using. Mainly doing antique shows and interior design shows. I'm gaining a lot of customers but as you can imagine, loading a trailer and heading across the country gets to be a bit of a pain. But I am willing to put in that work to get a bigger customer base.
So to help solve this problem I'm studying Instagram a little better and building a website. (It's nowhere near done) I have made 4 or 5 sales from Instagram alone. I've made one sale so far on my website! (That's not sarcasm I was literally pumped)
I've recently reached out to a company (wholesaler) that has a good sized buying base that sells handmade goods such as mine. A friend of mine uses this company and they increased their sales somewhere around 75k just through this one company.
Obviously getting everything reproduced is an option. It just ruins the authenticity of items. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.
So you guys can better understand what I'm talking about here's my site and IG
www.ctrculture.com
@ctrculture
I'm in the antiques and home decor industry. I sell unique antiques I find as well as custom lighting and tables etc. I just jumped in using the ready, fire, aim approach and I'm refining my process as I go.
I started about 9 months ago and we've managed to be right at 45k in sales so far. Obviously the MAJOR problem with this industry is the fact that I have to hunt down every unique piece I sell. Not that I don't enjoy that but it does make it harder to scale. What I personally see as my future is having around a 50/50 mix of custom built lighting/furniture to unique pieces. Which would alleviate the problem most antique dealers face of having 100% unique antiques. The custom pieces have a much, much better margin. So using a common sense approach I'm trying to push those first and the antiques second. The reason I'm not ditching the antiques all together is because it completes a certain look we're trying to achieve.
Another issue is the sales channels I've been using. Mainly doing antique shows and interior design shows. I'm gaining a lot of customers but as you can imagine, loading a trailer and heading across the country gets to be a bit of a pain. But I am willing to put in that work to get a bigger customer base.
So to help solve this problem I'm studying Instagram a little better and building a website. (It's nowhere near done) I have made 4 or 5 sales from Instagram alone. I've made one sale so far on my website! (That's not sarcasm I was literally pumped)
I've recently reached out to a company (wholesaler) that has a good sized buying base that sells handmade goods such as mine. A friend of mine uses this company and they increased their sales somewhere around 75k just through this one company.
Obviously getting everything reproduced is an option. It just ruins the authenticity of items. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback.
So you guys can better understand what I'm talking about here's my site and IG
www.ctrculture.com
@ctrculture
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Membership Required: Upgrade to Expose Nearly 1,000,000 Posts
Ready to Unleash the Millionaire Entrepreneur in You?
Become a member of the Fastlane Forum, the private community founded by best-selling author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur MJ DeMarco. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has poured his heart and soul into the Fastlane Forum, helping entrepreneurs reclaim their time, win their financial freedom, and live their best life.
With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.
Become a member and gain immediate access to...
- Active Community: Ever join a community only to find it DEAD? Not at Fastlane! As you can see from our home page, life-changing content is posted dozens of times daily.
- Exclusive Insights: Direct access to MJ DeMarco’s daily contributions and wisdom.
- Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
- Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with the most..."
Who are you surrounding yourself with? Surround yourself with millionaire success. Join Fastlane today!
Join Today
