My friendly neighborhood antique store

A couple of months ago I was on my way downtown and saw a sign for an antique store I'd never noticed before.  I was excited and made a mental note to visit it; it took me quite a while to get there but I finally made it a couple of days ago!

 

The store was called Splendid Treasures and, do you know what?  The name is accurate.  I was so pleasantly surprised when I walked in and found a spotless, well lit, airy showroom full of beautiful things!

I was met at the door by the owner Susan and Lori, who works there.  I introduced myself as the Colorado Springs Antique and Thrift Shopping Examiner and took out my notebook to ask them a few questions.  Instead of a quick look-see, I was there more than an hour and I feel like I made new friends!

Susan and I hit it off, and when she found out I sold on Etsy and eBay, and that I collect antique china, she took me downstairs to see her "office."  All I can say is that I was blown away.  She has a set-up like what I've always dreamed of down there: tables and tables of sale items that she's listing all set out in order, along with a packing workstation and tons of storage.  Plenty of space, as far as the eye could see.  If you're going to sell on eBay, that's definitely the way to do it.  And what an awesome thing, to have a retail outlet as well as the means to do your online selling.  Of course, she's a Power Seller.  I told her, I want to be just like her when I grow up!

The best part of meeting her, though, was sharing stories of how we each got bitten by "the bug" -- selling vintage and antique stuff online.  I told her how much I love the whole process: the search, cleaning stuff up, photographing it, listing it, and even packing it up and mailing it!  In fact, the latter is probably my favorite part -- and she said it was hers, too!  We groused about the pain of getting negative feedback -- it hasn't happened to me yet, but I know the day will come.  She said the first time it happened to her, she cried!  I know I will, too. It was so much fun meeting a "soul sister"!  You can read the article I wrote about the shop here.  By the way, my 3 week sponsorship ends tomorrow, and thank you very much for the extra clicks!

Last night I listed some new things in my shop for Valentine's Day -- look at that adorable Hallmark paper tablecloth from the 70's!

Also this Royal Doulton commemorative plate from Valentine's Day 1976 (above) and a vintage stamped runner for you to embroider (below.)

Click on the photos to see the listings!  Then, I used this really easy tutorial to create a new banner for my shop in Powerpoint!

Etsy's doing a series on Shop Makeovers, and it's really inspiring me.  If you have a shop, check it out!