Er, market research?

Naw, it's shopping!! We went to a show down in Sarasota yesterday - just fabulous, museum quality items throughout. The jewelry cases all looked to be getting a lot of traffic, but we overheard one dealer say that they hadn't sold a THING yet. Yikes! Granted, this was upmarket merchandise; but most of the dealers were sat down with their books or their lunches, rather than engaging in conversation of any kind with their customers. Seems to me that would be limiting the business you'd be doing right there. My many years working in retail taught me to acknowledge every single person who comes into the store (or in the case of a show, a booth area) with a friendly "hello", and an offer of help if it's needed or wanted - and then to watch the customer for the next clue. I personally have been put off if I'm approached the moment I pick an item up for closer examination - like if I pick something up to look at the underside of it, or to find the price tag. If I'm approached immediately after picking up the first item, I'll usually the item down and leave, as I'm more comfortable browsing first and then asking questions, if I need to.

Of course, it's just as off-putting if you've seen something you're interested in, and the dealer or salesperson is not returning your inquiring gaze. if their nose is stuck in a book, a salad, or if they are (worst of all) having a conversation on a cell phone, then I'm most likely to put the item down, and walk away, rather than attempt to try to get their attention. I figure it's the dealer's job to try to make sale, rather than the customer's!

It's a balance of watching what's going on, making sure everyone knows that you've seen them, and keeping yourself available for giving information if it's wanted. And, in case you haven't noticed, this is the best security you can give your booth too. The person who wants to lift your merchandise is counting on slipping in and out unnoticed - they don't want to be acknowledged, or have you catch their eye. Being receptive to their moves means that you're aware of where their hands are going - to their pockets, to a bag, to a companion - springing up beside someone who is acting in a suspicious manner and offering to help them is a sure way to put the potential shoplifter off their game, and put the potential customer at ease - you really can't lose.

Well, after admiring all the treasures at the show in Sarasota - and admitting that these precious objects were way beyond our present means and scope of collecting - we moved slowly northbound. We stopped at a few places in Ellenton, including the Old Feedstore, where I hadn't been for about 5 years or so! We found it to be a great place with many nooks and crannies, just filled with treasures. Bob spotted an Expo 67 Sadler Mug, which was a great addition to my collection of memorabilia from that World's Fair. I seem to find about two items a year, which seems like a good pace at which to be growing such a specialized collection. And the price was right! You just have to be patient with those particular items: they appear during the Snowbird Season, when the Canadians are in town. You just can't find them at all during the summer months.

Today we went to a completely different kind of show - Antique Bottle Collectors. This is such a specialty niche, yet there were enough dealers to fill the entire armory in St. Pete for several days! Some of the specimens just like jewels in their coloring - pale lavender, so many shades of green; milk bottles from the many regional dairy companies that used to operate in the area; and then there were the specialty shaped bottles - one whole table devoted just to bottles shaped like violins! It was just mind-boggling, the depth of the collecting that any one area can go to. (I'll admit to not understanding the attraction of the glass insulators used in the electrical industry - they're nice looking, but I just don't get it!) Familiar sights were the various soda pop bottles, which seemed to do a brisk trade at the show. Once again, we did not make any purchases at this particular show, but we found most of the dealers were very happy to spend time and chat with us about various aspects of their collections. It's satisfying to see such passions abound in the midst of so much apathy (in general) in our society. I really find that aspect of the collectibles world to be very appealing.