Topology of Antique Retail Spaces

Topology of Antique Retail Spaces:

            This is an introductory topology of retail spaces for the antique market. These are brick and mortar shops that are open to the public. This list does not include auctions and temporary retail spaces (such as antique markets, flea markets etc.) It also does not include retail through auction. However, often retailers will employ the store, market, and auction triad to expand their sales.

Class One Retail Reseller:

This is the highest end of antique store. 

They sometimes specialize in one singular subject (e.g. silver, art deco, colonial furniture).

They employ people with a high level of expertise gained through a lifetime of study.

They employ persons with professional certifications (such as appraisers).

They deal in materials considered fine art as well as antique material objects.

Museums rely on their expertise and inventory.

Many are also auction houses.

Reputation is key to their business model.

May have a national market for their goods.

Find objects specifically for their clients.

Class Two Retail Reseller:

            Larger owner operated shops.

Do not specialize in a singular type or period of object, but maintain a diverse inventory.

Inventory is of high quality objects.

Staff has a high level of knowledge about inventory and some subjects, but lacks recognition of expertise by larger community or professional certifications.

Shop does not employ professional appraisers.

Class Three Retail Reseller:

            Multi-dealer shops.

            Inventory is a mix of high quality objects and vintage, collectables.

Retail functions similar to a non-antique retail shop with little or no professional expertise. Staff exists for checking out customers.

Shop contains large volume of objects.

This volume of objects assists volume of trade, but many objects create a hodge-podge of eras, quality and prices.

Customer must do the searching for object types they desire.

Class Four Retail Reseller:

Sells a mix of high quality used contemporary objects, vintage, and collectables.

May or may not recognize the value of any antiques they resell.

If they do recognize an antique, it is often overpriced because it is “an antique”

May be a single owner shop or a multi dealer shop.

Retail space clean and somewhat organized.

Cleaner and brighter than a class five shop.

Sells ‘used’ goods.

Thrift shops are an example of this type.

Class Five Retail Reseller:

            Sells a mix contemporary objects, vintage, collectibles, junk and  garbage.

            Inventory is tossed on shelves, stacked on floor and may be hard to navigate.

            Inventory is not organized.

            Retail space is disorganized and cleaning in negligible.

            Often prices are not clear.

            May be single dealer or multi dealer.

            Antiques may be mixed into the piles of inventory.

            Customer must dig to find material.

May have an outside area where objects become exposed to elements reducing their value.

True junk stores.

You will want to wash your hands after searching for things here.

I have turned over a stack of blankets in a shop like this once to find a rats nest and have my hands covered in stale urine.