Jan and John Maggs Antiques
Newsletter -- September 16, 2008
Volume 5, number 8
Since last month's newsletter . . . .
Our Sales Tax Holiday Sale
The first of many?
The success of last month's Sales Tax Holiday Sale exceeded our highest expectations. It's been a few years since we've done as much business in a weekend - even at our biggest shows. We’re especially pleased that more than 60% of our sales during the weekend were directly associated with our website. We shipped to various parts of the US and are storing a few additional pieces for out-of-town buyers. There is little doubt in our minds that, as long as Massachusetts offers the tax holiday, this sale will be an annual event.
Vermont Antiques Dealers' Show
New Date - A Step in the Right Direction
Despite the lure of Fall foliage, the Vermont Antiques Dealers' Association's annual show, formerly held the weekend preceding Vermont Foliage Week, has never garnered the crowds we feel it deserves. This year the show was moved to a new date, in late August. Although the jury is still deliberating the success of the change, we see it as a positive move, though it may take another year or two to catch on. We're told that the gate was up on Saturday, but Sunday seemed especially sluggish, perhaps offsetting Saturday's gain. A few dealers (ourselves included) had very good shows, and we know of several others who rated the weekend "OK." Still, several described their weekend as "disappointing", a few selling nothing at all. It seems to us that there weren't enough deep-pocketed buyers to sustain the high level of this show. We'll see what the future brings.
Farmington
The Incredible, Shrinking Antiques Show
Country Home Magazine, Farmington's new "partners", advertised that this Fall's Farmington show would include "over 300" dealers - considerably lower than the 600+ who exhibited at Farmington decades ago, when it was one of the highlights of the New England antiquing year, but more than we've been seeing in recent years. Therefore, this announcement gave us reason to believe that the new collaboration might be having a positive effect. Imagine our disappointment when we read the booth plan and dealer list, handed to us at the show only after we requested it, which included only 165 dealers. And, as we shopped the show, we noticed more than a few vacant spaces, suggesting that this once-stellar show is in crisis. Nevertheless, we had a successful morning of buying, though the task took less than one hour. We hope that Farmington can survive these trying times.
Antiques in a Cow Pasture
New Date - Disappointing Turnout
Last weekend we left Conway at 4:00 a.m. and drove to Salisbury, Connecticut for this year's edition of Russell Carell's original outdoor flea market. This year's date was (once again) changed, as the show returned to Saturday, Despite the move, the buying crowd was light, and the show was not profitable for more than a few dealers among the several with whom we spoke. Our own sales were marginal, although we managed to part with a couple of "old friends" at or near our cost.
New stock - new look
Since we've recently had several good buying opportunities during the past month, including, Farmington, Brimfield, private buying, and one or two successful auctions, our sale-depleted inventory has made a bit of a comeback. A small sampling is included here.
Like period tiles? CLICK HERE to visit our newly reorganized Delft Tiles Gallery.
We've also just redone our Carpets Gallery to accommodate the large group of non-antiques rugs we've recently acquired. CLICK HERE to visit.
Browse our current stock by clicking on any of these thumbnails.
SHOP HOURS
Our shop is open on most weekends of the year, but because we exhibit at a number of antiques shows, we are sometimes away. Click here to see our schedule for the next few weeks. If you would prefer to visit during the week, we will happily open our doors at any time. In either instance, a call ahead is advised.
UPCOMING SHOWS
September 27
Golden Ball Tavern Antiques Show
Weston, MA
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October 5
Manchester, VT
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October 11 & 12
Dutchess County Fairgrounds; Rhinebeck, NY
* * * * * * * * * *
November 8 & 9
at our shop in Conway
Click here for our complete show schedule for 2008.
This Month's Feature
Our trip to Canada in June was made beneath an ever-shifting blanket of clouds, foreshadowing the torrents that greeted us on our arrival in Montreal. Click here to see some of our photographs of these dramatic formations.
Tales of the Trade
Remember the Staples High School Show?
Three of our summer shows, Darien, VADA, and Salisbury, have this year changed either their date, location, or both. That this can be risky is illustrated by the fate of another show we used to enjoy that no longer exists. To a great extent, our customers (and many of us dealers, as well) are creatures of habit. As we comb Brimfield three times a year, searching for new stock, we frequently encounter dealers who grouse about "how awful Brimfield has become." When we ask, "Why do you still set up here?" the answer is invariably a variant of, "Because I've been doing it since..."
All of which raises the question, "What if you you moved a show and nobody came?" Click this link to read about the former Staples High School Show.
Pippin's Page
The Back Page
A photograph taken on a recent trip to the Hudson River Valley. CLICK HERE
Click to visit the Jan and John Maggs Antiques website.
Links
Click for directions to our shop.
Click for links to all past issues of this Newsletter.
For additional links to businesses and places of interest, visit our Links Page.
Thanks for taking the time to read our little monthly. As always, we encourage you to e-mail any comments that might make the newsletter more useful to you. Just click the mailbox, or write to jmaggs@jmaggs.com.
And we thank you for being a customer.
John and Jan