What may increase your sales volume and contruct you more productive day in and day out?
Youve probably heard this three word statement that seperates those who wish they could do better,from those who
really do.

Knowledge is power!

This three word statement is more than just a sizeably good philosophy. The more understanding you have about antiques, the higher the increase in your overall profitability...as long as you make use of that acquired skill . Knowledge can literally contruct or break your antique business.

Heres a difficult lesson that was taught to a high-minded museum by a shrewd, savvy antique buyer with information.

I love this story! It vividly illustrates the difference between knowing and being in the dark about antiques and their worth. I was browing in an antique shop a number of many years ago, when I struck up a conversation with the owner. We talked about incredible finds that we had stumbled across over the many years. Her story topped anything that I had ever done...hands down!

It all started when she attended the last day of a weekend sale at a local museum. It seems that the museum was desiring to remodel, and they were attempting to raise needed funds by selling off some antiques that had been found in the carriage barn that stood on the property. Obviously, she was not expecting to see anything spectacular because she assumed that the sale would be "cherry-picked".

And then it happened!

While walking through the sale, she discovered a large painting with a faded gold frame. Something about the painting looked strangely familiar, and she thought to herself, "Ive seen that in a history book somewhere."

She quickly ran to her vehicle and poured over several large painting identification books that she had brought with her from her personal library. After taking 10 minutes to research, she was almost positive that this painting was a rare item indeed. She went back inside, and with a few minutes left in the sale, she wrote a personal check for $125. and loaded it into her station wagon.

Life took a sudden and drastic turn...for the better!

Upon arriving home, she began to dig deeper with her research tools. She "burned the midnight oil", and as morning broke, her heart was beating sooner as she came to the realization that this painting was something very special.

The next morning, after more phone calls and cross-checking, she gingerly loaded the painting and took it to a temperature controlled vault in the identical city where she urchased it. This $125. painting later sold for several million dollars at a major auction house, and this womans financial future was changed in dramatic fashion literally overnight.

The museum curator was appalled, overwhelmed and completely flabbergasted!

Imagine that you are the curator of this museum, and you placed the $125. price tag on this million dollar painting! This tag sale had been held to raise money for projects around the museum. If the curator had only possessed the understanding to even "check it out", the outcome could have been far more positive for the establishment that he represented!

Knowledge and research made all the difference.

Aside from the curator, think of all the antique dealers, collectors and enthusiasts that had toured this weekend-long tag sale. Here was an merchandise that could change their entire lives financially, and they walked right on by. any one of them could have sold the painting, banked the money, and just "fiddled" around with antiques instead of trying to build a living from them. And the difference was understanding!

How to get antique data .

With the advent of the Internet, research is easier to do, and the information is much easier to come by. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of sites that are dedicated to various collectibles, art and antiques.

Visiting the library all day, once a month may be one of the best ways to increase your information of antique items. The library is still one of the most untapped resources for gaining expertise on a variety of antique subjects. Talk to the librarian, ask questions, and dig! The human mind is like a sponge, and someday you may positive need what you are learning today.

A methodical approach toward research and gaining acquired skill can pay huge dividends in your antique world. Its the secret that might make a huge impact in the buying decisions that you generate!