For this Q&A, we answer listeners' questions about the most common scams John has faced in his 10+ years as an online dealer (including buyer high-pressure tactics). John also goes into depth about his current photography setup: camera preference, lighting, sizing references, etc. And if you're struggling with mounds of paperwork, John offers advice on recordkeeping: organizing inventory, tracking sales, and managing monthly profit and loss so you know exactly what's selling and where your money is going. This episode offers a ton of advice for streamlining your business. Stay tuned for next week's episode, where we address even more listener questions!

In this episode, we explore the hidden market for antique accessories and vintage replacement parts: Depression glass lids, cookie jar lids, transferware lids, sugar bowl spoons, cruet stands, dust jackets, antique boxes, foam inserts, doll clothes, Star Wars toy parts, game tokens, kerosene lamp parts, appliance cords, and original packaging. Learn where to find antique replacement pieces at estate sales, auctions, and garage sales, and how to research, identify, measure, and price old lids, glassware parts, pottery pieces, and collectible toy accessories accurately. Whether you’re an antique dealer, vintage reseller, booth owner, or collector searching for a missing or broken piece, this episode covers how to buy and sell antique replacement parts the right way.

Did you make a bunch of New Year's resolutions for your biz in '26, and now, it feels like those resolutions are falling apart? It's absolutely not your fault. So much of the antiques and collectibles business is out of your hands. In this episode, we dig into our own January numbers, shifting buyer behavior, and what’s actually selling right now (and at what price points). We talk about pivoting inventory, pricing realistically, thinking beyond collectors, and reframing how you might approach the next six months in your online store. This is all about real talk from a real online seller. No hype, just strategy.

Ah, yes, we're sure you see what we did there in that title. In all seriousness, in this episode, we break down transportation-related antiques and collectibles that actually sell, with a special focus on cross-collectibles like ephemera, toys, advertising, and signage. We also talk about slightly lesser-known railroad items (Fred Harvey), and dish on some long-gone items that we wish we'd hung onto.

Americana collectibles tell the story of American life through the decades, and with America’s 250th birthday approaching, we're anticipating demand rising across the antiques and vintage market. In this episode, we define what counts as Americana and highlight high-interest categories for sellers, including ephemera, military photographs, Norman Rockwell and Saturday Evening Post covers, folk art, vintage cookbooks, sports memorabilia, rock and roll records, automobilia and petroliana, political buttons, Native pottery, early radios, and red, white, and blue nostalgia. This episode will put you in a true “baseball and apple pie” frame of mind as you source antiques and collectibles that connect with buyers.

In this episode, we explain why we’re coming back to buying and listing pottery and ceramics (hint: it's driven by cottagecore, farmhouse, and rustic interior design trends). We cover basic definitions of pottery vs. ceramics, why crazing is normal, and what we're seeing gain renewed interest right now, including transferware, mulberry, wall pockets, planters, teapots, chip-and-dip pieces, and brightly colored kitchen pottery. A practical, dealer-focused look at spotting design-driven demand and rethinking old inventory in the antiques and collectibles market.

If you sell antiques or collectibles online, this episode focuses on business resolutions and goal-setting for antique dealers and collectible sellers that actually work. Instead of vague goals like “sell more” or “find better stuff,” we break down realistic, controllable business goals for online antique sellers and vintage resellers: goals you can plan and execute regardless of the market or the economy.

Not sure how to describe vintage glassware, jewelry, or antiques without guessing? In this episode, we’re breaking down common antiques and collectibles vocabulary sellers and collectors need to know. Everything from glassware and jewelry terms to eras, styles, and condition descriptions. An easy, practical guide to using the right words so your listings are clearer, more accurate, and easier for buyers to find.