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The antiques business is fundamentally different from other forms of commerce. While the desire to make money is at the core of any business, in the world of antiques, that's not enough. Here, a love for the items themselves—works of art, objects of material culture, and antique pieces—plays a key role.
The antiques business is fundamentally different from other forms of commerce. While the desire to make money is at the core of any business, in the world of antiques, that's not enough. Here, a love for the items themselves—works of art, objects of material culture, and antique pieces—plays a key role.
People enter this field driven by more than just commercial interest. Success in the antiques business requires a combination of several qualities:
The fourth point is the decisive one. In this field, there are virtually no people who do not have a genuine interest in and love for antique items. This is a business for those who not only want to earn money but also derive pleasure from the process itself.
The majority of people who enter the antiques business are collectors. It can be argued that every collector is, to some extent, an antiques dealer, as building a collection is impossible without the constant movement of items.
To improve their collection, a collector must exchange or sell some pieces to acquire others. From a civil law perspective, both exchange and sale are forms of property alienation and, in essence, commercial activities.
Herein lies one of the main distinctions: an antiques dealer loves the subject of their trade. Unlike a home appliance salesman, who is unlikely to have deep feelings for refrigerators, an antiques dealer is passionate about their merchandise.
Another distinctive feature of the antiques business is the paramount role of knowledge. While in most other fields the dominant factor for success is having start-up capital, here things are different.
Many enter the world of antiques with only deep knowledge in a specific area but without significant financial resources. For example, former cultural workers who started their careers as consultants, experts, or intermediaries in transactions.
Their main task was the attribution and authentication of items, which allowed them to earn money from their knowledge. Over time, having accumulated funds, they were able to open their own shops and transition to independent trading.
The antiques trade is multifaceted and is not limited to a simple 'buy-sell' model. There are several paths and roles in this business:
For many, the antiques trade becomes not just a job but a way of life that brings moral satisfaction. It is a passion that grows into a profession, allowing for continuous development and learning.
The antiques business is highly flexible. It can be pursued alongside a primary job, for instance, by using weekends to visit flea markets. Modern technologies open up even more opportunities.
Online trading has become very popular in this field. It allows for significant cost reduction as it does not require renting retail space. Items can be sold through various online platforms or personal websites.
This business does not always require large investments. One can start with a small amount, for example, 100 euros, and with knowledge and experience, multiply their capital several times over in a few months. This makes the antiques trade accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts.
One of the most important advantages of antiques is their liquidity. In unstable economic and political times, this quality becomes particularly significant. Unlike bulky items like furniture or large paintings, small antiques are easy to transport.
Items such as medals, jewelry, or silver can be easily taken with you, allowing the business to continue in any safe location. This mobility of goods is a major advantage.
Moreover, antiques are not just a commodity but an investment. During periods when money depreciates, people look for stable assets to preserve their capital. Antique items, which have survived more than one war and revolution, are precisely such a 'timeless' asset. The experience of crises, such as the one in 1998, shows that during such times, the demand for antiques as a means of preserving wealth only grows.
As in any other business, to succeed in the antiques trade, you need to find your 'niche'—a unique advantage that sets you apart from the competition. Competition in this field is constantly growing, so it's important to have your own specialty.
This 'niche' could be:
Simply reselling goods from one online platform to another is a difficult path, especially for a beginner. It is much more effective to find your own unique selling proposition.
