Fall Themed Antique Booth Update

19 September
Wow, what a day today was! I went down to my booth at the antique mall and did a revamp of my space for fall! It took me ALL. DAY. LONG. My mom came and helped for several hours and thank God for that or I'd still be there!

Antique booth decorated for fall

Originally I was planning to just add a few fall decorations but then I decided to totally revamp my space.

Truth be told, I'm not doing very well at the antique mall :o( ... and I reeealllly want it to work for me so I've been doing some research online for any tips and tricks that others may have for running a successful booth and I talked to a couple of the other vendors in the same mall I'm in and asked for their advice.

Sadly people around here are still pretty much only into white furniture so I'll be painting things different shades of white from now on although I may have to sneak in a smaller piece in a color now and then. But until I can sell a couple of colorful things the white will have to wait.

In my online searches I found a great resource that some of you (those who also have booths) may be interested in. This blog: Debi Ward Kennedy - Retail Visual Design. She has some really helpful advice... at least I thought it was helpful... we'll see I guess. I'll touch on a couple of the things I learned as I show you my revamped booth.

You DO want to see right?!


Do you remember the antique mall I showed you pictures of from my trip to the Oregon Coast? You can take a look {here} if you missed it. I really liked how one of the booths in that mall used player piano roll pieces hanging from the ceiling in her booth.


Well, I don't have access to hang things from the ceiling in the mall I'm at so I did the next best thing and added pieces of piano roll along the top edge of my booth!


The space that high up is not very buyer friendly  just because they can't reach anything or see the price tags of things hanging that high so I decided to drop everything down a bit.

I was just dying to get my faux fireplace into my space! You can see how I made it from a twin size bookcase headboard here: Faux Fireplace Headboard Makeover.


I love it that I have a mantle to decorate for fall!


The large vintage picture above is something I picked up for my daughter but I think she's over it now! lol! So, I painted the frame white and distressed it a bit. I hung my {junk pumpkins} next to it.

The "Fall" banner is made from drop cloth pieces. I also have some that say "Eek" and "Boo" that you'll see.

The black candle holders on top of the mantle are from last week's TTT. I made some little pumpkins to sit where the candles go from sweater sleeves last night. I used {this tutorial}, it's super easy and there is NO SEWING! Yay!


Next to the fireplace I leaned a door in the corner and brought in this awesome vintage chair! It's pretty comfy and rocks and swivels! The color is perfect for fall too!


This little chippy white side table makes a perfect little magazine rack. I think it used to be a telephone stand. I left it in the originally chippy state that I found it.


A cloche full of mini pumpkins and a cat earring holder that I painted black sit on top.

One of the things I learned from Debi Ward Kennedy's blog is to put yourself in your customers' shoes. Ask yourself the question, "What's the first thing the customer see's as they are walking toward your booth?"

Well in my case it's one of my side wall's. You want to make the first area they see a focal point to draw them into your space.

So, we moved my metal cabinet over to that wall so they can see all the glorious kitchen goodies as they are nearing my space!


Debi also says to angle the things that you have on the edges of your space in toward your booth. It opens up your space, "points" them into the booth, and will naturally draw people in. The items on both sides of the opening to my space are angled in now. And my mannequin is now wearing a cute apron and welcoming visitors in!

So as you get closer you'll then see the green farmhouse table and the fall display I created on top.


We used more of the player piano rolls as a backing to the white shelf above the table and as a table runner!


Then I used two of the wood boxes I have to lift some things up a bit and give them some height on the right side of the table. On the left is a birdcage I painted black. Inside I added some branches from my Contorted Filbert bush I have in my backyard and a cute little vintage owl.


Here's what he looks like! I love his flower eyes!


I also added a sign I made from an old fence board. Here is the sign at my house right after I finished it.


On the other side of my booth, opposite the green table, I created a little shelving unit out of old crates.


I also brought in half of a rickety old ladder I found at the dump to display some burlap sacks on.


Here's a little fall display on top of the crates. I made a pumpkin out of a white glass light fixture and added a cute little white foam pumpkin and a bowl full of acorns next to it.


I also made another fence board sign that says Pumpkins...


It's on the mantle now.


I also learned that people naturally go to the right when entering a booth... isn't that weird?! I'm going to have to pay attention to myself and see if I do that when I go in someone's space!! Is it even possible to pay attention to yourself when your doing weird, subliminal, human tendency things?!

I was going to empty out my booth a lot and try and make it not so cluttered but one of the ladies I talked to at the mall said "NO!!" She said you'll do better if there's lots to look at and choose from so we'll see. She does very well so I'm going to trust her opinion at this point.


I am really happy with how it turned out... now I'm crossing my fingers that I'll start to do better so I can keep doing this because I love it!


My mom drew the spiderweb and spider on this chalkboard! Cute yah?!


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  1. Tania, as a fellow dealer, I think your booth space looks terrific! Two of my sisters & I have been buying/selling/styling booth spaces for over 7 years now, and we are in an antique mall with anywhere between 50-75 dealers, so competition is strong (plus, many of those dealers work 1 or 2 days/week, which gives them a leg up, seeing what sells, pricing, how dlrs negotiate, customers' wish lists, etc.). We still do well enough to stay and keep doing what we do (we maintain and sell out of 3 spaces), but I am wholly convinced, as a business major, one will never get rich in this business unless you're the owner, taking the commission, and putting in the many hours. Our lowest bar for success each month is to sell enough to make rent, then enough to cover all our costs, then to make gravy. We don't always make gravy, but we cover costs consistently, AND we get to have fun shopping (our favorite thing!), and styling (a close second favorite thing to do). I enjoyed reading your perspective. I also post regular updates on our booth spaces if you're ever so inclined to search on my blog for those type posts. Happy sales to you!
    Rita C at Panoply

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    1. Thank you for sharing your perspective Rita! I am just hoping to be able to cover my costs because as it is not I am not sometimes. I don't know what I'm doing wrong because other's in the same mall are doing wonderfully. So, after rearranging things for better flow according to what I've learned and lowering my prices a bit I hope that does the trick.

      Tania

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  2. This is absolutely gorgeous. I am in PA and there is a store around the block from me that has a similar feel to yours. People are here LOVE the refurbished look for aesthetic and green reasons. Oh how I wish you were closer. I'd be emptying that booth for sure! Love so much!

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    1. Thank you so much Shannon! I wish you were closer and could empty my booth too! ;o) lol. I've noticed that this mall owner doesn't do any advertising so I may do some of my own and see if that helps.

      Tania

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  3. You've got it looking great. I hope that now that summer's winding down (or over!), there will be more people shopping for things to decorate with for the holidays. I think people tend to feel more like "nesting" when the weather starts to cool off and they're inside more.

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  4. I think your booth looks fabulous. As a buyer, I agree that you need lots of stuff in there. If I can see it ALL without entering a booth then I usually move on more quickly. I love your faux fireplace mantel (I want one so so much). You have done a great job and I hope your sales pick up!

    Linda

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  5. I love your new layout and you have it full without being too full. I've gone to booths that are so packed it overwhelms the senses. But your stuff is displayed so nicely and looks inviting. And yes, I do go to the right every time I enter a booth. Weird, huh? Don't get discouraged and remember Christmas is coming and people will be shopping for gifts and decor. The fall stuff you have is wonderful. I love the kitty earring holder and the owl is darling.

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    1. Thank you! I'm crossing my fingers that things pick up from now through Christmas!!

      Tania

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  6. The booth looks wonderful Tania! You and your mom did a great job! It is very welcoming and you have a great variety of things to look at and draw people in. I would for sure enter this space to look around. Funny about people staring on the right side. After thinking about that for a moment, I decided I almost always start on the right myself! I have no idea why! I hope business picks up for you. I kow you enjoy doing this! Have a great week!

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  7. I think your booth looks great and you have so many cool items to choose from. I'm honestly shocked your items aren't flying out of your booth.

    I talked to the owner of the shop in KY where I have my stuff and NOT ONE thing has sold so far. I am very discouraged. We're finally making a trip to the lake this weekend so I may go in and lower my prices. Sigh....

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  8. Hi Tania! :)
    I have learnt the hard way that it is white that still sells...I do not sell at a booth, but I do bring my stuff to 2 different consignment stores and when I stray from white, or do different creative things they do not sell. When I stick to plain Jane white, grey or shabby chic they always sell! A few years ago someone gave me some advice that the pieces I am going to sell are not for me, so I am not painting/decorating them for me...but for the masses. It's hard to be creative when I am just painting everything white!
    I think your booth looks amazing, and there are always so many things I see in it that I would buy!
    Here's hoping that your spruce up and price lowering works!!
    Kimberley

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    1. Very good advice Kimberley, thanks so much! I'm looking forward to my talk with the mall owner for some additional help.

      Tania

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  9. Oh it all looks so inviting - that piano paper is just genius - LOVE how that looks ( and it would draw me into your booth immediately ! )
    xxx

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