{"id":13885,"date":"2022-08-24T12:10:57","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T10:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=18470"},"modified":"2022-08-24T12:28:16","modified_gmt":"2022-08-24T10:28:16","slug":"how-to-buy-antiques-on-instagram","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/how-to-buy-antiques-on-instagram\/","title":{"rendered":"How to buy antiques on Instagram"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Rosanna Morris\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 24 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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One good thing to come out of a rather tumultuous few pandemic years is a flourishing online antiques industry. With more people shopping this way, new dealers are joining the scene \u2013 all thanks to the marvellous efficiency of Instagram.<\/p>\n

While beautiful online antiques stores are plentiful and easy to use with a click of the \u2018add to basket\u2019 button, the social networking site is where everyone is interacting on a level akin to a real-life antiques fair. Antiques lovers scroll through, pore over and admire stock, chat with dealers, strike deals and type furiously to secure items on offer.<\/p>\n

How to buy antique and vintage art, furniture and homewares on Instagram<\/h2>\n

Follow antique dealers on Instagram<\/h3>\n

Follow dealers whose stock and style you like, says Charlie. Follow a wide range, from the most followed, trusted dealers right down to the start-up guys, as it\u2019s important to support everyone involved. In this game you never know what will come up next and who will find it.<\/p>\n

During the pandemic, there was a huge rise of dealers making their money on Instagram. People made redundant or furloughed who had been toying with the idea of making a living out of antiques<\/a> finally made the leap. No need to find a shop or take on rents and rates \u2013 all they needed to do was gather stock, have a good eye and upload images to an Instagram account.<\/p>\n

Tanya Zendra<\/b> did just that and launched her business on Instagram this year @tarn_london<\/i><\/a>. \u2018Instagram allows me to reach my audience, and interact with them, see the homes they are designing,\u2019 she says. \u2018It\u2019s an amazing channel for this.\u2019<\/p>\n

Charlie Andrews<\/b> of @oldstockantiques<\/i><\/a>, who has been selling on Instagram for three years and has a large following of regular customers around the world, says Instagram makes it more feasible and affordable to start up a business and allows sellers to be more flexible with their pricing. \u2018I would recommend Instagram to anyone who\u2019s looking to start dealing, either as a hobby or as a full-time profession. What I personally enjoy about dealing on Instagram is how accessible it is for everyone. It\u2019s easy to discover new dealers and pages by searching hashtags or by looking through the followers of an account you like.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Find all manner of intriguing pieces, from furniture to curios, at Old Stock Antiques.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Follow virtual vintage markets and antique fairs on Instagram<\/h3>\n

There are several ways dealers sell. Some join in as exhibitors at virtual markets and fairs run by organisers who cannot currently hold on-the-ground events such as those organised by @thedorsetbrocante<\/a>, @frockmevintagefair<\/a>, @littlevintageloverfair<\/a>,@thereclaimedhomefair<\/a><\/i> and @thevintagebazaarevents<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Other dealers hold their own, timed sales on particular days of the week. And many simply upload an image of an individual item as and when they find it and sell to the first interested buyer to get in touch. You may also see dealers post a collection of wares displayed as a stand or a stall with a list of the items pictured in the caption underneath. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep an eye on the Instagram account<\/b> of the organiser running the fair, this is where updates will be posted about timings and how the event will work, says Isobel. Most publish a list of the dealers taking part in the days running up to the event with bios and previews.<\/p>\n

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The Dorset Brocante has been reincarnated as a live event (Photo via Instagram)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Turn on post notifications to find out about new antique sales<\/h3>\n

Turn on post notifications to keep abreast of the dates and times of specific dealers\u2019 Instagram sales, or to know when new items are posted for sale so you don\u2019t miss out, says Jennifer.<\/p>\n

Dealers such as Jennifer Bristow-Smith <\/b>of Starched & Crumpled<\/b><\/a> and Dawn Milne <\/b>of The Curious Flea<\/b><\/a> run sales at designated times, usually every Sunday and offering approximately 30 items. Meanwhile Isobel sells her vintage finds as they come in and also takes part in Insta fairs. \u2018Instagram is now my shop window,\u2019 she says. \u2018Fair operators have thought outside the box and produced some outstanding virtual fairs. I\u2019m about to take part in my fifth one with @asfairs<\/i><\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n

She loves interacting with the antiquing community this way. \u2018I set up The Hoarding Hare because I have always loved and appreciated a bygone. So when a customer buys a vintage treasure and shares a photo of it given a new lease of life in another loving home, that\u2019s my job enabled, complete and fulfilled, all through the power of Instagram and virtual fairs.\u2019<\/p>\n

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Source antique and vintage textiles, costume and haberdashery at Starched & Crumpled.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Take your time at an Instagram antiques fair \u2013 and have a scroll!<\/h3>\n

Make a cup of tea or coffee and get comfy<\/b> as your eyes will be feasting over some wonderful antiques and vintage gems, says Isobel. Take your time and enjoy browsing all the dealers<\/b> that are exhibiting through a fair, she says. There will always be new accounts popping up, so be sure to scroll through.<\/p>\n

Ask the dealer about the terms, condition and shipping details<\/h3>\n

Ask questions before commenting as not all dealers accept returns, says Jennifer.<\/p>\n

Make sure you ask for information on condition and, if needed, more detailed photos, says Charlie. However, most dealers add detailed descriptions to their posts.<\/p>\n

Unlike a real-life fair where you can physically handle the item, it\u2019s essential that you as a customer are fully aware of size, flaws (these pieces have had long lives), and the cost of shipping\/courier\/postage.<\/p>\n

Make sure you know what the Instagram dealer\u2019s sale process is<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to make sure you know how to buy from a dealer, as business is conducted in various ways. \u2018Sending a DM (direct message) once you see something you like is commonly accepted as the best form of dialogue, or you can state your interest by leaving a comment and the dealer will get back to you via DM,\u2019 says Charlie.<\/p>\n

You may find that some dealers sell to the first person to type SOLD into a comment on the post, while others may do all of the above. Some include description, measurements and price, and others will expect the buyer to enquire about an item. \u2018That\u2019s when the use of DM comes into play,\u2019 says Isobel Martin<\/b> of @thehoardinghare<\/i><\/a>. \u2018It makes for a more personal approach and potentially wriggle room on price.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are no set policies for returns or refunds, meaning communication and trust is important<\/b>, says Charlie. The antiques industry in the UK is a small one and it seems everyone knows everyone. \u2018I find most dealers to be passionate and honest and have bought and sold thousands of items without any issues.\u2019<\/p>\n

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