How I got Started in the Antique Business

“Keep the best, sell the rest, and never waste time teaching those who don’t want to work for it .”

I am often asked how I got started, and more importantly, why I started buying and selling things. People are often surprised that my answer is very simple: I needed the money to make ends meet. It’s hard to imagine, but I grew up in a world without “gig businesses” — no eBay, no Poshmark, no Amazon. Back then, a regular job was the main way people earned money. The only way to earn extra was through something called “moonlighting” — a second job or trade for additional income.

When Mommy and I first got married in 1979, I was making around $9,500 a year as a Department Manager at a local discount store, roughly equivalent to $45,000.00 in today’s money, adjusting for inflation. With a home to support and the country in a recession with high oil prices, and Mommy staying at home, we needed extra income. I started moonlighting doing small bathroom tile restoration work. I placed an ad in the local free classifieds for bathroom tile restoration and caulking, skills I had honed while working at an apartment complex in Secane, PA. I remember taking on a few jobs, each paying between $200 and $500, but I didn’t enjoy working on home improvement projects for others; it was messy and risky in unfamiliar homes.

Always on the lookout for fast ways to earn extra money, I remembered my Uncle John and Aunt Bea were antique dealers. They spoke often about their adventures and showed us their antique books filled with treasures they had found. However, I had neither the time nor the inclination to attend antique auctions or learn the business the traditional way. Remember, there was no internet, Google, or ChatGPT back then. If you wanted to go into the antique business, the only way to learn was by immersing yourself in the trade. You had to attend regular estate auctions, watching and listening carefully to seasoned buyers, taking mental notes as you observed the process. Mistakes were inevitable, but they were essential stepping stones. Antique reference guides were your most valuable tools for researching and understanding the worth of items. To sell, you needed to secure a booth at an antique mall or participate in weekly flea markets, and owning a truck or van was practically a requirement for transporting goods. I didn’t have the time, money, or desire to commit to this traditional path, but the idea of buying and selling at a profit lit a fire in me. It wasn’t the antiques themselves—it was the challenge and thrill of turning a deal into something valuable that truly captivated me. Auctions and flea markets were places to buy goods to resell, but I lacked both money and knowledge at the time. Back then, antique dealers were secretive about their trade; they didn’t readily share their acquired knowledge, even with family, often saying, “Don’t train the dummies.”

One Thanksgiving, my uncle took me down to his basement on 63rd Street in Philadelphia to reveal his treasure trove of finds. As he showed me various items, he’d ask, “Do you know where I got this?” His answer was always the same: “I found this in the trash.” My eyes lit up, and my mind raced with business ideas. That next week, I removed the back seat from my 1980 Ford in preparation for my first treasure hunt the next trash day. I could hardly sleep; I was too excited about what I might find.

Armed with a flashlight, I began my venture early that day in Upper Darby, focusing on cruising through the affluent neighborhoods along School lane near Upper Darby High School. My goal was not to find antiques, it was to pick up anything I thought I could sell. Being everything I found was free I did not need to worry about my profit margin, I couldn’t believe what I discovered that first day: discarded items ranging from household items, bikes, vacuum cleaners, snow tires, furniture to artwork, and everything in between all still very useful. I made three trips home that day, often repairing, cleaning and restoring items to sell. I advertised these finds in a free classified newspaper called “The Penny Pincher,” supplementing our income by around $500-$800 a month throughout our time in Upper Darby and few years living in our Broomall home.

During this period, I also began to learn about the antique business, coinciding with the early days of eBay. I was one of the first sellers on eBay in 1999. However, I was hesitant to invest our hard-earned money in items to resell when there was an abundance of free merchandise available in the trash. Although my trash-picking adventures occasionally embarrassed my family, especially my three daughters, I remained undeterred by public opinion.

One memorable find was an antique crystal Waterford chandelier atop a trash can in Upper Darby, which I sold for $2,600 that was a ton of money in 1980. That score hooked me; I was addicted to the thrill of the hunt. As I learned more about antiques and valuable brands, I gradually transitioned from “trash picking” to purchasing items for resale. The first thing I sold on eBay was a Coke Bottle for $8. I started out having a maximum amount I would spend on something of one dollar. Nonetheless, I still now occasionally slow down when passing something intriguing in the trash. It’s not gambling, but the thrill of uncovering a treasure hidden in unlikely places continues to captivate me.

Today, antique picking is more of a hobby to me than a necessity, but I still love it. It’s a pursuit that brings me immense joy when I find a big score.

“Have you ever experienced something like this, or what’s your take on it? As I continue exploring these ideas and sharing family stories, I’d love for you to join me—subscribe to stay connected and catch the next story.”