BROCKTON In his search for unique decorative pieces for his home in Vermont, Mark Melchert found himself at an antique store in Brockton. It's the only place, he said, where he could find the two fossils said to be 45 millions years old that he held carefully. “Me and my wife always liked antiques,” Melchert said. “It's something that's always interested us.” Antique lovers like Melchert are becoming harder to come by, many practitioners say. A sluggish economy, an aging consumer base and a general decline in interest among younger shoppers has hurt the art of buying and selling antiques across the country, several of them say. In spite of the antique industry's uncertain future, one local antique store has weathered the storm. Located at the corner of Belmont and Pearl streets, Timeless Antiques has thrived in the business for 15 years.Its co-owner Gary Epstein credits their staying power to their ability to rework their business strategies to change with the times. While other antique dealers have been forced to downsize, relocate, consolidate with other sellers, and in many cases, close their businesses altogether, Epstein, his partner, Robert Cohen, and their team of experts say they have seen an uptick in sales.While counterparts lamented how the Internet has changed how people shop for rare items, Epstein said he has used the medium to his advantage, putting nearly 2,000 items for sale on eBay, he said. While fewer younger people are picking up the hobby previously cherished by older generations, the Brockton store has engaged that audience by donating their space to budding young artists at no charge, he added. “We're so proud of the fact that we're here,” Epstein said.“Not only do we have a great location, and we have cool items, we offer tremendous service when it comes to jewelry repairs and watches.” Increased exposure by television programs such as American Pickers, Antique Roadshow and Pawn Stars have helped introduce the antiques world to new audiences, he added.“A lot of it is staged, but it gets people looking and that's the most important thing,” he said.On a recent afternoon, inside the store, located at 1208 Belmont St., the store's resident canine “Tank,” a chocolate Labrador and English bulldog, lounged in a doorway, his tail wagging. Their other dog, “Lily,” a Terrier and Bulldog mix was upstairs, he said.Occasionally, throughout the day, a potential customer browsed through the eclectic mix of items from a large glass case shaped like a Swiss army knife to a frame containing the original mugshot negatives of the Boston Strangler.Items in the store range from $10 (an elf figurine) to $6,000 (a 1931 French art deco poster).“In an antique store, you can sit around all day to wait for people to buy things they don't need,” Epstein said.
“So, you have to provide them something that they got to have.”To survive in the antique industry, many antique dealers have had to become general antique dealers, said Lincoln Sander, executive director of Antique Dealers' Association of America. “They have to sell a little of everything as opposed to focusing in one area,” he said. “When that happens, the line gets blurred as to what's antique, what's a collectible and what's involved in the art world.” To compete, employee Lauren Dupre said she also serves as a personal shopper for many of their regular clients. The business also repairs and designs custom jewelry and sells Pandora jewelry for the 1/3 of its retail price, she saidCustomers can purchase coins and sports memorabilia, she said.“There's something here for everybody,” said Dupre, who has worked at the shop for the last eight years. “To survive in this industry in this environment, you have to have a lot of different outlets. We do.”Dafney Tales may be reached at [email protected].
Source: www.enterprisenews.com
“So, you have to provide them something that they got to have.”To survive in the antique industry, many antique dealers have had to become general antique dealers, said Lincoln Sander, executive director of Antique Dealers' Association of America. “They have to sell a little of everything as opposed to focusing in one area,” he said. “When that happens, the line gets blurred as to what's antique, what's a collectible and what's involved in the art world.” To compete, employee Lauren Dupre said she also serves as a personal shopper for many of their regular clients. The business also repairs and designs custom jewelry and sells Pandora jewelry for the 1/3 of its retail price, she saidCustomers can purchase coins and sports memorabilia, she said.“There's something here for everybody,” said Dupre, who has worked at the shop for the last eight years. “To survive in this industry in this environment, you have to have a lot of different outlets. We do.”Dafney Tales may be reached at [email protected].
Source: www.enterprisenews.com