SALINE — When a senior financial analyst was fed up with corporate America, he and his wife decided to make a drastic move.
Now, they are reaping the benefits and getting ready to open their own storefront.
Brad Bingley and his wife, Amy Nolfo, downsized their home, moved to a house in the country and began selling vintage, antique and repurposed items. Nolfo, who grew up in the antiquing business, handles the antique aspect in her business “Butter Beans Antiques” and her husband specializes in restoration in his business, “The Tao of Restoration.”
The couple is getting ready to open a shop in late May or June behind their home in Ottawa Lake.
Nolfo was selling their items at the annual Saline Area Historical Society antique show held Saturday at Liberty School while Bingley was out of town.
They usually sell at larger markets but decided to give the Saline show a try this year because it’s closer to home.
“The crowd has been a buying crowd,” she said. “You can have a huge show but if no one is buying than you aren’t making any money.”
In both of their businesses, the couple focuses on the “cottage-industrial look,” which is repurposing antique and industrial items into something more useful for the home. They also turn salvage items such as wood into other items such as kitchen tables.
“That’s our goal is the whole ‘urban farmhouse’ kind of thing,” she said.
The event featured 32 antique vendors from throughout the state selling anything from furniture to photos to jewelry. The show is the historical society’s largest fundraiser of the year so it is important for there to be good attendance and participation fro the dealers, said Dean Greb, president of the historical society.
“We’re pleased with the attendance, especially considering the weather,” Greb said.
Greb reported Monday that attendance for Saturday’s show was at 750, a slight improvement over 2013.
“...we are very happy with the results,” he said. “The dealers were also happy with the results.”
Proceeds go toward events such as the group’s educational series and Rentschler Farm maintenance.
For more information about the historical society, visit salinehistory.org.
Source: www.heritage.com
Now, they are reaping the benefits and getting ready to open their own storefront.
Brad Bingley and his wife, Amy Nolfo, downsized their home, moved to a house in the country and began selling vintage, antique and repurposed items. Nolfo, who grew up in the antiquing business, handles the antique aspect in her business “Butter Beans Antiques” and her husband specializes in restoration in his business, “The Tao of Restoration.”
The couple is getting ready to open a shop in late May or June behind their home in Ottawa Lake.
Nolfo was selling their items at the annual Saline Area Historical Society antique show held Saturday at Liberty School while Bingley was out of town.
They usually sell at larger markets but decided to give the Saline show a try this year because it’s closer to home.
“The crowd has been a buying crowd,” she said. “You can have a huge show but if no one is buying than you aren’t making any money.”
In both of their businesses, the couple focuses on the “cottage-industrial look,” which is repurposing antique and industrial items into something more useful for the home. They also turn salvage items such as wood into other items such as kitchen tables.
“That’s our goal is the whole ‘urban farmhouse’ kind of thing,” she said.
The event featured 32 antique vendors from throughout the state selling anything from furniture to photos to jewelry. The show is the historical society’s largest fundraiser of the year so it is important for there to be good attendance and participation fro the dealers, said Dean Greb, president of the historical society.
“We’re pleased with the attendance, especially considering the weather,” Greb said.
Greb reported Monday that attendance for Saturday’s show was at 750, a slight improvement over 2013.
“...we are very happy with the results,” he said. “The dealers were also happy with the results.”
Proceeds go toward events such as the group’s educational series and Rentschler Farm maintenance.
For more information about the historical society, visit salinehistory.org.
Source: www.heritage.com