Real-World Pottery Buying Stories

Shop the World: Identifying Japanese, English, French, & Italian Collectibles

Want to spot valuable antiques and collectibles from around the world? In this episode, we explore commonly found Japanese ceramics markings, including Noritake, Nippon, and Occupied Japan; we also talk a bit about the always-popular head vases. We then head to England to explore what are currently great selling trends at John's shop: transferware, Blue Willow, and Flow Blue pottery. When we jet to France, it's all about Limoges porcelain. In Italy, we explore Murano glass styles such as Sommerso, Bullicante, and Millefiori. These are pieces we frequently find at estate and garage sales, and we're sure you will too. Train your eyes on these pieces and you'll have an incredibly successful next buying trip.

Country Antiques That Sell: Enamelware, Quilts, Crocks & Hidden Farmhouse-Style Gems

If you're taking a Route 66-inspired summer road trip (and buying antiques and collectibles along the way), this is exactly the kind of stuff you can buy AND sell. In fact, we've been selling these items steadily for decades. Everything from worn enamelware and European laundry sets to crocks, quilts, kerosene lamps, farm tools, and architectural salvage. We talk about how to spot authentic old enamelware versus modern reproductions, why feedsack fabrics and unfinished quilt tops still attract buyers, and which overlooked country items continue to have strong resale appeal. Plus: salesman samples, hand-tinted prints, handmade toolboxes, leaded glass windows, and the surprising value hiding in boxes of old parts at garage sales. So pack the car, unfold the old paper road map, and get ready to have a vintage-inspired laid-back antique hunting summer adventure!

Antique & Collectible Lots: A Reliable Source of Reseller Profit

In last week's garage sale episode, we talked about a lot of Pokémon cards purchased for $5 with a potential profit of over $300. We got so many questions about buying lots that we decided to turn it into an entire episode. Here, we're breaking down our process of buying lots, revealing which have yielded the very best (and sometimes surprising) profits: from vintage thimbles, sports memorabilia, antique spoons, blue glass, scarves, barware, enamel pins, and vintage magazines to records, jerseys, and collectible patches. Lots can be time consuming and require tons of patience. But if you'll stick it out, a lot can be a fantastic way to turn a small investment into hundreds of dollars of profit.

Q&A: How to Actually Make Money at Garage Sales as a Reseller

Anyone new to buying and selling antiques and collectibles can walk into a garage sale and think, “There is no way I can ever make money on old sneakers and used kids’ toys.” In this episode, we answer your questions about how to shop garage sales by taking you through a recent shopping trip where small, inexpensive finds (Pokémon cards and Depression Glass to vintage kitchenware, Carnival Glass, and collectible pottery) turned into real profit. We talk about the best return on investment for garage sale flipping, strategies for shopping, how to spot overlooked deals, and how lots pay off. We also address some of your questions about how to save money on shipping supplies once you get your garage sale finds home.

World’s Fair Collectibles: Chicago 1893, St. Louis 1904, 1933 Century of Progress & 1964 New York Fair

Technically, the World's Fair still exists...but it's not the event to Americans it once was. In this episode, we explore how historic World’s Fairs (from the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition to the 1933-34 Century of Progress and the 1964 New York World’s Fair) shaped culture and modern life, introducing electricity, the Ferris Wheel, early radios, Art Deco design, and even the spread of iconic foods. For us, it means there's a wide range of collectible items like souvenir spoons, commemorative glassware, advertising pieces, ephemera, postcards, guidebooks, and early plastic souvenirs. If you’re an antiques dealer, vintage reseller, or collector, you'll love this introduction to World’s Fair history, memorabilia, and high-demand collectible categories. After listening, you'll be able to better identify pieces that have a wide collector base and recognize why these global exhibitions, once the ultimate “influencer events," still impact what sells today.