Antique shows and Sales

I am considering organising an indoor antique show and sale next summer. This has not yet been done in my immediate area I'm looking for tips on all aspects including pet peeves from other shows , standard fees to dealers and anything else relevant . Thanks . PS this is my first experience with newsgrouping

dear susan the only thing I don't like about antique shows is that organizeers often try to do a monstrous job all by themselves and they don't look around for partnerships to make their shows exciting.

If you know of any decorators please give them our address.

I send french antiques to Toronto Canada

best regards, Kathleen

Antiques Offshore - http://www.antiquesoffshore.com

Not only do you need to get dealers, you need to get buyers in. That means advertising, lots of advertising. Have you considered where your market is? Where will you find enough dealers to make this a good show? Generally, the fee the dealers pay covers your cost of renting the space, advertising, etc. Your gate (fee the buyers pay to get in) is where you make your profit. It also means putting up signs to make sure people find where you are and to bring in people who might not have read your ads but will be driving be and be enticed by signs.

Standard fees really depend on what type show you are doing, how high end. Are you going to vet your show or are you going to accept anyone with the price of a booth? What about electricity? Good dealers want lights, lots of good light, to highlight (no pun intended) their goods. Have you considered cost of the building you are going to rent? Shows I've done allow you to come in the day before to set up your space. They also have floor plans with the spaces and size of spaces marked so you know what you are renting. Then you have to physically mark those spaces so when dealers arrive they know exactly where their space is. If you've never done this before, you may be biting off a lot more than you are prepared for. How many antique shows have you attended or exhibited in? Quite frankly, I don't think one person can run a show by themselves. I suggest you think long and hard before doing this. If you are serious, find shows near you and get a job helping out so that you know everything that is involved. Then if you go ahead with it, I wish you much success.

Ashley American by birth. Southern by the Grace of God.