Sunday, August 1, 2010

I guess this means I am now offically a picker!

Yesterday morning I was getting my thrift on and doing pretty well, actually. I saw a sign for a yard sale on my way to Good Will and I almost didn't stop, but thank goodness I did! I was shopping the little sale, mostly kid stuff and chatting with the lady and her daughter about American Girl dolls, which the daughter is trying to earn money to buy another one. So of course I had to buy something from her, she was so cute. I was loading my purchase, a sprinkler thing you hook up to the garden hose for the kids to run in, and this woman across the street came out and said, "can I put a couple chairs in your yard sale?" The nice lady having the sale said yes, so the other woman comes out with these two chairs, like the one above, but rusty and globbed with paint. I asked how much she wanted... $5.00 bucks each. SOLD! I snatched them up since I knew they were Russell Woodard Sculptura chairs. I got them home, realized as much as I love them, they needed a lot of work. Well, about 2 minutes from my house is a big mid century modern antique store, so I brought the chairs there. I found the owner working in his shop, fixing up some funiture, which apparently he loves to do. I sold him the chairs for $100.00. Whooooohooooo!

Now, I know I could have gotten more for them if I sold them on ebay, but then I would have to deal with shipping, etc. I could have invested to have them refinished and then sold them for more, but it would be expensive. I think of it this way, the longer you spend on an item for resale, the more you cut into the profit. Afterall, time is money, right? I am very much ok with the $100 dollar sale. I only owned the chairs for about 15 minutes, so I wasn't attached to them yet!

Making a 900% profit in 15 minutes feels sooooo good! I think I am addicted! American Pickers, watch out, there is a new picker in town! Haha, but honesty, here is why I won't make a great picker: I only buy what I love and once I buy it I want to keep it. Hmmmm, that could be a problem.

I hope you are all having a very thrifty and fun weekend!

Now go check out what other bloggers have nabbed at Apron Thrift Girl and Southern Hospitality!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amy, you take the cake! You don't know that your site is in my Google Reader, so I follow you via RSS. I've really enjoyed your new collections, and I am SO jealous of your Pyrex/Corning collections! I have used my original stuff for nearly 50 years and I would LOVE to visit your favorite thrift store! I think you're having more fun now that when you designed scrapping kits. Congratulations on this latest fab find; you go, girl! I'll be watching!

MomoG (Barbara)

madge said...

Oh I think I know where you took them! ;) How fun!

Blue Ridge Altered Art said...

Wow, That is amazing. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Monkey Mind said...

Wow, that's an amazing turnaround time. I think I agree, the more you invest in something the lower the return. It would have cost time, money, storage, transportation...so many things. I wish I could buy things and, in less than a half hour, make a 900 percent profit!

Pam Kessler said...

Uh, yes I would say a profit of 900% is a good one. Way to go.

a.M. said...

Props to you! Yes, you are a picker!!

GoodyGirlRed said...

That was a great deal. I saw a pair of black Russell Woodard Sculptra chairs yesterday at the Flea market for $350. They were pretty rusty. Good find--for sure a "picker" experience!

Vintage Hunter said...

Great find! Always nice to make a quick profit.

SECRET PEPPER PERSON: said...

nice find!

The Smith Hotel said...

Wow! You Rock Girl! Great buy and sell!

Jody

Amy said...

Momo! So glad you stopped by! I hope you are doing well! Are you still scrapbooking? I need to sit down and make a few pags but I just haven't found the time yet.

Madge: heehee, yep, i bet you do! As much as I love vintage, and it is one block from my house, I nver have been in any of the shops on antique row. 1. They look too fancy and expensive for my taste and 2. with a 3 year old constantly in tow, I am worried about any "you break it, you buy it" policy they might have. LOL! I did get a good lead from the owner of the modern shop and he said I would love this antique mall on lake st and the corner of dixie in Lake Worth. I want to check it out some day when perhaps Grandma is babysitting! he said the pries are low and it is more kitschy type stuff rather than fancy antiques.

Thanks for all the nice comments, ladies!

Barbara said...

Yes, Amy, I am still scrapping and doing some hybrid stuff as well. Getting ready to sell our house later this year and move to Dallas where DH has been since last October, staying with our oldest son. I'm in and out of there - can't stay away from FL - don't like it there except for being with DGS. I have fooled the docs for almost 3 years now and am doing VERY well! That's because good people like you bring so many smiles to my face!

Toronto Yardsaler said...

Hello Amy,
Can you please email me at monkeyintherocket@yahoo.ca to let me know if I can use your email to add you as a contributor on The Pyrex Collective?
Thanks,
Erin

Kelee Katillac said...

I am so happy that "picker" is in regard to collectibles and not noses!!!!!!!


Congrats on the big profit!

Thanks for stopping by!

love, kelee

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