Collecting Concepts (ideas, musings, points of interest)...from America's Most Trusted Auction House (or ramblings on an Eclectic assortment of antique, art and vintage collecting topics...fueled by the incredible variety we encounter every day!)
Showing posts with label auction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label auction. Show all posts
November 1, 2012
Biography of an Object Writing Contest
As you know, we are always looking for ways to engage with a new audience (as well as opportunities to reconnect with our existing friends and customers). Whether it is speaking to school kids about items that could have been found on a wagon on the Oregon Trail or offering insights to curious adults on how
to evaluate 19th and 20th Century unknown artists, our efforts are motivated by a sincere desire to "preach the gospel according to Garth." In no way is that meant to make light of anyone's religious beliefs...it has just been the way that we, internally, verbalize what our company is about. By all accounts, Garth
Oberlander was a kind, sincere and dedicated auctioneer; focused on delivering a quality auction experience and treating everyone "right." We sum it up as: "Dependable. Honest. Results."
Those values have been at the heart of our company for 60 years; and, although sometimes our efforts seem peripheral to our core jobs, these efforts are right in line with our core values. Our latest endeavor is a partnership with three of the major "trade" papers and the top online database. We are grateful
that P4A.com, AntiqueWeek, Antiques & the Arts Weekly, and Maine Antique Digest share our interest in proselytizing to new (and old) audiences. Check out the Biography of an Object Contest www.garths.com/contest) - and, even if you are not interested, pass it on to a child or adult in your life. Better yet, offer them a suggestion from your own collection or inventory as the inspiration for their entry. Spark their imagination and share with them what it is that makes us all crazy about this "stuff." Use
your passion to ignite a passion in someone else. That's how we got into the business; and, probably how many of you got your starts, as well.
Thanks for reading and thanks for your business. We'd love to hear from you. Call, email or stop by.
Best Regards, Amelia & Jeff Jeffers
Spring 2012
With such a mild winter, it wasn't surprising when a friend mentioned having had the mower out for
the third time this "spring." Grass doesn't check the calendar - it just looks for a little encouraging sunshine,
soaks up whatever moisture it can, and it's off to the races. Much like everyone else, our team is enjoying
the early spring, but we certainly aren't letting any grass grow under our feet! Emerging from the winter
antiques season, having sold four lifetime collections in a period of three months, we haven't had any time
to rest on our laurels (not that we'd want to, anyway). Plans for 2012, made in the fall, are now unfolding and keeping everyone hopping. We just completed our first Groupon promotion; started a Pinterest account (so addictive it is scary!); finished up course descriptions for our class offerings at the Chautuaqua Institution this summer; laid the groundwork for a website overhaul; and continue to fill up the calendar with lectures and appraisal days throughout the Midwest. And, of course, we've traveled near and far, gathering material for upcoming auctions - checking out and picking up consignments from Nebraska to the state of Delaware.
Gratefully, we continue to love, love, love what we do. Everyday is an adventure, every phone call is an old (or new) friend, and lots of opportunities lay ahead. Our team is growing steadily, and we are fortunate to be surrounded by people who are passionate, dedicated and genuinely interested in making customers happy.
Happy spring! We hope to hear from you soon.
Amelia & Jeff Jeffers
November 14, 2010
Just a spoonful of sugar...
Re-published from October 2009:
When checking my email several times each day, I look forward to the occasional message from my best friend. We are talkers – and touch base by phone at least once a week and send cards and letters, but rarely email. Last week, I had a message from Lesley, who happens to moonlight (when she is not fulfilling best-friend, mother and wife duties) as a stockbroker with a national brokerage. To my surprise, her email was not a kid-story, or a tip about a sale at our favorite shop – it was an article by one of her colleagues about the emotional cycles of the stock market.
Titled “Pessimism, Skepticism, Optimism, Euphoria”, the article describes market cycles as emotional swings that follow one another in a predictable pattern. In the interest of time and space (they only give me a couple hundred words…), I’ll summarize: pessimism brings
low prices and a bear marketplace; next comes skepticism, (like spring following winter, when weather can be great one day and bad the next) - economic data may still be negative, but predictions are cautiously optimistic; then comes optimism, the result of a period of good
economic data that creates confidence in consumers and spurs consistent, strong buying habits; and finally, euphoria – a period of extreme confidence and exuberance in a market, characterized by excessive risk-taking and speculative, frenzied buying. Once a market hits this
phase, it is bound to crash harder than a five-year-old on a sugar buzz from over-indulging on sweets at Nana’s house. Back to square one: pessimism. Sound familiar?
The good news is that we, as collectors and trade professionals, have all survived the crash, and it seems we are well on our way to equalizing the blood sugar levels of the market. Everyone sat up, dazed and confused, wondering if we dared to venture back to the candy jar. A few licks of a lollipop later, we have remembered that we can do this. A little moderation never hurt anyone (or any market). Our recent Labor Day auction, and many conducted by our colleagues, have demonstrated a healthy return to confident buying. Knowing where we are in the emotional cycle should be re-assuring as we march confidently on, working through a bit more skepticism into what we should hope to be a nice, long, leisurely stop at optimism.
Fondly, Amelia & Jeff Jeffers
When checking my email several times each day, I look forward to the occasional message from my best friend. We are talkers – and touch base by phone at least once a week and send cards and letters, but rarely email. Last week, I had a message from Lesley, who happens to moonlight (when she is not fulfilling best-friend, mother and wife duties) as a stockbroker with a national brokerage. To my surprise, her email was not a kid-story, or a tip about a sale at our favorite shop – it was an article by one of her colleagues about the emotional cycles of the stock market.
Titled “Pessimism, Skepticism, Optimism, Euphoria”, the article describes market cycles as emotional swings that follow one another in a predictable pattern. In the interest of time and space (they only give me a couple hundred words…), I’ll summarize: pessimism brings
low prices and a bear marketplace; next comes skepticism, (like spring following winter, when weather can be great one day and bad the next) - economic data may still be negative, but predictions are cautiously optimistic; then comes optimism, the result of a period of good
economic data that creates confidence in consumers and spurs consistent, strong buying habits; and finally, euphoria – a period of extreme confidence and exuberance in a market, characterized by excessive risk-taking and speculative, frenzied buying. Once a market hits this
phase, it is bound to crash harder than a five-year-old on a sugar buzz from over-indulging on sweets at Nana’s house. Back to square one: pessimism. Sound familiar?
The good news is that we, as collectors and trade professionals, have all survived the crash, and it seems we are well on our way to equalizing the blood sugar levels of the market. Everyone sat up, dazed and confused, wondering if we dared to venture back to the candy jar. A few licks of a lollipop later, we have remembered that we can do this. A little moderation never hurt anyone (or any market). Our recent Labor Day auction, and many conducted by our colleagues, have demonstrated a healthy return to confident buying. Knowing where we are in the emotional cycle should be re-assuring as we march confidently on, working through a bit more skepticism into what we should hope to be a nice, long, leisurely stop at optimism.
Fondly, Amelia & Jeff Jeffers
Bricks and mortar make a great foundation
Re-published, from June 2009:
A good friend, who has been in the business for many decades, recently commented that the antique and art industry reinvents itself every 10 years or so, but that {in his opinion} we didn’t quite complete the last cycle. He believes that online giant eBay began to define a “brave new world” for buying and selling, but fell short when they didn’t get it quite right. What did eBay miss? The developers knew that a successful auction venue is based on trust, but they underestimated the importance of open dialog, transparency and true reputation. eBay, and
others like it, have tried to remove the challenges of person-to-person interaction: the occasional dissatisfaction, the difficult personalities that sometimes pop up, even the misrepresentations. It is a valiant effort to orchestrate our collective experiences, but isn’t overcoming those very challenges the key to developing and strengthening relationships?
Much has been reported lately about the future of “bricks and mortar” establishments versus online retailers. Garth’s has been involved with the online auction marketplace since the beginning, and we have approached the internet audience with the same value-system that our off-line community has known and appreciated. Simply, not only do we believe in the value of strong relationships, we enjoy them. We seek them. As a result, hundreds, if not thousands, of our internet clients have become in-house clients. There is no doubt that the internet has
forever changed the face of the auction world. But, we tend to believe that, while
information sharing has evolved in ways our predecessors could never have imagined and
marketing opportunities come and go, on-line platforms such as Facebook and Blogspot can be a great introduction to a new client. Ultimately a strong buying or selling relationship comes down to personal trust. High-tech will never replace hightouch. Backing up an internet marketing
effort with a reputable bricks and mortar business builds trust. Trust makes a great
foundation for any relationship.
- Jeff and Amelia Jeffers
Contact us today: by phone, snail mail, email or on Facebook. We look forward
to catching up with you!
A good friend, who has been in the business for many decades, recently commented that the antique and art industry reinvents itself every 10 years or so, but that {in his opinion} we didn’t quite complete the last cycle. He believes that online giant eBay began to define a “brave new world” for buying and selling, but fell short when they didn’t get it quite right. What did eBay miss? The developers knew that a successful auction venue is based on trust, but they underestimated the importance of open dialog, transparency and true reputation. eBay, and
others like it, have tried to remove the challenges of person-to-person interaction: the occasional dissatisfaction, the difficult personalities that sometimes pop up, even the misrepresentations. It is a valiant effort to orchestrate our collective experiences, but isn’t overcoming those very challenges the key to developing and strengthening relationships?
Much has been reported lately about the future of “bricks and mortar” establishments versus online retailers. Garth’s has been involved with the online auction marketplace since the beginning, and we have approached the internet audience with the same value-system that our off-line community has known and appreciated. Simply, not only do we believe in the value of strong relationships, we enjoy them. We seek them. As a result, hundreds, if not thousands, of our internet clients have become in-house clients. There is no doubt that the internet has
forever changed the face of the auction world. But, we tend to believe that, while
information sharing has evolved in ways our predecessors could never have imagined and
marketing opportunities come and go, on-line platforms such as Facebook and Blogspot can be a great introduction to a new client. Ultimately a strong buying or selling relationship comes down to personal trust. High-tech will never replace hightouch. Backing up an internet marketing
effort with a reputable bricks and mortar business builds trust. Trust makes a great
foundation for any relationship.
- Jeff and Amelia Jeffers
Contact us today: by phone, snail mail, email or on Facebook. We look forward
to catching up with you!
July 14, 2009
Garth's Newest Hybrids
As you know, we believe in "walk-the-talk". So, when we needed to add a new car to the company fleet a few months ago, naturally Andy Richmond suggested a hybrid. The Saturn Vue has been a great solution: good-looking, economical, and gets the job done. Andy's review of the Saturn Vue will be coming shortly.
The word "hybrid" has been top of mind for all of us at Garth's lately (and not just because Andy's snazzy new car has it emblazoned across the side). Discussions and strategizing about the shifting art and antiques marketplace have brought to mind the possibility of a new auction hybrid: an economical, good-looking vehicle to bring quality objects to auction in an international marketplace. The result is our July auction. Objects that substantiate a catalogue presence, but may not make it economically feasible to print a full-color catalog. As my 5-year-old would say, "Wah-lah!": enter isuu.com.
We have looked for a well-done "flip-book" online publishing site for quite a while. Even watched while some folks tried out early versions. But, this one was worth the wait. No software to install, just point and click. Quickly searchable, with great zoom features. Customizable for individual viewing pleasure. Automatic notification for readers, when new materials are available. Ready for social media (yep, now you can add our catalog to your facebook account...or, maybe you'll worry about new bidding competition!). Archiving. Search-engine-optimized. And (drum roll, please): environmentally friendly (you should have guessed! This is the GREEN blog). Just click on the title of this pot to see it for yourself.
Not to worry, we recognize the value of a great printed catalog. We haven't worked this hard on photography, design and cataloguing to move away from it! Garth's catalogs will still be coming your way...keep your coffee tables and nightstands ready.
The word "hybrid" has been top of mind for all of us at Garth's lately (and not just because Andy's snazzy new car has it emblazoned across the side). Discussions and strategizing about the shifting art and antiques marketplace have brought to mind the possibility of a new auction hybrid: an economical, good-looking vehicle to bring quality objects to auction in an international marketplace. The result is our July auction. Objects that substantiate a catalogue presence, but may not make it economically feasible to print a full-color catalog. As my 5-year-old would say, "Wah-lah!": enter isuu.com.
We have looked for a well-done "flip-book" online publishing site for quite a while. Even watched while some folks tried out early versions. But, this one was worth the wait. No software to install, just point and click. Quickly searchable, with great zoom features. Customizable for individual viewing pleasure. Automatic notification for readers, when new materials are available. Ready for social media (yep, now you can add our catalog to your facebook account...or, maybe you'll worry about new bidding competition!). Archiving. Search-engine-optimized. And (drum roll, please): environmentally friendly (you should have guessed! This is the GREEN blog). Just click on the title of this pot to see it for yourself.
Not to worry, we recognize the value of a great printed catalog. We haven't worked this hard on photography, design and cataloguing to move away from it! Garth's catalogs will still be coming your way...keep your coffee tables and nightstands ready.
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