Howe Enterprise.com
9
May 11, 2020
Learn about your antiques and collectibles with Georgia Caraway
Georgia Caraway There has been a lot of news coverage about the effect of coronavirus on restaurants, bars, clothing stores, movies, and other entertainment venues. But what about antique stores? The COVID-19 pandemic is running roughshod over the entire antiques and collectibles business landscape, indiscriminately impacting operations big and small that depend on face-toface interaction, leaving an uncertain fate in its wake. Howe Mercantile closed on March 15 in respect of the health of our customers and dealers. This is especially difficult for those dealers who rely on the Mercantile as a primary venue for sales and their income. We waived half of March’s rent and all of April, have turned utilities to their minimal usage, and have used the time to revisit our business model. After we are able to open again, our hours will be Thursday – Saturday from 11 am until 7 pm, more closely
aligning ourselves with Abby’s and Gabriela’s. A solution regularly brought up is that dealers should use this time to get up to speed on their inventory. To do research, photograph, catalog, and update their own websites and online selling platforms, then to use social media and other marketing avenues to reach their collectors who are isolating. Literally bring their inventory to customers. I encouraged our 14 dealers to sell online and to meet customers at the Mercantile front door, or in the back of the store on the Cottonwood Pavilion where they could safely receive payment and have merchandise boxed or bagged and ready to go. But this has not worked well for us. Our vendors consider themselves a family, regularly checking up on each other during the shutdown, and commiserate about how they can no longer “pick’’ – restock their inventory from what they find at estate sales, thrift stores and garage sales, all of which are on hold, too. I have met a couple of loyal customers at the shop who I had certain kinds of items
"With a united effort we can make the place in which we live clean, wholesome, attractive. We can make the crowded city dweller homesick to come back to us and real living. We can bring new life, new business, new beauty, to the little towns." - Mame Roberts
I knew they would want. We practiced social distancing, however, half the fun of antiquing is its browsing and interacting aspect in search of “hidden” treasures to be discovered. For those who like the thrill of the hunt, few pastimes are more pleasurable than wandering through an antiques store. In the crowded aisles might lurk the next great find, be it a rare old toy or an original Eames chair. I have heard from many of my customers and vendors that Howe Mercantile is their happy place. Our prices are good, so dealers can come in and stock up, load up their trucks, and sell for double and triple in their own stores. We have people who come to see us weekly and we are a stop off for many passing through every year. According to career antiques dealers, the kind of stand-still caused by the virus has happened only twice before in the United States: with the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and the financial collapse in 2008. But never have we witnessed every single antiques’ show in the nation close its doors for a period of
time. In Texas, a huge gathering site for antiques and collectibles enthusiasts, the Round Top show, has been held twice annually since 1968. Round Top cancelled its spring show and their next event is scheduled for the fall, September 28October 3. With 5,000 dealers stretched over 21 fields along one mile of Route 20 in Brimfield, Mass., the Brimfield Antique Flea Markets is believed to be the largest outdoor antiques show in the country. They recently announced the cancellation of their May 12-17 event. Perhaps they will be able to open again in the fall. I hope we shall be able to open in midMay and gather at our happy place. But in the meanwhile, I hope this finds all of you well. Georgia Caraway and her partners at Howe Mercantile hope you will come by 107-109 ½ East Haning to shop and visit WHEN IT IS SAFE FOR US TO OPEN THE DOORS. Three new dealers joined the Mercantile. SHOP LOCAL. WE CAN SHOW YOU HOWE.
