It’s no secret that antiques sell well on eBay and other online marketplaces. Buying antiques online means that collector’s and hobbyists can now go beyond their local antique store, and open themselves up to a global market and a far greater chance of finding the items they want.
This gives us online retailers a fabulous opportunity to sell to a very targeted and enthusiastic market. To give you some inspiration, I've hunted-out some steaming hot antique niche categories. Check them out below:
Hot Category: Silverware and Cutlery Sets
I have to admit, eating off a 100 year old fork doesn’t exactly get me excited, but apparently there are plenty of people out there who would jump at the chance, because these are very popular among antique collectors on eBay!
What to get your hands on:
- Full, undamaged sets with no pieces missing will fetch the highest bids
- Hot brands including Roger Bros and Oneida
- Sterling silver and silver plated items
Where to source them:
Local flea markets, yard sales and antique stores are great places to pick these up and you can often fetch them at super low prices and re-sell them for big profits!
If you plan on having a look around at various yard sales or markets, make sure you have a good look on eBay before you go and note down any trends you see: For example, you might see an influx of teaspoon sets or cake slicers being sold, or you see that 1930’s flatware is selling well. Note these trends down and take them with you to the yard sales.
Check SaleHoo suppliers offering antique silver and flatware regularly because in the antique trade, there is no such thing as a steady supply - items come and go often!
Hot Category: Asian Statues
These have long been popular among collector’s but have gained more attention from the mainstream market when they became a trend item for interior decorating. Since then, buyers are looking for something more than a cheap replica garnish their homes. Thus, a fantastic new opportunity has arisen for sellers wanting to offer antique items!
What to get your hands on:
- South-East Asian buddhas
- 18th -19th century items (a popular era for collectors)
- Mythical “lyons” and ancestors
Where to source these items:
SaleHoo suppliers: See here for a list of SaleHoo suppliers who offer Asian-style home wares and collectibles. As I mentioned above, supply of antiques is fluid, so it’s best to get in touch with suppliers and build a rapport with them so that when they stock items you want, they will get in touch with you.
Have you sold antique items before? What was your experience like? We would love to hear from you!
The information published here is strictly for informational purposes. All above product items are only suggestions for possible products which will sell favorably, and should be used as a guide only. At the time of writing, all above products were researched using methods recommend by SaleHoo and found to be potentially profitable for sellers. All sellers are encouraged to conduct their own market and product research.
Thanks for your advice mate I am really interested in what you said. So I will check out the collectersweekly site and start scouting around some garage sales and flea markets for collectables. Cheers