Posted 11 years ago
antiques-i…
(240 items)
Giving CPR to the Glass collecting We All Love
On a recent trip to West Virginia to attend the Akro Agate Convention a topic of discussion was discussed that is a concern of all antiques collecting clubs, especially the glass collecting clubs.
How do we revive the shrinking membership of our clubs and revive the interests of glass collecting for younger generations. Many ideas were kicked around and I have compiled a list of possible ideas that clubs and individuals could use to help this cause. One must understand that not all ideas are easy and cheap in implementing. However, many are, and it just takes a bit of imagination and time on ones part for those who may choose to tackle this issue.
Collecting today unlike many years ago is different. It is much harder to find items we all are looking for in shops anymore and one has to turn to the internet to find items to add to our collections. The other major issue, I believe, is that items that one could build a nice collection could be found at reasonable prices in your local antique shop or in shops as you traveled on vacation. Most are now in collections and are considerably more expensive as they pass from hand to hand and it is often difficult for a young newcomer to build a collection which may quickly discourage someone new and quickly loose interest. So, what do we do to get younger people into the hobby?
Get younger people interested in joining a club that pertains to their collecting interest, coming to meetings and conventions where they can become educated in the glass history and how to approach collecting. Clubs should do their part by making them feel at home. Put the politics aside and show new collectors that this is a great club to contribute to, negative activity can discourage someone real quick, trust me I know.
Many individuals may not be able to build massive collections but educate them in understanding how to collect. In other words start small and maybe build a small collection of some of the more common pieces that are available so they get comfortable and then build up to more expensive pieces as time goes on. Collect what you like even if it’s a common item, there is nothing wrong with that and a new comer should understand that. Collecting should be fun and not obsessed with being on top, show a new collector that the collecting and the history of all this stuff can be fun. Should you be a member of a collecting forum online, welcome them and offer what ever help you can give them. Don’t chase them off should they say something that may be inaccurate, talk to them, educate them and give them the power of knowledge.
I know I’m getting off on a tangent a bit but the point is once you have a new potential collector you want to keep them interested. So let’s all put our heads together and come up with solutions that work for all of us no matter what type of glass we collect and share these ideas across the spectrum.
Below is a start and should anyone have any other ideas please speak up and add it to the list.
1. Create a “Press Release” to announce a Convention, Meetings, or Special Activity that is related to the collecting interest.
2. Create a small add for the club that would be printed in various antique publications around the country. (Antique Trader etc)
3. Write articles on the subject for various antiques publications.
4. Ask if you can put in a display in your local library.
5. Set up a booth in a local fair.
6. Give a talk in a local glass or antiques club meeting.
7. Create a Website
8. Distribute a club pamphlet to various antique malls, museums, shows, etc.
9. Set up a booth in a large Antiques Show or Fair
10. Writing a new book
The above suggestions don’t only apply to a specific collecting category such as Akro Agate, Victorian Shaker collecting (My two interests) but to all categories on glass and antiques.
Part of collecting is sharing through displays, talks, convention activities, etc. Yes, we own pieces and collections but only temporarily and there has to be new, young collectors to carry on this countries glass making history.
While some of the above suggestions take money and in some cases a lot of money others take very little. Some ideas above take only the investment of time and your knowledge.
Please make this subject a topic of discussion in what ever collecting club you belong to, it’s the future of collecting and preserving history.
Well, the point is that this is a point of discussion of a lot of glass clubs and I would suspect all clubs connected to antiques. The members are getting older and very few new ones coming in. This was a result of a conversation with someone from the WVMAG during the Akro Agate convention.
I would say if you want to reach young people, #7 is the big one, and beyond just having a website, it needs to be consistently updated and easy to use. Fewer people are picking up print publications/newspapers these days, and most rely on getting new and new info via the web. Yet this is where most collectors clubs fall short, and they are missing a huge audience...
Many of your other tips can be translated to web quite easily (ads, press releases, etc.) but you have to have an online presence first.
Oh, I agree that young people do look towards the web for everything these days. But they need to have the interest to search for these things. I guess that is part of what Im trying to say.
of course! the other problem for young folks is an absence of disposable income, as money for younger generations is increasingly tight :(
which is why you gotta hook 'em on the cheap stuff ;)
Understood, and I really hesitate to use that term only because its an entry level drug so to speak. Then as they grow and get older, established in their careers, hopefully they will become more advanced. I think we all do that for the most part. Plus, it was always more fun being new, discovering all this stuff and getting bargains! I tend to believe as time goes on we can get a little more serious and competitive and I don't know if that is good or not if that's makes sense.
Completely. Though getting a bargain still feels great, especially once you really know the market value! :)
Oh yeah, I know what you mean there and if you know your collecting interest well you can see things other don't, knowledge is power!
Ive been doing shakers since 1994 and carnival glass before that. so I have gained some knowledge but there is always so much to learn no matter how long you been doing it.
Yeah! Go get 'em! :)
Well, Ive been on a lot of collecting sites over the years and I have to say this site has generated more conversation for me and interest in what I collect than any other one. So, I guess Ive got a little excited getting into all these conversations. Im usually writing articles for magazines on this subject and they don't speak back to you so this has been fun!
It's very true - and that's the goal behind Show & Tell, to provide a level of interaction not possible through collectible publications or auction sites.
Ive been a member of this site for a while now and have posted things from time to time. I will have to post a bit more now. I like to talk about what I collect. So many people collect and keep it hidden. That does not make much sense to me and nobody benefits by that.
Wonderful - glad to have you contributing! happy friday...
"Collecting today unlike many years ago is different." AGREE online "markets" have done in a lot of antique shops, but NOT to the detriment of collecting.
"... Most [glass is] now in collections and [is] considerably more expensive... it is often difficult for a young newcomer to build a collection which may quickly discourage someone new and quickly loose interest." DISAGREE strongly-- online markets coupled with the economy have made prices on many items very reasonable and lower than what they have been in decades.
ON THIS SITE a new art glass collector has compiled a vast collection in only a few months with online buying!
Embracing of the internet is the key to spreading the word and garnering interest.
Unfortunately, some sites (like this one) are now trying to be too trendy and getting away from the ANTIQUES/ COLLECTIBLES in favor of a facebook type approach with travel photos and craft projects. While trying to attract new interest many old timers are driven away!
Crafts killed many antique malls and is detrimental to these type sites when trendy wins out over ANTIQUES and COLLECTIBLES.
There is a balance. Embrace the online audience BUT maintain the FOCUS!
scott
I need to add-- I like the glass!
scott
I need to add-- I like the glass!
scott
I have seen over and over again that glass and shakers in particular have risen compared to when they were found in an antique shop. I know many "Old Timers" and they say the same thing. Yes, glass has slummped along with the rest of the market as of late.
Now, as I believe you need to promote the hobby by making the hobby known and show off the glass. Younger people who may go to antique shops have never had the opportunity to see the kind of glass Im referring to. Its mostly in collections as I said. if you show a new potential collector good glass but its not accessable to them, I know I would get discouraged real quick.
Also, another reason why you dont see good glass much in the antique shaops anymore is that everyone is a dealer now on ebay and they need inventory. That is usually the case with midrange stuff.
And yes, I just love the what I call "Antiques & Gift" shops .....NOT
I have a friend who is a full time dealer in Victorian colored glass. He does large antique shows mainly in the northeast. Ive sat in his booth many a time and old timers come in and buy but younger people may wonder in and the first thing my friend does is see if they know what this stuff in and offer to educate them if they are not sure. They are willing to listen but the price of the glass quickly discourages them.
So, there are two things there they dont know about the glass and he interests them but the glass is too expensive and he tries to keep prices reasonable. So, the potential collector walks.
I dont know what the answer is but I try to keep the discussion going. Everyone has a different take on it but keeping the discussion going may yeild some answer someday. Its better than being silent.
Look at all the discussion its just generated here.