My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday. Monday’s post will be about the fabulous Tiffany collection of the Morse Museum in Winter Park, Florida.

Monday afternoon, in front of my booth

As expected, Monday’s attendance at the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show was lighter than the weekend’s, but there was still a decent crowd. Attendance is never the problem with this show — it’s qualified buyers. Only a small percentage of the attendees are actually interested in making purchases. Unfortunately for me (and the other exhibitors), most are there for a good time or to appraise their own items.

Tuesday afternoon, 2 PM, in front of my booth

Tuesday was the last day of the show. Surprisingly, there were quite a few people in attendance — not as many as the weekend, but still quite good for a Tuesday. Monday was a bust with total sales of $300. (One dealer said to me that he didn’t even know that I had anything for $300. Yes, I do.) Tuesday was a better day, with a couple of nice sales, including an important bronze and carved wood cat lamp, signed and dated Jean Carrit, 1898, made in France at the dawn of electricity.

A fabulous 1898 Jean Carrit bronze and wood lamp, sold at the show

My show wound up being a moderate success. I sold enough to cover my expenses and earn a fair profit. In addition, I was able to make a private purchase, as a result of the show, that will ultimately produce revenue. Business wasn’t quite as good as the show two weeks before at the Miami Beach Convention Center, but still good enough to make me want to return to Palm Beach next year.

I did ask quite a few dealers about their results and found out the following. A Steuben dealer had a great show, including fabulous sales at the preview party. A majolica dealer, a ceramics dealer and a bronze and ivory dealer had fair shows, just making expenses and very modest profits — none was very happy. A dealer in art glass, lamps and jewelry was disappointed with his jewelry sales, but otherwise satisfied. A dealer in Russian items was disappointed — he did not make his expenses and lost money on the show. Other dealers told me their results were down from a year ago. There was lots of interest, but they just couldn’t close many of the potential sales. An important dealer at the show told me that his results were good, not great. He was hopeful that he would be able to make follow-up sales after the show.

Rob Samuels and Scott Diament (right), owners of the Palm Beach Show Group

One of the show promoters, Scott Diament, told me that some of the dealers had done exceptionally well, including one jewelry dealer who had sold millions (I can’t independently confirm that). He also told me that three important European dealers, who have exhibited at the world-renowned Maastricht Antiques Fair in the Netherlands, had plans to exhibit at next year’s Palm Beach show.

Happy to be back in New York. Our next show is the Pier Show in New York City on the weekend of March 17th and 18th. It’s always fun, so start planning your trip to the Big Apple!

In the meantime, we’re still in business, so don’t be bashful. Call or write!
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Very fine Daum blownout scenic vase with wheel-carved detail

Look around my website. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps. I regularly add Tiffany vases, lamps and desk accessories, as well as French cameo glass by Galle and Daum Nancy and Louis Icart etchings. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com

My aisle at 1 PM on Tuesday afternoon

Read this blog to the end, because it’s amazing what a difference a few hours makes.

I’m writing this blog at 1:15 PM on Tuesday afternoon, so what I’m saying now is subject to modification, perhaps towards the end of this entry. As of now, the show did not go well. It’s an expensive show for exhibitors, so they have to sell more than the usual amount just to make expenses. Sales after that are the profit. As of this moment, I have not made expenses, nor have several other dealers that I’ve spoken to. I’m sure there are some exhibitors who’ve done well, but personally I haven’t met them. Attendance was noticeably lower than last year, when the aisles were crowded each of the four days of the show. Attendance was good on Saturday and Sunday and lighter on Monday and Tuesday.

In asking around, I found out the following. A dealer in Russian objects did not make his expenses. Another dealer in decorative objects and jewelry had a difficult time selling decorative objects but was able to make a profit with jewelry. A dealer in clocks was able to make a small profit. One dealer in paintings did not sell a single painting. Another dealer who sells general merchandise was pleased. He had sold a mirror, a piece of furniture, a bronze, etc.

My booth, with my beautiful wife, Tuesday, 2:20 PM

I’ve got mixed feelings about the attendance at this show. The show promoter is very generous with the distribution of free tickets. Consequently lots of the attendees at the show are there solely for a good time. It’s better than a museum — the admission is free, you can touch or buy anything, and you can ask questions of experts in their fields. My feelings are mixed because it’s difficult to deal with the many attendees who are there for amusement. Sitting in the booth for eight hours, repeatedly putting up with comments and questions like “Are any of these items for sale?” “Did you make these?” “Do you have a pair?” is tough. On the other hand, there is a possibility that someone who had no intention of purchasing anything could get sufficiently motivated and make a purchase.

I’m not sure why I print and distribute business cards. My wife was once in a booth where they sold purses. She asked for a business card and was told by the owner “No, I don’t have any. Cards are for people who have no intention of buying.” I’m not that cynical, but I am realistic. If I take a wild guess, I estimate that I receive one inquiry for every 1-200 cards that I distribute. Pretty low percentage, but if it results in a sale or purchase, it was worth it.

P.S. It’s now 9:30 PM on Tuesday night. The show finished a few hours ago and now we’re all packed up and anxious to get back to New York. We’ve been gone a month, so I’m champing at the bit (can I tell you how many people are wrong when they say chomping on the bit?) to get home. The show ended with a flurry of business for the last three hours — very exciting and very gratifying. We sat at the show for 35 hours of exhibition time and did 75% of our business during the last three hours. Some of it was to people returning after they’d seen something in our booth on previous days, but most of the business was to people who saw us for the first time. Business cut through many categories, a Pairpoint puffy, KPM plaques, Tiffany glass, an Icart etching, a Le Verre Francais vase, but it’s still strongest for French cameo glass. Thanks to each and every one of our clients. Their business is truly appreciated.

If you like my blog, please let your friends know by sending them a link. Then check out my new Tiffany, Daum, Gallé, Webb and R. Lalique acquisitions. I just listed some important Tiffany vases, straight from a private home. Here’s the link. chasenantiques.com