When I go to restock my booth at the antique mall, I'm pretty predictable in what I do. I try to make things as easy as possible. If I can squeeze new items in with the old, I do that. If I have a whole new display- like this one for New Years Eve- I'll clear a table or shelf so the new stuff stands out.
My idea for this display was "Have fun, lose your head (or your shoes)" on New Year's Eve.
I had a new piece of furniture to bring in, so I tried to not clutter it up too much- I wanted customers to be able to see that there was a desk under all the stuff.
I straightened up all the eye level shelves and the table tops, and tried to balance out the pictures on the walls and make things look inviting, enticing and "diggable".
But when I finished up, I ran into the same situation I always have- pieces that don't quite fit in, but I don't want to take home. Taking home a piece always seems like a little bit of a failure, so I try not take anything home unless its broken, or I have a plan for repackaging it for somewhere else.
(And every few months I bring in an empty box and fill it with anything I'm sick of seeing and drop it off at Savers on my way home.)
So- what do I do with the unfit, the unwashed, the not so great pieces...
(WARNING: THE PICTURES AHEAD ARE NOT ATTRACTIVE.)
1. The Lower Shelf- put stuff I'm tired of on a bottom shelf- people will still see it if they're looking, but it's not prime real estate and hopefully doesn't detract from "the good stuff". Of course, at one time, I thought most, but not all of this stuff was "good stuff".
2. The Lean- prop stuff up against doors, the wall, or sides of cabinets. If you angle the crap, I mean merchandise at angles, it looks like you MEANT it to be a display, instead of it just being stuff you didn't feel like picking up.
3. The Under the Table- particularly effective if the table has a tablecloth. The loser merchandise isn't completely hidden, but it is softened by the draping of the table cloth. Anyone in need of bongo drums, andirons, an ancient adding machine, a coal shuttle or cool but purpose unknown black metal grate? Cause I've got a deal for you.....
Speaking of deals- I found some fun stuff at estate sales today and it's in my Etsy shops.
Pretties in SugarPinkMoon.
And some funky stuff and handmade pieces in Gathering Dust including a little doll dress I "decorated".
