The acquisition of antiques - this was and remains one of the most reliable ways of investing, which allows you to ensure a stable profit of 20-50% per annum. That is why not only very wealthy people, as is commonly thought, are engaged in collecting antiquities, but also representatives of the middle class.
The global antiques market is divided into several segments. The largest and most promising of them is painting and sculpture (over 40%). Numismatics and second-hand books are in second place in terms of sales (20%). Furniture and various interior items make up 17% of total sales. Jewelry - 15%, and vintage cars - 8%. The business associated with the purchase and sale of antique goods, in terms of profitability, ranks third after the diamond and oil trade.
It is almost impossible to accurately determine the volume of this market in value terms, since confidentiality is most valued in such a business. Some experts call figures ranging from $ 1 billion to $ 1.5 billion.
A business related to the purchase and sale of antiquities requires a lot of knowledge and experience. The percentage of fakes in our country is very high. The share of fakes reaches 40-50%. Therefore, if you are fond of antiques, but are not a specialist in evaluating it, then you will either have to look for real experts in this field, or abandon the idea of opening your own antique shop.
The assortment of your store is the main thing on which the whole business rests. Best of all, if you yourself can evaluate the authenticity and determine the approximate cost of antiques. Any mistake can lead to large financial losses. Of course, you can ask for help from an antique dealer who constantly monitors the demand for certain antiques, can conduct a professional assessment of the product and give a guarantee of authenticity. However, specialist services are quite expensive. The cost of one consultation may be about 15% of the total value of the evaluated product.
Truly valuable things get on the shelves of antique shops either directly from their former owners, or through art dealers. Retail margins are usually 300% of the purchase price. In some cases, the store may even sell the goods without extra charges, if, for example, there is an opportunity to get a regular customer. An antique store can also accept antiques for a fee, charging up to 25% of the value of the goods.
Additional sources of income will be professional counseling and examination services. You should not expect quick profits. Invested funds can return even after a few years. According to experts, seven out of ten antiquities purchased by an antique store are sold only after one to two years. However, business owners console themselves with the fact that the cost of this type of product only increases every year.
The greatest profit to antique shops comes from the sale of paintings. In second place are old books. The price of a second-hand book increases by 25-30% every year. Antique coins rise in price by 20% annually. And retro cars bring up to 15-17% per annum. The category of "low-income" antiques include jewelry and brands. Their value increases every year only by 5-7%.
The room under the antique shop should be quite spacious. Of course, it makes no sense to take a few meters in a shopping center. This should be a store with a separate entrance, for example, on the ground floor of a residential building. Immediately put in the estimate the cost of repairs. An antique store is not just beautiful things on display windows, it is a special atmosphere of bygone time.
When developing interior design, it is advisable to contact a specialist who will take into account all your wishes. The cost of renting a small area (20-30 sq. M.) On the ground floor of a residential building will be from 20 thousand rubles and above, depending on the region and the location of your store (the best is the city center). In addition, you will need special trading equipment - closed racks and display cases.
The next largest expense items are insurance of your goods and licensing of activities, as well as employee wages. You will need the services of an accountant (there is no need to hire him for a full time), one or two sales assistants who are versed in antiques. But, first of all, you need: an appraiser, restorer and purchasing manager (the duties of the latter, most likely, will have to be performed by you yourself at first).
The appraiser determines the true value of the goods, rejects fakes. The restorer carries out pre-sale preparation of the goods, since most of the antiques that will be brought to you for sale will not be in the best condition. The purchasing manager is looking for goods for sale, placing ads in newspapers, going around villages and villages in search of antiques. This is perhaps the most difficult and important part of the work of the entire store.
Obligatory licensing, strict reporting and regular inventory taking are the main requirements for conducting an antique business. To promote your antique store, of course, you can use traditional types of advertising - ads in local specialized magazines, a sign on the facade that attracts attention, outdoor advertising, and television advertising. However, this is not enough for successful work (and much of the above is completely useless).
Collecting antiques is a passion for the elite. In the business of selling antiques, good reputation and personal connections are especially important. Large customers come not by newspaper ads, but by the recommendations of friends and / or specialists. Therefore, if you want to succeed in your business, use not only standard advertising, but also all means of Public Relations. Take part in thematic events, attend auctions, communicate with experts and collectors.
Think about creating your own online store. The cost of creating such a store is from 50 thousand rubles (unless you can make a website yourself), but you will quickly pay back all the investments. Pay particular attention to the quality of the pictures of products in your online store. Do not save on a good technique and / or photographer.
So, to open your own antique store you will need: special education, knowledge and experience in this area, a lot of patience (unique products cost hundreds of times more than mass-produced goods, but they also buy them less often), starting capital of not less than 800 thousand rubles. This amount includes registration of a legal entity, licensing, rental of premises and wages to employees for the first two months of work, minimum advertising and purchase costs for the first batch of goods. The payback period of an antique store is from one year.
Sysoeva Lilia
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