How to Deal in Antiques

Whether you are buying and selling antiques and collectables as a profitable career or an enjoyable hobby, you'll need you know exactly what you're doing to maximise profits and discover how to avoid the tricks of the trade. That's exactly what this book will tell you: - What to buy and sell - Where to buy and how to get the best deals - Why these key selling tips will make you the most money - How to use the internet to increase profits The expert author highlights the peculiarities of the trade and warns of some of the common - and costly - mistakes that can be made.

REVIEWS:
"'Astonishingly thorough' Antiques Trade Gazette 'Fiona Shoop is the Nigella Lawson of the antiques world.' BBC Radio Leicester 'The best practical introduction so far seen on buying & selling collectables on the internet.' www.antiquesnews.co.uk 'Probably the best book I have ever read on the subject of becoming an antiques dealer.' AllInfoAbout.com"

AUTHOR BIOG:
TV and Radio antiques expert Fiona Shoop draws on over twenty-five years of experience in the trade to teach people how they can deal in antiques. She has her own antiques business and has written thousands of articles on antiques and collectables. Fiona has also worked as an antiques expert on TV, including Name Your Price, Boot Sale Challenge and Everything Must Go, as well as talking antiques and valuing goods on radio phone-ins, including BBC Radio Five. She also gives lectures on how to make the most of the antiques world.

CONTENTS:
Preface
Part One - Establishing the basics
Chapter 1. Why do you want to be an antiques dealer?
Chapter 2. What type of dealer do you want to be?
Chapter 3. To specialise or not
Chapter 4. Can you afford to be a dealer?
Chapter 5. Communications
Part Two - Where to buy goods
Chapter 1. Let's start at the beginning - how much should I pay for things?
Chapter 2. Buying tips
Chapter 3. Antiques fairs
Chapter 4. Antiques centres
Chapter 5. Antiques shops
Chapter 6. Auctions
Chapter 7. Markets
Chapter 8. Car boot sales
Chapter 9. Damaged pieces
Part Three - Where to sell
Chapter 1. Can I sell where I want?
Chapter 2. How to sell
Chapter 3. The importance of careful wrapping
Chapter 4. Antiques fairs
Chapter 5. Antiques centres
Chapter 6. Antiques shops
Chapter 7. Auctions
Chapter 8. Transport
Chapter 9. Safe cleaning
Part Four -The internet
Chapter 1. Should I or shouldn't I?
Chapter 2. Let's start at the very beginning
Chapter 3. Buying on the internet
Chapter 4. Selling over the internet
Chapter 5. Photographs on the internet
Chapter 6. Do I need my own website?
Chapter 7. Do I even need the internet to be a dealer?
Part Five - What to sell
Chapter 1. What is a collectable?
Chapter 2. What is an antique?
Chapter 3. Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts
Chapter 4. Art Deco
Chapter 5. Furniture
Chapter 6. China
Chapter 7. Glass
Chapter 8. Gold and silver
Chapter 9. Jewellery
Chapter 10. Costume jewellery
Chapter 11. Lights
Chapter 12. Books and ephemera
Chapter 13. Childhood favourites
Chapter 14. Toys
Chapter 15. Film merchandise and pop memorabilia
Chapter 16. Pop Classics (probably not what you're thinking
Chapter 17. Tins
Chapter 18. Commemoratives
Chapter 19. Novelties
Chapter 20. Other popular areas
Chapter 21. Fads
Part Six - Business Basics
Chapter 1. Tax
Chapter 2. Customs and excise
Chapter 3. Insurance
Conclusion
Useful Publications
Index