How to Collect Floor Lamps
Collecting floor lamps can be a lucrative and exciting activity for someone with an entrepreneurial spirit and an eye for design. Whether you intend to sell the lamps or simply keep them for personal use, there are a variety of ways to find collectible floor lamps. Just like collecting anything else, knowing where to look and having patience and a keen eye are the keys to success when perusing retail establishments for floor lamps.
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Things You'll Need
- Local phone book or online telephone directory
- Newspaper
- Lamp repair manual (optional)
- Lamp buyers guide (optional)
Instructions
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Visit local pawnshops that routinely purchase collectible furniture and household goods. Buying from pawnshops is a great way to find bargains because most pawnshops pay only a fraction of what the item is worth to the original seller, and this price is generally passed on to you with a slight markup. In many cases, pawnshops are not seeking what an item is truly worth, or they may be unaware of the lamp's real value to collectors.
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Go to local thrift stores and second-hand shops that stock household items. Finding collectible lamps in a thrift store or second-hand shop may require significant patience and regular visits because most stores of this nature take any working item as a donation. However, when you do find a collectible floor lamp, you can expect to be rewarded with an extremely low price tag.
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Check the newspaper for estate sales. These sales are frequented by collectors of all types, so try and get to the sale site as early as possible to avoid missing an item you would have purchased. Although estate sales do not generally offer bargain basement prices, you can usually save 25 to 50 percent over buying from a retailer.
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Talk to local antique or furniture dealers and let them know what items you are looking for. Both antique and new furniture dealers rely on repeat business and will be willing to contact you if they receive an item that meets your criteria, especially if you are a collector and frequently buy from them. Make sure your contact information stays current and contact your dealer from time to time just to make sure they don't forget about you.
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Consider buying floor lamps that aren't fully functioning. You can often get incredible deals on items that do not work properly, and the repairs may be very inexpensive for some items. You might consider purchasing a book on basic lamp repair if you are good with technical repairs.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchasing a collector's guide for antique lamps is a good idea if you intend to collect antiques. It can be a useful reference when you are shopping or attempting to resell an item. Consider keeping the guide in a handbag or in the trunk of your car when you are out in case you need it.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Floor lamp on white background image by Dmitry Nikolaev from Fotolia.com
