Today's customers are coming to and buying items from antique and collectible malls for 3 distinct reasons.

1. The first reason is the function ability of the item. Decoration is a very popular function of many antiques and collectibles as there are many shows and magazines that use antiques for decorating in the home and the business. Many celebrities have set the stage by showing how antiques and collectibles fit into this niche. Business such as restaurants and

theme shops are also looking for the right items to display to create that special atmosphere for their customers. Sometimes the person buying that antique wants the item to actually use for its original intended purpose. They do this because new items are more expensive or have lost something, as they have been updated.

2. The second reason that antiques and collectibles are sought out and bought is for the collectible or investment value. When people lose faith in the stock market or even banks, they look for more tangible items as an investment for their extra money. Antiques and collectibles are a perfect fit as an investment. If you are getting a very low return on your money from savings or stocks then why not buy a vintage piece furniture that not only has character, but it is functional and it will surely continue to increase in value. The customers might want to buy coins or other items that are made of precious metals as these items have always stood the test of time when the economy is a little shaky. Items of limited edition and that are no longer being produced will also increase in value. The collector is always seeking out items of value that are no longer being made, The law of supply and demand says that when you have a harder time finding something, than the desire increases until you are finally able to buy what you are looking for. This desire also known as the ‘auction frenzy’ works to drive the price up on virtually anything.

3. The third and usually one of the strongest driving reasons for customers to want to buy antiques and collectibles is called the ‘feel good’ reason. You buy something just because it makes you feel good. Some call this that warm and fuzzy feeling. People will always buy items because they like the appearance of the item. A good example is Depression glass because it is colorful, interesting and functional. Sometimes the customer just likes to collect a certain type of items such as sports collectibles, or anything else such as teddy bears or just anything because it feels good to have the best collection. They can like any specific type of item and by growing or fine tuning their collection they hope that it will serve them well in the years to come. Sometimes just being able to find something form their past helps to capture happy memories. These facts make the antique and collectible industry invaluable as a ‘feel good’ venue.

Bruce Leimkuehler
Kansas City Brass Armadillo Antique Mall
http://brassarmadillo.com