Featured Covid-19 impact on antiques business

Yeah, I definitely get the appeal. But you have to check with the wisdom of going through other peoples trash or dumpster when covid can be on anything an infected person has touched. On the other hand if its an 18th century tea table, maybe worth the risk...

 

I'd be thinking about that too. Probably not wise now, at least in my part of the country.

 

Everything has dried up here in Massachusetts. Almost no one out on the streets; no rush hour traffic. I've been sorting and put a nice condition taped-seat shaker-style chair in front of my house for free pick up yesterday and it is still there - normally the furniture I put out is gone within an hour.

 

We had our first virus death on Cape Cod this week

 

To see an example of a piece that was going into a dumpster because of the covid disruption, see https://www.antiquers.com/threads/victorian-glass-cameo-casket-mary-gregory.48428/

 

I live in a rural county that's had only one infected person for a week or more, but I've been staying home and having USPS pick up ebay packages. Yesterday I was starting to get cabin fever, so decided to drive 50 miles north to another rural county with no known covid19 cases. My only stop was at a dollar store to treat myself to some junk food (the shelves were fully stocked ). Back at my car I realized I had locked my keys inside . But then a woman coming out of the store noticed my predicament and offered to call a friend who just happened to have tools that unlock car doors . His charge was $40, but I only had $27 with me (no checkbook). He was okay with me mailing the remainder. I decided to drive straight home and not press my luck any further!

 

It makes sense that more spaced out rural communities will not see the virus in the same way as a crowded urban setting......
but....... rural gatherings can bring many townsfolk together......and that could spell trouble...

 

The town I stopped at (population 8,000+) seems to be taking the situation pretty seriously. The dollar store checkout clerk was wearing a mask and gloves; only about 3 customers were in the store. Goodwill was open (I didn't go in), but no cars in the parking lot except a few in the employee parking area. The other thrift stores in town were closed. Very few cars on the streets. Our state (Wisconsin) just announced a "safer-at-home" order prohibiting nonessential travel through April 24th. Guess I won't be making special trips to replenish my supply of junk food anytime soon.

 

It seems most of the case in GA came from folks going to church in early March...

 

Just any church? Or a single church?

 

Here in Southern Ohio municipalities are getting calls about closed thrift stores with large piles of goods abandoned in front and back of the stores. They are having to dispatch public services crews to these locations to clean up the mess. I can tell you they are not thrilled and the supervisor is considering stacking out one of the stores to potentially catch people in the act and make an example of them for the local news. A large amount of this stuff is garbage that nobody wants but people want to dispose of for free, the local used bookstore which is also closed is having the same issues with people leaving boxes of used books under their awning.

 

I drove by the GW this afternoon & there were 5 vehicles in line waiting to drop off stuff. I was curious if they were open for business so I drove around front. There were people inside obviously shopping. I was tempted for a moment, but in the end drove out of the parking lot.

I am sure my decision had a lot to do with the fact that I had spent yesterday afternoon out in my garage going through numerous boxes & discovering all kinds of things that I forgot existed.

I already have 3 piles going of stuff to go to consignment shop, auction house & thrift shop. Now all I need is for them to open back up so I can get the stuff out the door.

 

Not sure where this is but illegal dumping at thrift stores seems to be common.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Flipping/comments/fp61x9/goodwill_closed_for_pandemic_people_keep_bringing/

 

I've heard of it happening. The one here was still open for donations on Tuesday, but closed for retail. I'd been somewhat tempted to go in, but thankfully couldn't.

 

Several churches - various denominations - spread the wealth!

 

Besides the impact on the Antiques business, it seems there is an impact on the museum business too due to the shutdowns. Has everyone seen this story: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/mar/30/van-gogh-painting-stolen-from-dutch-museum

 

Anybody know if the antique malls that closed due to orders issued by the states are still charging their vendors monthly rent despite not being open for business?

 

Our owner is not for April but that could change. He took it upon himself to cover the month if necessary. Is negotiating with his landlord for a suspension of rent during the shutdown. I think this is what needs to happen across the board as this stretches into months instead of weeks.

 

Are you locked into a long term contract? Could get really costly for vendors in malls that don't have any sales but are on the hook for rent for many months into the future. Depending on how their business is structured they could be personally liable out of their own pocket for business losses. Do many antique mall vendors have LLCs or have incorporated?

 

If we all stay home, we can turn this around sooner than later....................
but we can't...can we ? !!

Everyone who can't afford to go months without income ...will be hit hard and suffer in different ways....
I'm going to donate to my closest food bank....