Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Wealthy part-time residents often donate or consign quality pieces when downsizing
• •Tourists actively seek unique souvenirs with local character and history
• •Limited competition—mainland dealers don't often hunt the islands
• •Shipping costs favor local sales for furniture but online works for smalls
• •Estate sales on islands often yield quality pieces at reasonable prices

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Choose a specialty to develop genuine expertise

   • •Generalists miss the nuances that determine value—specialists see what others don't
   • •Deep knowledge in one area beats shallow knowledge across many
   • •Your reputation builds faster when you're known for something specific
2. 2
   Learn authentication, dating, and condition assessment for your niche

   • •One expensive fake purchase can wipe out months of profit
   • •Understanding condition factors helps you price accurately
   • •Knowledge lets you spot undervalued pieces others pass by
3. 3
   Build relationships at estate sales, auctions, and with other dealers

   • •First access to inventory beats fighting over picked-over goods
   • •Dealers often trade or sell to each other when items don't fit their specialty
   • •Estate sale companies remember good buyers for early notifications
4. 4
   Master photography and storytelling for your items

   • •Online buyers can't touch the piece—photos and descriptions do the selling
   • •Provenance and history increase perceived value
   • •Good photos separate you from amateur sellers immediately

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Start by selling from home—no booth or storefront rent until volume justifies it
• •Use free platforms like Facebook Marketplace for local furniture sales
• •Share booth space with another dealer to split rent costs
• •Repurpose household items as photo backdrops and props
• •Build expertise through library books and free YouTube content before buying courses

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Inventory ties up cash—sold items release capital for new purchases
• •Higher-priced items take longer to sell; balance inventory across price points
• •Platform payouts typically take 3-7 days after sale confirmation
• •Consignment arrangements avoid tying up capital but reduce margins

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start with lower-priced items until your eye develops—expensive mistakes hurt less at $50 than $500
• •Research pieces thoroughly before buying—mobile price guides and databases help at sales
• •Build relationships with authenticators before you need them urgently
• •Specialize in items you genuinely enjoy—enthusiasm sustains you through slow periods
• •Keep detailed records of purchases for tax purposes and trend analysis
• •Diversify across item types to avoid category-specific market downturns

Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Wealthy part-time residents often donate or consign quality pieces when downsizing
• •Tourists actively seek unique souvenirs with local character and history
• •Limited competition—mainland dealers don't often hunt the islands
• •Shipping costs favor local sales for furniture but online works for smalls
• •Estate sales on islands often yield quality pieces at reasonable prices

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Choose a specialty to develop genuine expertise

   • •Generalists miss the nuances that determine value—specialists see what others don't
   • •Deep knowledge in one area beats shallow knowledge across many
   • •Your reputation builds faster when you're known for something specific
2. 2
   Learn authentication, dating, and condition assessment for your niche

   • •One expensive fake purchase can wipe out months of profit
   • •Understanding condition factors helps you price accurately
   • •Knowledge lets you spot undervalued pieces others pass by
3. 3
   Build relationships at estate sales, auctions, and with other dealers

   • •First access to inventory beats fighting over picked-over goods
   • •Dealers often trade or sell to each other when items don't fit their specialty
   • •Estate sale companies remember good buyers for early notifications
4. 4
   Master photography and storytelling for your items

   • •Online buyers can't touch the piece—photos and descriptions do the selling
   • •Provenance and history increase perceived value
   • •Good photos separate you from amateur sellers immediately

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Start by selling from home—no booth or storefront rent until volume justifies it
• •Use free platforms like Facebook Marketplace for local furniture sales
• •Share booth space with another dealer to split rent costs
• •Repurpose household items as photo backdrops and props
• •Build expertise through library books and free YouTube content before buying courses

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Inventory ties up cash—sold items release capital for new purchases
• •Higher-priced items take longer to sell; balance inventory across price points
• •Platform payouts typically take 3-7 days after sale confirmation
• •Consignment arrangements avoid tying up capital but reduce margins

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start with lower-priced items until your eye develops—expensive mistakes hurt less at $50 than $500
• •Research pieces thoroughly before buying—mobile price guides and databases help at sales
• •Build relationships with authenticators before you need them urgently
• •Specialize in items you genuinely enjoy—enthusiasm sustains you through slow periods
• •Keep detailed records of purchases for tax purposes and trend analysis
• •Diversify across item types to avoid category-specific market downturns