Vacation time!

Why is that when you go on vacation you get so excited you can't sleep? We are headed out for a great week at one of our favorite places. Woohoo!!

Stillwater Arts Festival

This weekend was the Stillwater Arts Festival. Years ago, it was called, "Run for the Arts", and was held on the Payne County Courthouse lawn. It was moved to a local park some years back, and a couple of years ago they moved it right downtown. The city blocks off the street and the vendors put up tents right down the center of Main Street.
It brings lots of people downtown, and the Stillwater Antique Mall had a few vendors that opened up shop on the sidewalk for Saturday. Many vendors participated in the 20% discount, so outside and inside hopefully traffic was heavy. Next weekend is Easter, and lots of booths have Easter related items. So be sure and check out the Stillwater Antique Mall. Remember, we are Booth #92. You'll find us on the third floor, that's the penthouse. If you've ever watched, Pretty Woman, you know that the best is always on the top floor. And of course, we roll out the red carpet.

We've Expanded.....

It has been my focus to get as many of my garage sale treasures to the mall. That was working out great but the treasures out numbered the mall space. I requested an additional space and I was lucky enough to be offered space with one of my day job coworkers. We moved in Oct. 2, and we have had an amazing month.

October has been a great month for all the antique mall vendors. We have had several home football games, that have allowed shopping time for visiting football fans. One weekend, a car show, and the Downtown Merchants Association and Louie's Bar and Grill have really brought Downtown Stillwater back to life. I hope all the other downtown merchants are seeing an increase in their sales.

Be sure and stop by the Stillwater Antique Mall. Remember - The Original 92 is located on the 3rd floor. Straight up to the penthouse and to the left. The Annex (second space) is located on the 2nd floor - in the Blue room, top of the stairs and go right.

The Stillwater Antique Mall has a little bit of everything. And even if you don't find something to buy, you can walk around and reminisce. It's great therapy!

Krazy Days.....

So the not so famous last words were, "Let the craziness begin!" Well, here we are two months down the road and so far we are doing pretty well. I really thought that my spot would be off the beaten path at the mall, but the third floor is proving to be a pretty good. The first month, I was totally surprised to cover my rent. Month two was also a surprise as well. Heck, I'm surprised every time I go in and take a few new things.

I've been trying to hit the mall at least once a week. I move the merchandise around a bit, and check prices. I really believe the secret to the success is checking the merchandise every week.

So here we are in the middle of summer, and getting ready for Stillwater's biggest summer sale, Krazy Days. Krazy Days is a tradition here in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and the Stillwater Antique Mall is going to participate in the sale. Last week, the mall manager made calls to the vendors asking them to participate in a 20% off sale. I can't imagine someone not wanting to participate. #92 is proud to partcipate!

My booth will also show off some bright yellow tags with a smiley face. I cleaned off the booth's bottom shelves and moved all the items that have been around a while to the bottom shelf and tagged them with these bright yellow tags with bargain prices. I've named them Bottom Shelf Bargains - BSB. Check out the bright yellow sign in the top picture. I took some tag templates to the mall manager. I'm hoping that this will catch on and everyone will do Bottom Shelf Bargains. The object was to try to get customers to stop and spend some extra time in each booth.

I've watched customers cruise through the mall, and I've done the same thing. Customers are looking for something that catches the eye. Everyone has a particular item on their list. It might something for an existing collection, or an item to start a new collection. Maybe something vintage, or something new, or something handmade. Yes, every era has it's connoisseurs, and the Stillwater Antique Mall will please every taste. Stop by and check it out! Very easy to find - right downtown at 116 East 9th Street. If you get lost or need to call - (405) 372-7833‎.

Remember, the Krazy Day's sale starts Wednesday evening, July 22 at 5 pm and continues through Sunday and don't forget to hunt up #92!

How I became Ninety two. . .

No, my age isn't ninety two. It's my vendor number. The number I put on all my merchandise.

OK... I've thought about this for a long time. I've considered setting up a shop on Etsy. I've even thought about Ebay. I decided to go back to what I know. In another life, I worked at a local hardware store. During my last few years there, the hardware store used a large portion of it's upstairs floor space as a collectible mall. I learned alot about antiques and collectibles from a great group of people.

Our town already had one big antique and collectible mall, and the hardware store was just down the street. It seemed like a good decision to use the empty upstairs floor space at the hardware store for booth space, and the Downtown Collectible Mall was born. As the office manager, it was my responsibility to get everyone signed up and keep track of the sales. We advertised for vendors and very quickly the best booths were taken. Many of the same people that had booths at the Antique Mall, also signed up at the DCM.

The Downtown Collectible Mall had a good run. I left employment with the hardware store in 2003, but I continued to have a booth at the mall until the store closed in 2005.

So much for the history lesson. I'm ninety two! I've been crocheting and making a few cute items. I also got up in the attic and found a couple of boxes of leftover mall items. I ran into a girlfriend at a craft show and asked her about her booth at the mall. She told me that they had some space available, so I decided to spend my stimulus money on a booth at the mall.

The DH and I went in the mall on Saturday and found a small affordable booth. They only had space available upstairs, but that is fine. I've shopped at the mall for years, and I know that most people go through the east side downstairs and then go upstairs.

On my next trip, I signed the contract, paid my booth rent, crudely measured my space and was assigned my number - 92.

Let the craziness begin!