The 2011 Hot List for Collectors

Over the past years TIAS (The Internet Antique Shop) can always be counted on to let us know what's going on in the antique and collectibles market, after all they were voted #1 in the 2010 Reader's Choice Awards as Best Place to Buy Online. They didn't disappoint, as the top items for 2011 has just been released. This year I decided to take it a step further and chat with Phil Davies, the guy who makes it all happen.

Phil mentioned the biggest surprise wasn't the type of stuff that is actually selling, but the economy has changed the price of the stuff that's selling. Today it's not unusual for the high end ticket item to sell, nor is it unusual for the extreme low end items to be selling, it's the middle ground prices that have suffered a decline in sales.

Over the past year, Phil said that although the Top 20 list hasn't changed that much, but that the ticket price has averaged around a 10% increase.

He attributes TIAS' success to many things, not only that they've been around since 1995, but includes the strong newsletter subscribers. There are over 900 issues so far and all archived online. TIAS is also participates in the Trusted Merchant Program, all sales are guaranteed up to $500.

With the constant changes in Google search algorithms, stand alone merchants have a very difficult time getting their presence known, a reason why sellers are turning to online malls.

If anyone has his finger on the pulse of collecting, it would be Phil and I asked if there were any trends he saw developing or even continuing.

• Good quality china and dinnerware has been doing well and should continue to do so. People love quality and it's also affordable to buy that replacememt piece to either fill in grandmothers set or replace the piece broken over the holidays.
• Jewelry is always a favorite, with TIAS sales of contemporary costume jewelry being particularly strong, although there have been several very high dollar wedding rings sold over the past year.
• Chinese antiques are doing very well. Dealers from China have scoured TIAS buying up all the Chinese antiques they could find and shipping them to China for the buyers back home.
• Another solid item is the civil war related pieces.

One way to keep collectors coming back is the TIAS home page. If you're looking for sales and bargains, the front page spotlights the newest items and the sales throughout the site. Basically it all boils down to the concept of memories, keeping them alive, but with afforable prices.

Now onto the Top Twenty for 2011 on the volume of items in each category.

1. TIAS China & Dinnerware - No movement since 2010
   (#3 in actual dollar sales)
2. Glass - No movement since 2010
   (#4 in actual dollar sales)
3. Vintage Sewing - No movement since 2010
   (#9 in actual dollar sales)
4. Paper & Ephemera - Up from #9 in 2010
5. Jewelry - Up from #7 in 2010
   (#2 in actual dollar sales)
6. Kitchen Collectibles - Up from #8 in 2010
7. Holiday and Seasonal - Down from #5 in 2010
8. Coins and Currency - Down from #4 in 2010
9. Advertising - Up from #12 in 2010
10. Porcelain & Pottery - Up from #13 in 2010
    (#5 in actual dollar sales)
11. Vintage Clothing - No movement since 2010
    (#6 in actual dollar sales)
12. Toys - up from #15 in 2010
13. Memorabilia - Up from #17 in 2010
    (but #1 in actual dollar sales)
14. Figurines - No movement since 2010
15. Books - Up from #19 in 2010
16. Dolls - up from #18 in 2010
17. Photographica - Down from #16 in 2010
18. Lamps & Lighting - Not listed in 2010
19. Music related - up from #20 in 2010
20. Textiles - Not listed in 2010