THE NEW WAVE
They’re under 30, successful and social-media savvy. Ellie Tennant meets three up-and-coming young antiques dealers who are making waves in a traditional trade
Discover three young dealers under 30, making their mark on the antiques trade
When we hear the term ‘antiques dealer’, the image that commonly springs to mind might be that of a gentleman si!ing at the back of a dusty shop. In truth, antiques dealers are a far more eclectic lot and, thanks to an exciting new breed of tech-savvy youngsters who are using the internet to build up their knowledge and access new clients around the world, the trade is changing. The three dealers we’ve pro" led here are all inspirational newcomers to the industry and they’re living proof that, with a lot of hard work, determination and shrewd use of technology, it’s possible to build up a thriving antiques business despite "nancial, geographical or personal hurdles. Ma! Dixon trades from rural Yorkshire and started out buying a rug for just £ 20. Ma!hew Holder has grown a successful London business from a small £500 loan, while Lily Johnston impressively balances antiques dealing with being a mother and a student in Sussex. One thing they all have in common is their clever use of social media as a selling tool. For many young dealers, it’s their main source of income. In fact, some say that as much as three- quarters of their sales now come via Instagram. Once a simple online platform where people would share inspirational photos of their immaculate home, holidays abroad and fashion sense, Instagram has evolved in the past few years into a frenzied marketplace where serious buyers and sellers do business.
‘I’ve always been creative. I studied History, Photography and Design at school and watched a lot of Bargain Hunt. When I was nine or 10, I started going to car boot sales and "ea markets. At 18, I bought a vintage rug for £ 20 then sold it on for £ 200.
‘ To get started I had to beg and borrow. Once you get going it gets easier because, as long as you buy the right stu #, you have money to buy more stock. The main hurdle has been ge! ing respect. I $ nd well- established dealers or designers don’t warm to young people in the same way they do to people who have been in the trade for longer. Granted, older dealers have more experience. But young dealers
can bring interesting ideas and unusual pieces to the market. If you sell good stu ! at good prices people soon learn that you can be trusted. They get to know you and age becomes irrelevant.
‘ It’s fascinating to delve into the history of antiques – that’s a big part of the appeal for me. I buy a lot of armchairs and religious artworks down in the south of France. I’m always learning – that’s what keeps me hooked. There’s no easy way of ge" ing the stock and there’s no easy way of selling the stock, so I’m always a" ached to my phone but I enjoy my job, so I don’t feel it’s work.
‘ I’m not afraid to be di !erent. I’ve got a thing for antique lay #gures, which are old wooden artist’s mannequins. I’ve had some small ones but I’d like to # nd a larger one – they can be worth over £ 10,000.
‘Social media has been a huge help in ge" ing my business going. Without it I wouldn’t be where I am now. You can do fairs, but they’re quite expensive, and ge" ing a shop is impossible at the beginning, so social media has been really important. Around 75 per cent of my sales come through Instagram and I sell mostly to commercial customers. Interior designers use it as a quick way of # nding pieces for clients. There are very few things in the world that are free and can generate money.’
‘It’s fascinating to delve into the history of antiques – that’s a big part of the appeal for me. I’m always learning.’
Ma Dixon, TallBoy Interiors (by appointment only). 07725 414743; tallboyinteriors.co.uk