In today’s episode, Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, talks to the Queen Bee, a force to be reckoned with, and a beloved and respected leader and representative of the antiques industry–Gail McLeod. Gail is truly one of the most connected women in the world of antiques. She is not only the Vice-President of Antiques Diva & Co but the owner of Antique News & Fairs, Co-Organizer of the Bath Decorative Antique Fair, Director of Business Development for the EU for Ronati, Founder of National Antiques Week, and known by many as “the fixer”. She makes all the connections and pulls all the strings and also has been a dear friend and mentor to Toma for the past decade and a half.

Gail often talks of the post-war mentality the industry has been facing after the pandemic. She joins Toma to talk about some very exciting things that are brewing at the Antiques Diva & Co. “This is a time of great creativity,” shares Gail. “But it’s also a time of great adjustment.” When they opened the borders post-pandemic and Toma was finally able to visit Gail this past October, she was gobsmacked. “Once I was finally able to travel again, it had been three years, and the entire British antiques industry had changed– where not only had you had the pandemic but also Brexit. Truthfully, I was worried.” Thankfully, she found a British antiques market bursting with possibility. Toma told Gail, “The first place you took me, I immediately thought, ‘There’s nothing to be worried about.’ First of all, the inventory was not only there but more importantly was the DIVERSITY of the inventory - and the QUALITY!” Toma thought, “This is why we buy in Britain. It’s not only restored, but British dealers really understand what the Americans are looking for.” Gail agrees, “They understand the American taste, and they curate in a way that American buyers can find accessible. And truly, in the UK, it’s showroom to showroom delivery.”

Gail explains the difference of a Diva tour with UK dealers. “On a Diva tour, buying in England is a bit like being in a gentlemen’s club. You have an entry into a world that you wouldn’t find if you just went knocking on a door and saying, ‘Oh, hi! I’ve come from Texas.’ But if you come in with a Diva, the tea tray comes out, introductions are made, the story is told about each piece and relationships are forged. That little black book starts to get populated.”

For this very reason, Toma & Gail and the whole team at Antiques Diva have a very exciting new development to share with you. Get ready to get Diva-ed! That’s Diva Ed.  As in Diva Education.  We are launching an Antiques Diva Educational Retreat.

SPONSOR - Get Ready to Be Diva-ed - Diva Education that is!!!  We’re hosting an Antiques Diva Educational Retreat

Join your hosts Toma Clark Haines - CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co and Gail McLeod, VP Antiques Diva & owner Antique News & Fairs for learning the Business of Antiques.

When:

OCTOBER 2-6, 2023

Where:

You’ll be based at Hemswell Court Hotel each day visiting world renowned antique fairs, centers and dealers nearby https://www.hemswellcourt.com/

Sunday 1 October, 2023

Arrive England and check into Hemswell Court Hotel Welcome drinks at 6pm courtesy of The Antiques Diva.

* As we anticipate jetlagged guests

- dinner at your own leisure so you can go early to bed!

Monday 2 October, 2023

Meet & Greet fellow tour members in a Welcome to England Brunch with Will Thomas, Managing Director - IACF , Robert Miller, CEO - Hemswell Antiques Center , Richard Burgoin, CEO - Arthur Swallow Fairs as well as get an introduction to art & antiques shippers.  In the afternoon we whisk you to a secret destination to not only source accessories but to also discuss the art of selling antiques.  We follow the Route to Market learning sales strategies, photography, sales platforms as well as staging and retail merchandising.

Dinner with Top Secret TV Celebrity Guests from British Antiques TV.

Tuesday 3 October, 2023

After an English brekkie at the hotel - we’ll head to the Lincoln Antiques & Home Fair giving you the opportunity to shop til you drop (or at least until lunch time when we head back to the hotel for a full afternoon of educational workshops). This long-standing one-day showground event has avenues, shopping arcades and an indoor area hosting dealers from the UK and Europe.

During our afternoon educational session Margaret Schwartz, founder of Modern Antiquarian gives us the Inside Track on Technology and Logistics in the Antiques Trade.  She spearheads a conversation on Inventory Management, Client Presentations and Photography, Sales Cycles, Warehouse Management and Sales Tracking. Toma Clark Haines presents the cash cow for antiques dealers - how to develop relationships with and sell antiques to interior designers.

Dinner- Fish & Chips at Hemswell Court with another celebrated British Television guest from the antiques trade.  

Wednesday 4 October, 2023

The early bird gets the worm! Hemswell Antiques Centre – the largest antiques center in Europe - gives our retreat attendees Early Bird access.  Shop the morning hours before Hemswell opens to the trade.  And then spend the day shopping the centers vast of array dealers specializing in everything from period antiques to vintage fun finds - and everything in between - arts, garden, kitchenalia, jewelry and even Asian antiques!

Late afternoon we sit down with Scott & Amanda Herring of La Petite Maison Antiques to discuss how social media launched their business followed up with a talk about PR for Antique Dealers by New York City Interior Design Publicist Andrew Joseph of AJPR.

 The evening is capped off with cocktails with John Hansord of Hansord Antiques as we talk about the Classical Antiques - a Lesson in Quality and Craftsmanship.

Thursday 5 October, 2023

Happy Shopping! 

Today we shop at the world famous Newark Antiques Fair Europe’s largest antiques fair. You’ll find everything from fine antique furniture to teacups, jewelry, ceramics, garden antiques and vintage clothing. Whether you’re looking for Country House Furniture or art de la table this fair has got you covered.

After returning to the hotel, sit down with your hosts Toma Clark Haines and Gail Mcleod for an Optional Q&A on next steps for propelling your antiques business forward and maximizing your profits. Toma & Gail continue in the evening with a workshop on How to Source and Ship Antiques in the EU and England.

Having seen firsthand how the smooth running operation at Hemswell Antiques functions- Robert Miller CEO Hemswell Antiques and Paul Dagg Director of Operations join to give an inside scoop on How Tech Supports The Business of Antiques.

 Friday 6 October 2023

You can’t visit England without visiting a famous country house. Enjoy a tour of Doddington Hall a family-owned and run Elizabethan Manor House with Flemish tapestries and walled garden.  Or see the actual Magna Carta at Lincoln Cathedral

That concludes PART 1 of the Diva

Educational Retreat.

Program Costs Included:         

• 5 nights hotel, single occupancy
• Daily breakfast and dinner, exclusive of beverages (except arrival night)
• Ground transport to external events
• Educational Workshops with Expert Guests
• Visits to Fairs and Antiques Center

3900 GBP Single Occupancy         

*Discount available for Double Occupancy

3500 GBP Early Bird Discount if booked before May 1, 2023

Maximize Your Time And Join for Part 2:

Delegates have the opportunity to join for an Optional Add On 3 Day Antiques Buying Tour in London and the South of England.

Optional 3 Day Add On Antiques Diva Tour

(pricing based upon regular Antiques Diva day tour pricing, email to inquire [email protected])

Friday 6 October 2023

Take the train to London, approximately 2 hours.

The Diva Antiques Buying Tour Overview, London and South.

This Diva Buying Tour, with the inclusion of the central London show, covers many of our key trade hotspots.

Saturday 7 October 2023

Take in a celebrated decorative antiques and interior design fair in London before heading South for private visits to our selected Antiques Diva trusted vendors working with the trade.

Sunday 8 October 2023

Spend the day in a Victorian Gothic Country Estate with one of our top sources for decorative and garden antiques as we shop for antiques followed by a Lunch and Learn where we discuss the secret to success in the antiques trade - staying ahead of the curve, the importance of building a lifestyle brand and why your sales platform should include #morethanantiques.

Monday 9 October 2023

Kick the day off with a down and dirty to the trade only 8 building collective of antiques dealers specializing in export to the US trade market. Learn paint techniques and a high level overview on the art of restoration.  Mid afternoon meet a Legend of The Trade for a talk about his illustrious career and celebrate his 50th anniversary selling antiques in this 16th C Elizabethan storefront. 5 Floors of perfection in antiques shopping from the master, who knows the US antiques trade inside out.

End of Tour.

Note: Transportation from Lincolnshire to London by train at guests' own cost.

Contacts:

Toma Clark Haines CEO - The Antiques Diva & Co

[email protected] +393883476032