In this episode of The Business of Antiques, Toma, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, shares a behind-the-scenes conversation with one of the interior design industry’s true unsung heroes: Derek Ricketts, Director of Sales, Hospitality at Palecek. From their chance meeting at High Point Market to an impulsive trip to Buenos Aires that involved polo ponies, countesses, and Austrian-steel fortunes, Derek and Toma unpack how curiosity, courage, and relationships can completely reshape a career in design. Along the way, Derek traces his unlikely path from radio and Shakespeare festivals to national sales roles, luxury linens, and hospitality design, revealing what he’s learned about sales, merchandising, and owning your value in the trade.

They also dig into the realities behind the “jet-set” life that shows up on Instagram—points hacking, hotel loyalty, and doing it all on a shoestring budget—versus the polished perception people see online. Derek shares the inside story of how he brought Diane Keaton and The House That Pinterest Built to the Dallas Market Center, and the powerful lesson in doing your homework before pitching a big idea. If you’re an antique dealer, interior designer, or home furnishings professional who craves more travel, bigger opportunities, and the confidence to take risks in your business, this conversation will make you laugh, think, and dream a little bigger.

Check out the links from our episode.

• Derek: Instagram
• Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack