If you're taking a Route 66-inspired summer road trip (and buying antiques and collectibles along the way), this is exactly the kind of stuff you can buy AND sell. In fact, we've been selling these items steadily for decades. Everything from worn enamelware and European laundry sets to crocks, quilts, kerosene lamps, farm tools, and architectural salvage. We talk about how to spot authentic old enamelware versus modern reproductions, why feedsack fabrics and unfinished quilt tops still attract buyers, and which overlooked country items continue to have strong resale appeal. Plus: salesman samples, hand-tinted prints, handmade toolboxes, leaded glass windows, and the surprising value hiding in boxes of old parts at garage sales. So pack the car, unfold the old paper road map, and get ready to have a vintage-inspired laid-back antique hunting summer adventure!

In last week's garage sale episode, we talked about a lot of Pokémon cards purchased for $5 with a potential profit of over $300. We got so many questions about buying lots that we decided to turn it into an entire episode. Here, we're breaking down our process of buying lots, revealing which have yielded the very best (and sometimes surprising) profits: from vintage thimbles, sports memorabilia, antique spoons, blue glass, scarves, barware, enamel pins, and vintage magazines to records, jerseys, and collectible patches. Lots can be time consuming and require tons of patience. But if you'll stick it out, a lot can be a fantastic way to turn a small investment into hundreds of dollars of profit.

Anyone new to buying and selling antiques and collectibles can walk into a garage sale and think, “There is no way I can ever make money on old sneakers and used kids’ toys.” In this episode, we answer your questions about how to shop garage sales by taking you through a recent shopping trip where small, inexpensive finds (Pokémon cards and Depression Glass to vintage kitchenware, Carnival Glass, and collectible pottery) turned into real profit. We talk about the best return on investment for garage sale flipping, strategies for shopping, how to spot overlooked deals, and how lots pay off. We also address some of your questions about how to save money on shipping supplies once you get your garage sale finds home.

Technically, the World's Fair still exists...but it's not the event to Americans it once was. In this episode, we explore how historic World’s Fairs (from the 1893 Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition and the 1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase Exposition to the 1933-34 Century of Progress and the 1964 New York World’s Fair) shaped culture and modern life, introducing electricity, the Ferris Wheel, early radios, Art Deco design, and even the spread of iconic foods. For us, it means there's a wide range of collectible items like souvenir spoons, commemorative glassware, advertising pieces, ephemera, postcards, guidebooks, and early plastic souvenirs. If you’re an antiques dealer, vintage reseller, or collector, you'll love this introduction to World’s Fair history, memorabilia, and high-demand collectible categories. After listening, you'll be able to better identify pieces that have a wide collector base and recognize why these global exhibitions, once the ultimate “influencer events," still impact what sells today.

In this, the 52nd (!) episode of Pick for Profit, we're marking one full year online. And this episode is all about the stuff we once walked around at estate or garage sales: vintage souvenirs. Yes, these items are in fact sellable. We take a tour here through buying and selling vintage souvenirs, travel memorabilia, and antique ephemera. We highlight items we've been surprised can sell, everything from classic souvenir spoons and thimbles to Route 66 collectibles, national park keepsakes, and the regional items from places like Branson and Lake of the Ozarks. Learn what makes place-based items valuable, including theme park memorabilia, concert programs, sports collectibles, and landmark souvenirs tied to destinations like the Grand Canyon and Mammoth Cave. We also cover overlooked categories like cranberry glass, vintage travel posters, railroad memorabilia, and even dark tourism collectibles. We also want to take a moment to thank our listeners. This has been such a fun year...and we can't wait to see what the next year will bring!

We're diving into pottery using recent buying stories! Here, we break down some basic pottery terminology (ceramics, porcelain, stoneware, salt glaze) to help you identify what you're looking at while shopping estate or garage sales. We also discuss why we bought some inexpensive vintage pottery books and drop a few excellent pottery names you can be on the lookout for yourself: Shawnee, Roseville, Rookwood, and California pottery brands. We're also letting you in on a recent pottery experiment. We bought 2 very different lots (rustic vs. refined-looking porcelain), two different price points and two very different values. One is far more valuable than the other...but what actually sells first? What turns out to be the walkaway price? Stay tuned for future episodes to find out. 

In this episode, we're taking you on a "buying trip"! Here, we're showing you step-by-step how to walk into an estate or garage sale and zone in immediately on the most valuable pieces. We show you how to identify valuable antique glass by spotting rich, saturated colors like cranberry and iridescent carnival glass and recognizing sought-after makers like Fenton, Northwood, and LE Smith (we even do a bit of a spotlight on Blenko). We also hit on the importance of understanding key features such as pontil marks, patterns, and unique shapes like swung vases and handkerchief vases. We're also discussing why we think white, or milk glass, is seeing a bit of a bump, how to evaluate quality through weight and craftsmanship, where to find hidden gems like fruit jars and insulators, and how to estimate the value of glass so you can get the most out of your resale profit (and not get burned paying too much for inventory). A must-listen for anyone heading out to spring estate and garage sales!

Have you ever passed by a pair of grungy cowboy boots or an old pair of used spurs at an estate sale? This episode will make you think twice about ever doing that again. This episode breaks down everything we've had luck selling in the Western or cowboy categories. We're talking, yes, authentic ranch-used gear like spurs; pop culture favorites from Bonanza, Gunsmoke; and the ever-popular Southwestern aesthetic—think geometric rugs, pottery, and turquoise jewelry (including some insight on Native-made pieces). You’ll also learn what makes rodeo belt buckles special, and how decor items like barbed wire, saloon signs, and Western-themed glassware keep selling. We even dish on some of our more successful surprises: railroad collectibles, cowboy sheet music, and cactus-shaped chip-and-dip sets. This episode is your guide to spotting the Western items buyers actually want.

Looking to boost your antique and vintage sales for Mother’s Day? In this episode, we break down the bestselling Mother’s Day antiques and collectibles, from mid-century greeting cards, vintage Pyrex in pastel colors, and chintz teacups to costume jewelry, lockets, floral prints, and nostalgic home décor like cake stands, table linens, and serving trays. Learn how to tap into the growing granny chic trends, list your items as ready-to-gift, and use emotionally driven descriptions that connect with buyers searching for meaningful, sentimental gifts for Mom or Grandma. The best part is, these items have broader appeal than Mother's Day, so even if they don't sell in time for the holiday, you can absolutely sell them year-round. 

Think you'll never be able to afford art to resell (or find any customers who can afford to buy it)? Art does not have to be museum-quality or painted by a well-known artist to attract a buyer. In this episode, we break down real-world art categories that sell, from figural pieces like cast iron doorstops, chalkware, porcelain figurines, and garden statuary to one-of-a-kind folk art, handmade “make-do” objects, and upcycled pieces. We talk a bit about what makes some quilts and embroidery samplers folk art (and what makes others craft projects). And we even discuss some surprises we've found along the way that can actually sell: amateur paintings, paint-by-numbers, velvet art, roadside motel art, and vintage prints (including bookplates and illustration art). The good news is, you don't have to be an art expert. Your love of vintage is all you need.