The other week I went shopping for a dress to wear on one of the formal nights on an upcoming cruise. Having no luck at the mall, I stopped off at a local secondhand shop where I often find items to sell. There it was - a sweet 50s Chanel styled little black number and in my size too! Standing in front of the mirror in the fitting room I excitedly thought, oh yes, that gorgeous black iced Weiss set in my shop will be perfect for sure. I decided to keep the bracelet and earrings demi but I forgot all about removing it from my shop until the following week when I was reminded by it's purchase order. Tearfully, it was shipped the very next day. I suppose we have all felt this way sometime for we all list items we really want to keep. I personally collect Clarice Cliff pottery and vintage clothing but with such a variety of items passing before me it is altogether too easy to step outside my usual collecting boundary.

This experience made me wonder why I opened a shop in the first place. Exactly what should we keep for ourselves? If your answer is nothing then you're a confirmed seller. We start up because undoubtedly we have some degree of passion for vintage items. Many of us collect and perhaps became intrigued by the business when we were shopping for our own collections. Next we are motivated by the potential for income. However, I think at some point our motives change. Have you ever brought home something that just makes your jaw drop? You will spend hours studying it and then a few more on research. Why? Because a true vintage seller learns to appreciate what they are selling. I am forever amazed at the difference between then and now. "They don't make 'em like they used to," takes on a whole new meaning to us. We notice the vibrant colors, the details, the craftsmanship and can unfailingly spot an object in a pile of junk that is just a cut above. After seeing so much we learn what is common and what is rare. Gotta love it when you believe you have come across the rarest of pieces only to turn on your computer to find 100 other people have that rarity for sale too. Needless to say, while our education is ongoing our admiration for vintage objects never falters.

Finally, the personal factor comes into play and you are hooked. You talk to the owners of the items and learn about their lives and the history of their possessions. I never tire of hearing their funny stories. Maybe they want someone who really appreciates their stuff or maybe they just don't want their kids to get their hands on it. Maybe the item was a gift by a now (usually recent) ex-spouse - my fave because they want it gone so badly they accept all offers LOL Whatever the story it usually makes for interesting entertainment not to mention the added value of provenance. On another personal level, there is the exchange between us and our buyers. How wonderful it is to receive that email from a satisfied and grateful customer! Not only are they happy but you know that your item now belongs to someone who will cherish it and hopefully, in the case of jewelry and clothing, actually wear it. (I hate the thought of someone buying a rarer piece just to stash it in an illuminated display cabinet.) Sometimes I feel like an adoption agency - uniting my pieces with their new owners. Yes, that's an extreme but you know what I mean. I once sold Victorian cabinet cards to the subject's actual descendants and a Julia Woodworth postcard found it's way to her great-granddaughter - enough said!

Before you know it you are spending more time than ever responding to emails and making new friends across the world. Having started on Ebay, I am so impressed with the overall higher caliber of clientele on RL. Once I had a bracelet up for auction in the sterling category with 925 in the title AND photos of the hallmark. Didn't I still get the following question, "Hi there. Is this silver?" I politely responded but I'm sure you know what I really wanted to say! Ultimately, what started as a hobby has become an all-consuming passion. We fall over ourselves trying to get the best items and will even drive through a snowstorm to get to that auction because we figure no one else will - of course only to find it's jammed with other people who thought the same thing. We race home to take pictures in the hopes that another show owner will say, "Wow, where are they getting their stuff?". We check our inboxes hourly and look forward to corresponding with our buyers.

Ruby Lane has become like a Calgon bath to me - it takes me away! Now, instead of whiling away hours doing nothing with my spare time I devote it to my shop. I am always learning something and absolutely love what I'm doing. Most likely, many of us are not here pursuing a livelihood but rather a passion. We have jobs, families and obligations but when at the laptop those are all briefly forgotten. Certainly the money is a factor (especially when trying to purchase new inventory) but for me it has taken second place to the pure joy of selling these fabulous pieces. Think of it as free therapy - not only do you keep your brain active, it becomes your escape from the everyday ordinary in your life.

So why didn't I keep that exquisite demi? Because I'm a seller of course!

Rita Zappitelli - Shop Owner
www.rubylane.com/shops/fallsavenue