Today's VIntage Celebrates!
We made it! The one-year mark is a milestone for a printed publication, especially in a weak economy. We sincerely thank all of our readers and advertisers for their support and hope we can continue to support YOU for years to come.
Where do we go from here? We continue to evolve. We’ll be looking at the possibility of expanding our subject matter and market share. We’ll be modifying our website to make it more timely, and more interactive.
We also produce the classified and legal advertising, religious directories and obituaries for nine community newspapers here in San Diego. We hope to be able to offer multi-media opportunities for all our clients.
We’ve received a lot of great feedback, but we need more. We don’t have representatives in every city and state, so we need you to be our eyes and ears. If you visit a great store, tell us about it. If you reuse a vintage item in a unique way, show it to us. If you travel to an interesting place, give us the scoop. If you think something is missing, let us know.
We encourage everyone to keep collecting and re-circulating antique and vintage treasures. Make sure to shop your local antique stores and flea markets and plan a trip to one of the big national market shows.
Let’s cinch up our (vintage) belts and carry on with optimism! It’s a great big antique world out there, let’s enjoy it!
Angela Moore, Editor
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Summertime …and the livin’s easy.
Well, it should be anyway. Gas is sky-high and morale is low. Politics and the economy are on the minds of all.
Summer is here, though, the days are warm and the kids are out of school. With July 4th coming up, it’s a time for patriotism, optimism and family fun.
Here at Today’s Vintage we were inspired by Sandy’s fond memories of family outings, and decided to take the kids and grandkids on an all-American 50s style picnic.
We found a gentleman named Woody, who incidentally had a Ford Woodie, which he graciously lent us for the better part of an afternoon. His car club was having a get-together at Santee Lakes, a recreation area consisting of five man-made lakes, complete with paddle-boats, playgrounds and fishing. It was the perfect setting for a picnic photo shoot.
We gathered Sandy’s vintage picnic gear, made fresh lemonade, dressed up the kids and headed out. The only challenge was getting all four children to be in good position, with pleasant expressions, in the same shot!
Afterwards, the kids slid, swung and ran at the playground until the park closed. The only cost involved (other than gas and food) was the $2 per car admission to the Lakes.
I encourage everyone to plan some fun family outings this summer. You don’t have to go to expensive theme parks or far away vacation destinations. Get back to the basics by treasure hunting at stores and flea markets, cruising classic car shows and spending a day outdoors at a park or beach.
Have a wonderful 4th of July and a beautiful summer!
Angela Moore, Editor
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To E or not to E
The time has come to face the monster. As a publication supporting antique shows, stores, dealers, and collectors we are often leery of mentioning eBay and other online marketplaces. We know that popularity of internet buying and selling, along with the sliding economy, have negatively affected traditional businesses, even forcing some to close.
There are those, however, who have evolved with the times, creating websites, blogs and online stores. In trying times, the key seems to be an integrated marketing plan, that includes all medias, and lets everyone know who you are, where you are, and what you can offer.
Recent changes at eBay are affecting both buyers and sellers. The company says its aim is to make “eBay easier and safer to shop.” Listing costs have decreased, but commissions on sold items have gone up. They are also changing their feedback system, which may leave many sellers out in the cold, unable to leave negative ratings if a buyer backs out or fails to pay.
Today’s Vintage would like to get feedback from the community on this E-debate, with the following questionnaire:
If you are a show producer, store owner, or dealer, tell us how the internet has affected you:
_____ the internet has not affected my business at all
_____ eBay and other online forums have had a negative impact on my business
_____ I currently have an online presence, which has helped my business
_____ I plan to start selling online in the future
_____ I do not, and will not buy/sell antiques on-line, only in person
If you are already an online buyer or seller, let us know how the new eBay changes will affect your on-line antique buying/selling:
____ I will continue to use eBay regularly, regardless of the changes
____ I will shop/sell on other sites before turning back to eBay
____ I will stop or reduce my activities with eBay, but probably won’t go elsewhere
____ I use other on-line marketplaces, so will not be affected by the eBay changes
Print out or copy/paste and send your survey back by mail, fax or email:
P.O. Box 12589, El Cajon, CA 92022
Fax 619 441-7694
editor@todaysvintage.com
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New Year, New Beginning
The end of the year is often stressful, filled with holiday parties, errands and obligations, on top of our regular workday schedules.
My days have been compounded by extra tight deadlines, a home purchase (our first!) and a bout with the flu. Most of our staff is hanging in there, working with coughs and sniffles, rushing off to finish Christmas shopping or attend family events, and just barely catching a glimpse of that light at the end of the tunnel.
As we hear of poor revenue, store closures, and publication shut-downs in a waning economy, our thoughts turn to the new year, and new beginnings.
We want to wish our advertisers, vendors, and readers a Happy, Healthy and Successful 2008!
Keep us posted - let us know how things are going, and what you think of the magazine.
Best Regards,
Angela Moore, Editor
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With our offices in El Cajon, Calif., the staff at Today’s Vintage followed the progression of the Southern California wildfires with nervous trepidation. Our heart’s go out to all those who lost loved ones, homes and businesses in the fires.
Next month, we will feature more stories from the wildfires along with information about cataloging and safeguarding your antiques and collectibles. We welcome all contributions including personal stories, resource information, questions and requests for help.
Angela Moore, Editor
editor@todaysvintage.com
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Keep Those Cards and Letters Coming!
Part of our mission at Today’s Vintage is to create a sense of community. It may be a large community, as we try to include all of the West Coast states, but a community none-the-less. As we go to press on our third issue, I see we are making progress in this direction.
Cheryl Huff of Long Beach, Calif. took the time to send us a personal postcard that reads “I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how much I like “T.V.” Several articles caught my eye, but especially the 25 Ways to Use Vintage Items. Good work!”
I also got a phone call from a very pleased Eunice Purvis. It seems her antique jukebox will play again. Our Vintage Connection feature in the Sept. issue (page 26) led a gentlemen named Paul to call and offer his services. I then forwarded his phone number to Eunice, who called a couple of weeks later to thank us, reporting that Paul would be repairing the Rock-ola very soon.
Park Estate Co., in La Mesa, Calif. graciously submitted photos of some of their vendors’ displays to feature in our decorating and craft section.
We want to hear more feedback, make more connections, and learn all about what’s going on in the lives of our readers, whether you be avid collectors, store owners, show producers, craftspeople, home decorator, or vintage fashion wearer. Send us your travel stories, decorating ideas, announcements and business news, either by mail, e-mail, phone or blog. We’d love to hear from you!
Angela Moore, Editor
Today’s Vintage
editor@todaysvintage.com
www.todaysvintage.com
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Off and running!
Our September issue is on the streets and we are still basking in that “new car” glow. We got a lot of great feedback after our first issue, most of it positive, with a few mixed reviews. We take it all to heart, so that we can put out the best possible magazine for you, our readers, to enjoy.
While I’m not new to publishing and advertising, I am no expert on antiques and collectibles, but am thoroughly enjoying meeting new people and learning about all things vintage! I happen upon many interesting ideas in my research, and receive some wonderful photos that are often the source of inspiration.
It’s our aim to make Today’s Vintage a truly interactive experience and we welcome all submissions. Please keep sending in your news, ideas and photos, as well as stories about child collectors and young people in the industry! We love to hear from you!
Till next time,
Angela Moore, Editor
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Welcome to Today's VINTAGE Magazine's web site!
We are excited to be able to present to you our ideas, features from our magazine and information from our experts. Even more exciting is our ability to have interactive discussions right here on this blog.
You will be hearing from everyone at Today's Vintage and we want to hear from you.
Most of us enjoyed working with the antique industry for 12 years for Antique & Collectables Newsmagazine and Antique Journal on the West Coast. When the company closed the California offices and moved operations back to WI, we had a chance to look around and decide what to do.
What we decided was that communications is our business. We love the antique industry and the people in it, and cannot think of a better way to support the greening of America than by educating and encouraging people to research and use antiques and vintage items in their daily lives.
Here, and in our printed magazine, you will find, in addition to the always enjoyed articles on collectors and Q&A, articles on decorating, vintage style and traveling while going to shops, malls, shows and auctions.
My favorite new section on our web site, and in the publication, is antiquing for and with children. Sharing their collections with us this month are Raven and Dixie. I just wish I had been in the collecting world when our children were growing up. What a wonderful family activity - treasure hunting, learning about and valuing history and saving money doing it. I did save the toys our children played with in the '70s and were was told several times their kids wouldn't want to play with old things. Well, our grandchildren love those toys and they get to use their imaginations - no bells, whistles and/or batteries needed.
Thanks for checking out TodaysVintage.com We are still in a building
process so keep coming back. We will be placing updates regularly and will be chatting with you here.
Now, let us hear from you!
Sandy Hood, publisher
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Archives
Want to see more? Try browsing our archives by month.
September '08
August '08
July '08
June '08
May '08
April '08
March '08
February '08
January '08
December '07
November '07
October '07
September '07
August '07
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