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Antique Business News #18 December 2003
Antique Business News #18 December 2003
Online marketing tips for Antique Merchants,
Auctioneers and Antique Show Promoters.

--Unsubscribe info at bottom of page

--In This Issue of ABN--
-------------
1. Holiday sales in review.
2. Last Months "Hot" Antiques & Collectibles
3. 8% of Holiday sales in 2003 attributed to Gift Cards/Certificates.
4. eBay As an Appraisal Research Tool: Are the Values Reliable?
5. Helpful Resource List
6. Questions? Comments? Ideas?
-------------

1) Holiday sales in review.
ComScore Networks Inc. reported that Internet Holiday sales rose 29%
from November - December 14th, compared to the same period in 2002.
http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?id=388

Several Holiday shopping weekends in the North East U.S. had heavy
snowfall, which forced many people to take their shopping online, rather
than at traditional brick and mortar stores. Other possible reasons cited
for the increase in online sales included.

1. Many retailers moved their shipping deadlines later, so shoppers
were more comfortable that their purchases would arrive on time.
2. Nielsen/Netratings reported that there was a 10% increase in online
shoppers who said they were very satisfied with their online shopping
experience in 2003, compared to 2002.
3. More people are buying online because they are gaining more trust
in Internet retailers.
4. Improved economic conditions.
-------------

2)Last Months "Hot" Antiques & Collectibles

Last months (November's) "Hot" antiques & Collectibles
These top ten lists are based on hundreds of thousands of searches
by people using the online search engines at the indicated Web sites.

Here are the top ten search words used at http://www.TIAS.com .
This site specializes in offering a broad range of antiques and collectibles

Avon
Cookie jars
McCoy
Depression Glass
Dolls
Roseville
Pyrex
Carnival Glass
Milk Glass
Fenton
--
Here are the top ten search words used at http://www.AntiqueArts.com .
This site specialized in "high end" Antique and Art

Nippon
Limoges
Staffordshire
Transferware
Chairs
Tables
Mirrors
Sofas
Desks
Tiffany
--
Here are the top ten search words used at http://www.Kovels.com .
This site is a free online price guide to antiques and collectibles.

China
Dolls
Books
China Dinnerware
Bottles
Roseville
Plates
Avon
Clock
McCoy
--
Past hot lists can now be viewed online in the ABN Newsletter
archives. To view past months hot lists, just go to:
http://www.tias.com/abn and select a newsletter.
-------------

3) 8% of Holiday sales in 2003 attributed to Gift Cards/Certificates.

The National Retail Association reported that as much as 8% of
Holiday purchases, roughly $17 billion worth can be attributed
to the purchase of Gift Cards and Gift Certificates.

Another Study released by Bain & Co. Inc., a Boston-based global
management consultant says that this year, merchants and shopping
centers took in $42 billion to $45 billion through gift card sales, an
increase of 15 percent to 18 percent over last year.

Although the numbers vary, there is definitely an upward trend in the
sale of gift cards and gift certificates.

Amazon.com reported that they sold 70,000 gift certificates to online
"last minute" shoppers, the day before Christmas.

If you don't already offer gift certificates or gift cards, consider
developing a program for your customers. Some online antique and
collectible malls such as TIAS.com offer secure coupon redemption
systems that can be easily used by their merchants for selling gift
certificates online.

Gift certificates and gift cards are gaining in popularity and
acceptance. Consider adding this service to your online inventory.
-------------

4) eBay As an Appraisal Research Tool: Are the Values Reliable?
Can you use eBay to determine the fair market price of an item? Expert
Lorrie Semler, appraiser and auctioneer, answers this question and
runs down a list of caveats when using eBay as a pricing aid.
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m12/abu0108/s02
-------------

Helpful Resource List
1. Bulletin board to discuss online marketing
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?forum=15&132

2. Online archive of past ABN newsletters and the "Subscribe to ABN" Link.
You can also use this links to send a friend a copy of this newsletter.
http://www.tias.com/abn

3. Check the link popularity of your Web site at:
http://www.marketleap.com/publinkpop/
-------------

Questions? Comments? Ideas?
We want to hear from you. Send your email to ABN@tias.com
If you have a marketing idea that we publish here, we'll send you
a free nifty, pocket tape measure and magnifier. Take a look at:
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/7283/PictPage/1920895801.html
One per customer.
-------------

Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this to a friend. To subscribe
use the link in the "Helpful Resource List" shown above. Please note
that stories and other information from readers may not be checked for
accuracy and may be edited prior to publication. ©1995-2003 TIAS.com Inc.

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