Antiques make up a very large part of the flea market industry, and are definitely connected to market history. Most markets and swap meets even have set rules for selling antiques, such as they have to be a certain number of years old, and the goods are broken up into different categories to make it easier for collectors to know where items came from and their proper value.
With the best flea market selling season upon us, The Merchandiser has compiled a list of the top statistics and reports on the antique industry. See what’s trending right now as well as the growth and popularity over the years, future forecasts and other related topics.
Maintaining Positive Growth
The growth and expansion of ecommerce has made it easier to sell antiques and collectibles online. According to IBIS World, the Online Antiques & Collectibles Sales industry has grown over the past five years by 7.2% to reach revenue of $2 billion in 2018. In the same timeframe, the number of businesses has grown by 1.3% and the number of employees has grown by 0.8%.
The online art market is also on the rise, according to a Hiscox report. The global online art market recorded sales up 9.8% to $4.64 billion in 2018. Although the overall growth rate is lower than the 2017 figure of 12%, Hiscox, an insurance firm well known in the art market, is maintaining its forecast for future growth of 15% a year.
“Based on this growth trajectory, we could expect the online art market to be worth $9.32 billion by 2024,” the firm states.
Antique style trends come and go with each passing year, that’s why it’s important for sellers to keep up-to-date to make a good profit. Taking the top trends from multiple sources, we’ve put together the most popular ideas for this year.
Minimalist Movement
This new trend is influencing decorating antiques as well as modern decor pieces. The trend is that “less is more” but quality pieces are desired over the quantity of items. In the words of Paul Fortune, one of the world’s most influential interior designers, “Tread lightly, leave a small footprint, make it beautiful.”
Products Made From Natural Elements
Vintage wood, wicker and rattan furniture have made a comeback not only in antiques, but also in the fashion industry. The classic 1950’s to 1980’s furniture styles speak to a desire for natural textures in decor.
This type of style also includes products that may not be made using natural elements, but feature botanical and nature prints. More and more Millennials are bringing plants into their homes and they seem to want their furniture to match, no matter how busy the print may be.
Geometric Patterns & Southwestern Styles
Coral and burnt orange were named Pantone’s color of the year, taking us back to some slick 1970’s styles, but also making for a nice introduction to all things southwestern. Turquoise has been popping up a lot along with farmhouse-feel advertising signs and geometric patterns.
Furniture, textiles and floor covering products are key components of antiques and home decor. Experts forecast that the Home Decor Market is expected to garner $664.0 billion by 2020, registering a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% during the forecast period 2015-2020. Improving lifestyles and an increase in disposable incomes is helping the growth of the home decor market, so marketing to Millennials and Baby Boomers will help to garner more sales.