There’s no denying that the internet has changed the way we buy and sell antiques online or just about anything; vintage pieces. That’s good news for sellers! By offering stock online, you broaden your audience and are more likely to increase sales. However, it can be tricky to know which marketplace is right for you and your inventory. While each online marketplace specializes in certain product types and styles, they also cater to different customers. Identifying the type of pieces you have, who your current and ideal customers are, and where you want to take your business can help set you up for online success.
We’ve put together a guide to help you find the right marketplace to sell YOUR antiques online.
1stdibs
1stdibs is a great site for selling your top tier designer furniture, art, jewelry, and clothing. While mostly specializing in antique and vintage pieces, it also allows you to post items by hot up-and-coming artists and designer brands. Remember one thing when listing on 1stdibs: Luxury.
Buyers: Interior designers and clients with high budgets
What sells: High level designer pieces including antique, vintage, and new
Requirements: Physical store and industry references to join
Cost: Start-up cost and monthly subscription, 18% commission on all sales below 10k
We recommend 1stdibs for seasoned dealers that have established themselves in the industry and built a high-level inventory that caters to 1stdibs clients and makes 1stdibs fees worth the price to sell online Antiques.
Etsy
Etsy is a site designed for handmade and vintage products. Its catalog has one of the widest ranges of all sites but is mostly known for clothing, jewelry, decorative pieces, and small furniture. It’s one of the best platforms for selling items you have multiples of or can reproduce for resale.
Buyers: A wide range but overall a younger customer base with smaller budgets.
What sells: Handmade and one-of-a-kind items
Requirements: No requirements to join
Cost: No monthly subscription fee, $15 per month for Etsy Plus (when accepted), 8% commission on all sales below 10k
We recommend sticking to small, lower, and mid-tier pieces as a sales strategy on Etsy. Its open enrollment, low commission rate, and lack of a monthly subscription fee make it a great platform for dealers starting out. Seasoned dealers with a well curated collection can turn large profits on inventory not suited for vetted sites.
Chairish
Chairish is a great site for selling mid-level and high-end furniture, art, and jewelry. It offers special curation tools and has a strong online antique selling presence. It is also free to sign up and post items. When listing on Chairish, think of a young upper middle-class crowd looking for trendy vintage furniture and art to decorate with.
Buyers: Interior designers and clients with mid to high budgets
What sells: Mid level antique and vintage pieces with a strong focus on decorative value
Requirements: Items must be submitted and approved by Chairish curators
Cost: No start-up cost, optional $149 elite monthly plan (when accepted), 20% commission on all sales below $2500 (when listing 10 or more items)
Chairish is a great place for dealers to advance their sales of mid to high range antiques online with no start-up cost and easy site acceptance. We recommend you use this site for mid-level priced listings, marketing to a younger crowd.
Decaso
Decaso is the sister site to Chairish, designed for selling high-end furniture, art, and decorative items. It offers special curation tools and has a strong online presence. Think of Decaso as the black suite counterpart to its sister site Chairish, with a bigger focus on design and high end pieces.
Buyers: Interior designers and a more discerning customer base
What sells: A higher level of antique and vintage pieces with a focus on decorative value
Requirements: Must be accepted via application and items must be submitted and approved by Decaso curators.
Cost: $250 start-up cost, $250 monthly subscription, Low 12% commission on all sales below $2500
Decaso is a good choice for dealers looking to sell high end pieces at a lower commission rate than most sites. Its vetting process is simple with a moderate acceptance rate and a small $250 start up cost and a $250 monthly subscription rate.
Incollect
A great site for selling your top tier designer furniture, art, jewelry, and new custom pieces is Incollect. Unlike most luxury antique sites, Incollect puts the dealer’s shop in the forefront with an online space of your inventory. Also, Incollect does not charge a commission on sales, only a monthly subscription fee.
Buyers: Interior designers and clients with high budgets
What sells: High level antiques, vintage and designer pieces
Requirements: Requires industry references to join
Cost: Small start-up cost and monthly subscription fees, no commission on all sales
Incollect is recommended for seasoned dealers that have established themselves in the online antiques selling industry and built a high-level inventory. It offers a unique no commission based, monthly rate with emphasis on the dealer’s store to help build long term client relations.
Antiques Atlas
The biggest antique website in the UK hosting over 52,000 pieces at any given time. It offers an excellent variety of items and its low monthly rates are good for both dealers starting out and those selling at an expert level. There is a unique “search by region” within the UK that is a helpful tool for buyers wanting to connect with dealers locally.
Buyers: A wide range of buyers with mid to high budgets
What sells: Recommended for all levels of antique and vintage pieces
Requirements: Must be an established dealer and accepted via a vetting process
Cost: 40 pounds per month for up to 400 pieces, no commission on all sales
Antiques Atlas is highly recommended for all antique and vintage dealers selling within the UK. Its large database of items and large customer base mixed with its low monthly rates make it a go to for any dealer selling from the UK.
BADA
BADA aka the British Antique Dealers Association was founded in 1918 with a focus on bringing the most knowledge together in fine art, design and antiques for selling to the world’s leading museums, galleries and public collections. This small exclusive site has a heavy focus on guaranteeing the authenticity of the objects offered by its members. Applicants are heavily vetted and the site looks to pool dealer knowledge from its members. This is a great site for antique dealers with a website selling in England.
Buyers: Clientele with high budgets and discerning taste
What sells: Recommended for high level antique pieces
Requirements: Requires industry reference, 3 years of experience, a website
Cost: Small start-up cost and monthly subscription fees, no commission on all sales, no listing fee
BADA is a 100 year established selling network and this website is recommended for seasoned antique dealers that have established themselves in the UK looking for a small but dedicated audience. Its heavy emphasis on pieces over a hundred years old keeps our recommendation to antique sellers. It is not recommended for vintage and retro sellers. Please remember that sales are not made directly through BADA. Items posted on BADA are linked to your website where the sale is completed.
LAPADA
LAPADA is an exclusive site with a strong focus on antiques and promoting the brand image of antique dealers in England. It keeps the authenticity of the art, decor, jewelry and furniture offered on the website by having a vetting application process for its members. This is a site for high level antique dealers selling in England that want access to a large database of information and consultants available to help run your business.
Buyers: Clientele with high budgets and discerning taste
What sells:Recommended for high level antique pieces
Requirements: Vetted application process, requires industry references, VAT Registered, 3 years in trade to join, a website
Cost: Small 200 pound start-up cost and monthly subscription fees, no commission on all sales, no listing fee
LAPADA is recommended for seasoned antique dealers that have established themselves in the UK looking for a dedicated audience. It offers trade show possibilities, a strong knowledge base with consulting and a focus on building your brand as a seller. While vintage items from the 20th century are sold on the site, its heavy emphasis on pieces a hundred plus years old keep our recommendation to antique sellers. Please remember that sales are not made directly through LAPADA. Items posted on LAPADA are linked to your website where the sale is completed.
Love Antiques
Love Antiques is a great site for selling mid-level furniture, art and decorative pieces out of England. It offers a simple, easy to use website, low pricing structure, along with free listing write ups and search engine optimization done by specialists for free. Unlike most English based antique websites, it has a strong vintage, retro and modern design selling base. There is also a personalized website service starting at 19.99 pounds per month.
Buyers: A wide range of buyers with mid to high level budgets
What sells: Recommended for mid-level antique and vintage pieces
Requirements: Sign up via application on website
Cost: Start-up cost is first month’s fees, 59.99 pounds plus VAT monthly fee for 600 pieces, personal websites starting at 19.99 pounds per month
Love Antiques is a great place for vintage and retro dealers selling out of England due to its heavier push of vintage items than most UK based sites. It also offers listing assistance on every piece listed and will even build a personal site for dealers that need it at an extra cost. This is a great site for dealers just starting out. While it certainly has an international reach, its heavy UK dealer pool keeps our recommendation to dealers working out of England.
Rubylane
Rubylane has been around since 1998 and is a great site for selling your middle to higher end designer furniture, art, jewelry and clothing. It centers around vintage and middle to higher range antiques online with a heavy push on jewelry and decorative objects. There are less demanding requirements to join than its fellow competitors and has very low priced seller fees compared to other sites while offering the same service.
Buyers: A wide range of buyers with mid to high level budgets
What sells: Recommended for middle to high level pieces
Requirements: Sign up via application on website
Cost: $100 set up cost, $69 monthly maintenance fee, 3.75% service fee on sales, .1-.30 cent per listing after you 80 items limit
Rubylane is suggested to all dealers and is great for dealers specializing in jewelry and decorative objects. Dealers in the process of building their store’s brand will find a great site offering the same services as bigger sites with a low 3.75% commission and a low $69 monthly subscription rate for listing items.
Rubylux
Rubylux is the sister site of Rubylane and a great site for selling your higher end designer furniture, art, jewelry and clothing both old and new. The site is dedicated to luxury brands and has a heavy focus on developing personal relations between the dealer and customer. There are no commission fees on sales, just a simple monthly subscription fee.
Buyers: Clientele with high budgets and discerning taste
What sells: Recommended for high level and designer pieces
Requirements: Apply via application on website
Cost: $1,000 set up cost, monthly subscription fee, no commission fee
Rubylux is suggested to dealers with a refined high-end antiques online for sale, looking for a more open conversation with buyers. The site has a no-commission-based monthly rate with emphasis on the dealer’s store and open dialogue with customers to help build long term client relations.
Vinterior
Vinterior is a great site for selling mid-level furniture, art and decorative pieces based out of England. It has a lower commission rate than its competitors along with no upfront sign up costs or contract. Included at no cost is their unique “listing creation service” where a Vinterior specialist will write up your listing for you.
Buyers: Younger late Millennial customer base
What sells: Recommended for mid-level antique and vintage pieces
Requirements: Apply via application on website
Cost: No start-up cost, no monthly fee, low 15% commission on all sales
Vinterior is an English site with international reach perfect for new and upcoming dealers. Its lack of a contract, no monthly fees, and low commission rate equate to a great pay-as-you-go selling structure. Vinterior doesn’t make money unless you make money. It’s “listing creation service” is perfect for sellers who are beginning to sell vintage and base leel antiques online while still finding their niche and building their knowledge base.
