Vintage Treasure Hunting: 5 Reasons I Love Rummage Sales
Oh Boy, I have rummage sales on my mind… do I ever! Not just because they are a GREAT place for vintage treasure hunting but because this week my local church was having its “Treasure Mart.” It’s their annual tag sale event and it’s huge! A couple of weeks ago I was asked to help in the “good room” which has all the older items and pricier pieces. It was a complete honor for me I must admit! Because I’m in the midst of it right now… I thought I would share my top 5 reasons why I LOVE rummage sales!
This week has been a crash course in everything vintage for me. All the workers prepping for the sale have been bringing us old items for us to review, display, and price. It’s a fun challenging process for sure! We’ve seen everything under the sun, and that is what makes it so entertaining. It’s like setting up a huge antique booth in just 4 days. We have done a ton of research, and have learned a lot as we identify items that we have never seen before!!! So without further ado let me give you my 5 reasons why I love rummage sales.
1. large scale
It’s not like your average yard sale. It’s more like hundreds of garage sales rolled into one! With the entire church population dropping off items, there is a massive amount of merchandise available. It’s FABULOUS!
2. low prices
Maybe it’s different where you live, but we still see rummage sale prices which can be dramatically lower than even thrift store prices. A lot of items continue to be sold for $1 or $ 2 or under… I picked up two Doris Day records for 25 cents a piece! WOW!
3. huge variety
Besides regular household items and clothing, there are often TONS of vintage goodies too! There is something for everyone and I never leave empty-handed! My favorite things to find are baskets, books and bowls!
4. unique items
Given it’s for charity, the parishioners will sometimes donate items of exceptional quality. We’ve been working in the “good room” this week, and I am telling you, I am amazed at some of the things we have received. We have seen some vintage French copper cookware that is worth over $200 a piece, a nice Rookwood figurine worth $300, and an 1862 earthenware pitcher by Old Hall of England… priceless!
5. supporting charity and the amazing volunteers
The folks who put this all together are some of the nicest people I have ever met. This is perhaps the KEY thing I have learned this week! They donate their time and talent in order to raise money to help the needy in our area. It has truly been a blessing to meet them and work side by side with them. And, to know that all of their hard work is for a wonderful purpose!
ON WITH THE SALE!
So what a week it’s been! I’ve seen some super cool items, learned a lot, and met some extraordinary people. It has been so fulfilling to donate my time and expertise to help out the parish. So I encourage everyone to schedule time for some church rummage sales in your neighborhoods. Go early and see what treasures and bargains you can find! And at the same time, you will be helping a local charity make some much-needed cash!! So let’s get ready to hunt for treasure! Let’s GO to a rummage sale! And most importantly, let’s get HOMEY!!
- I am now on Etsy – so please visit my Homey Blue Heron Etsy Shop for great vintage finds!
- Please visit the “Shop – My Amazon Favorites” tab for a collection of some of my all-time favorite Amazon purchases. I am an Amazon Affiliate and any purchases you make will help support my blog! (paid links).
- If you are in the area, please come see my booth (#252) at the Ohio Valley Antique Mall.
- If you enjoyed this post, see my earlier article, “Top 5 Easy Tips For a Fantastic Flea Market Trip“