The Young Collector Kim Tibbs While some show managers and dealers complain about the lack of young people involved in the antiques industry, there are those like Dora Pitts who are taking a more proactive stance toward finding a way to attract younger people to antiquing events. In the business of buying and selling for more than 35 years, first as a doll collector and then as a doll dealer, Pitts has been the promoter of annual doll, toy and bear shows since 1982. This year she has decided to take a more innovative approach toward getting more young people involved, even if only one at a time at her two annual shows. Pitts is offering free table space to younger dealers beginning with her Annual Fall Doll, Toy and Bear Show and Sale Sept. 10, and again at her Annual Spring Doll, Toy and Bear Show and Sale March 11 in Maquoketa, Iowa. "I am offering three tables – one each for three individuals – aged 13-30 who have never participated in any type of show whatsoever before," said Pitts. "Ideally, these people would be people who have never been a vendor before – people looking to downsize their collection or just wanting to get started. Those under 16 would naturally require an adult, friend or family member to be with them. I haven’t had any takers yet, but I don’t really know if I’ve spread the word out enough." Pitts’ one caveat is all items exhibited must be doll, toy or bear-related, but the eras they represent themselves can be somewhat flexible. Some items that would be considered acceptable include G.I. Joes, Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Star Wars and Star Trek collectibles, comics, Campbell’s Soup kids memorabilia, older children’s books, board games and marbles. "If someone decides they want more than one table, they can rent more and pay for the rest," said Pitts. Presented with the idea of being allowed to set up just like a dealer with my very own table quickly prompted me to wonder about what "treasures" from my own collection I could possibly downsize if presented with such an opportunity. Truth be told, I don’t want to part with anything I’ve accumulated over the years, but if push came to shove, I’m sure I could easily set up a table of Saturday Night Live collectibles or Jim Carrey memorabilia. I’m not saying anyone would necessarily want to buy it, but I could at least set it up in theory. Pitts said she is not aware of anyone who has tried this approach before. She tried to do it last fall by contacting her list of dealers to see if they knew of any young adults in the area who would like to be vendors, but they didn’t know of anyone. She said she also contacted a gentleman who was involved with various young collector groups and tried to spread the word, with very little success – something she found alarming for the future of her business, as well as for the trade itself. "With so many of our older dealers retiring or dying, we need new dealers to pick up the void we will be having," said Pitts. "I personally have three dealers who are retiring this year, and they have been with me for more than 15 years. I’m sure this is happening all over, but I felt if some young adults would like to try a free table to see how they liked it, perhaps this would start a new trend. To be offered a free table at a well-established show should be a plus." In addition to the Maquoketa shows, Pitts also promotes an annual toy show in the Quad Cities (Davenport, Iowa) area – held Nov. 12 this year – and she previously was involved with one in Des Moines, until she eventually decided to turn it over to someone else. Held at the Jackson County Fairgrounds, the Annual Fall Doll, Toy and Bear Show and Sale will feature dealers from seven states set up at more than 200 tables. Doll appraisals and repairs will also be offered onsite. Pitts said anyone interested in exhibiting would need to contact her prior to the show, so she can make the necessary arrangements to set up the tables. She may be reached via phone at (563) 242-0139 or via e-mail at iadollsh@yahoo.com. Perhaps if more people in the industry were willing to take the initiative and make their shows more appealing and fun for those in the younger generations, they could rest a little easier that their show rosters would continue to be full for many years to come. Please don’t simply brand the Generation X as a group of seemingly disinterested youths who don’t care much about history, much less about the world of antiques. The young people are out there; all it takes is a handful of interested parties to get the momentum rolling. I wonder what other good ideas show promoters and dealers might have out there … the possibilities are endless if a few clever people just allow their imaginations to wander. If you have an idea you’d like to share, don’t hesitate to write me via e-mail at ktibbs@antiqueweek.com or via snail mail at P.O. Box 90, Knightstown, IN 46148. |