Many shops now have signs posted requesting "All Children Must Be Held By the Hand". These signs weren't posted for frivolous reasons, but due to breakage and other damage.
At one on-site auction this summer two young children (eight to ten-year- old range) were repeatedly ejected from under the tent after preview had ended while their parents sat in the front row oblivious to their antics. At another, where guns were being sold, a young boy was discovered unattended in the gun storage room playing with a rare revolver. At still another, the parents were asked to leave when they were unable to control their youngsters or restrain them from rummaging through boxlots. This request was met with great resistance on the parents' part who then caused something of a disturbance themselves during the auction and finally left with a great show of "bad taste"...
Was it any wonder that their children could, at best, be characterized as "monsters"? But in all these examples, the question and thoughts this editor entertained were: "Where are their parents?" and "What a shame these children aren't being cultivated as future collectors."
For all of these events, unfortunately, overshadow the fact that the youngsters of today are the collectors of tomorrow. If not nutured young and educated, who will buy our merchandise in the future?
I should explain that I have a good friend whose great-granddaughter Candice has been attending George Foster auctions since she was probably around eight months old.
Candice was about 5 months old when she attended her first auction, a benefit held by Lippy Derocher in Manchester.
Nowadays, if you ask Candice, she'll tell you her favorite auctioneers are George Foster, Foster Peverly, and Bob Carroll - along with Christmas sales held by PK Zyla and Dollar Bill.
Almost eleven, Candice needs no prompting to rattle off this list, but then her great-grandmother has always seen to it that Candice had plenty of "toys" to play with during the sales; coloring books, etc. to occupy her time; and when Candice became bored or restless, they always left the sale so as to not disrupt it. Today, if Candice wants to buy, she has to be in her seat to bid. She also makes a written list during preview of the items she wants and what she is willing to pay.
Today, Candice is an avid collector of dolls like her great-grandmother, but unlike "Grammy", Candice collects mostly Barbie...probably 30 or 35 in total, a few of which are on a shelf as collector items - the rest she does play with. She knows how to look up and date the dolls, and she learned early which ones you play with and those you don't touch.
She also buys other "stuff" at auctions and sells it to her friends... Some of it she gives away. She holds yard sales in the summer and puts more than half of the money she makes in the bank.
Nor are my friend and Candice unique.
So, with this article, we introduce you to the first of the "young collectors" we will be highlighting in this and future issues. Our other young lady may well be already buying from and selling to you, so we think you'll find her story interesting. We applaud all the efforts of the "young collectors" out there, as well as their parents and other relatives and friends for their guidance, and hope the next time you see a young person at a shop, show, or auction, perhaps you'll take the time to speak with them. Imparting our knowledge to the next generation can't hurt, and at the very least, you will be cultivating future buyers...a win-win situation for all involved.
Melissa Dubois
We first learned about Melissa in August when we received a letter from her mother DeeAnn, who was obviously proud of her daughter, as well she should be. DeeAnn explained that Melissa was already active as a dealer, renting space at Centurywood Antiques in Milford, NH where she sells assorted antiques and collectibles to raise money to help pay for her own private collection.
DeeAnn said, "The unique part of this situation is that she started renting space as part of her home school curriculum. We opened her a checking account in her name and mine and she began renting space at the former My Place Antiques in Milford. She learned bookkeeping the hands on way, along with balancing her checkbook, and she is learning the importance of inventory, among other things.
"When My Place Antiques closed down, Melissa hooked up with Suzy at Centurywood, and she also buys and sells on the internet. We are able to relate her studies to her hobby and it makes learning more interesting and fun."
We became intrigued and thought Melissa was someone our readers would like to meet. Because she is involved in home schooling, we decided perhaps it would be best if part of the process involved Melissa telling us about herself in her own words. We spoke with her about it, and what follows is her story, written in her own words.
Hi, my name is Melissa Dubois and I'm a 13 year old collector of Strawberry Shortcake & Shirley Temple.
I started collecting Strawberry Shortcake about 5 years ago at the age of 8. I started with about 10 things and now I have around 350 Strawberry Shortcake things. Probably my most unusual piece would be my Strawberry Shortcake Halloween costume still in the box. My favorite piece is my long awaited Sour Grapes Doll MIB.
I was looking for the Sour Grapes doll for about 4 years and one lucky day I got a letter from a lady who was selling hers for $18.
I really want to find the Strawberry Shortcake doll house. It is about 3 feet high and has 5 rooms in it.
I started collecting Shirley Temple in July of 1995. I saw a Shirley Temple movie for the very first time at my best friend's house and just fell in love with the Shirley Temple movies and collectibles.
I have around 450 Shirley Temple items. My favorite Shirley Temple items include a Shirley Temple scrapbook put together in the 1930s, a singing Shirley Temple figurine made by Nostalgia Collectibles, and my 3 Shirley Temple dolls. I am especially looking for the Shirley Temple porcelain figurines made by Nostalgia Collectibles.
My best friend Hanna also collects Shirley Temple and Strawberry Shortcake. We have fun looking for things to add to our collections together.
I just started taking tap dancing classes at Souhegan High School so I can try to do the dances that Shirley Temple did in her movies.
I volunteer at Centurywood Antiques in Milford, NH and also sell things there. I mainly specialize in Toys and just started specializing in Salt & Pepper Shakers.
I also sell & buy things on the internet. I think using the internet is a big help with my collections because of the ads you can post on different sites, the good deals you can find, you can chat with other collectors, and it's quicker than going to a flea market.
Some things I sell on the internet are things I already have of Strawberry Shortcake, PEZ dispensers, Collectible Toys, Fast Food Toys, and books. I think everyone who collects should use the internet because of the advantages. If you collect something, the internet is what you really should get if you don't already use it.
People can E-mail me at:
PS - Oh, I also collect Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls & Gone With the Wind items.
Melissa's mother told us she was very impressed so far with the people Melissa has been buying from, and also selling to on the internet. "Melissa knows much more about the computer than we do," she said, "but for example, just the other night a woman called me at work from California to get permission to buy something from Melissa. They'd made contact on the internet and she wanted to make sure Melissa had permission from us to sell."
In "speaking" with Melissa using e-mail on the internet, Melissa informed us she has also bought at auction - "I bought a Shirley Temple doll at auction for $77," she said.
She also attends doll shows like those held at Holt Hall (Lion's Club) in Hudson, NH managed by Jane and Don Holt - "I can't wait until the next one because it's a great way to find what you're looking for," she explained.
As for pricing merchandise for re-sale? "I usually use price guides," she said, "but sometimes I make up a price depending on what I paid for it."
Our whole interview went so well with this young lady and Melissa was so bright and positive - yet surely she had to have had at least one less than wonderful experience? Wasn't there some part of "the business" she didn't like, such as balancing her check- book...or not having enough money to buy something she really wanted?
"I don't keep an inventory yet," she said, "I LOVE balancing my checkbook. Well, if I find an item I REALLY want and don't have enough money to buy it I usually save my money until I have enough for it."
As for buying on the internet - "Yes, once I bought 2 Strawberry Shortcake puzzles from a lady for $6 and when I received them I was really disappointed cause they weren't what she said they were."
As for her recent entry into the realm of Salt and Pepper shakers, Melissa explained, "I decided to start specializing in S&P shakers because I had quite a few pairs."
Ed. Note: We hope you'll stop in at Centurywood Antiques in Milford soon and check out Melissa's booth. Or e-mail her at: ddubois@jlc.net
- especially if you have that Strawberry Shortcake doll house she wants to buy.
Editor Kathy Greer is especially looking forward to being contacted by other young collectors out there. Having spoken with Melissa, who reads the Gavel, we know there are many more of you than we imagined.
We want to hear from you, though, not your parents. You can call us at 603-524-4281; you can e-mail us at: Gavel96@worldpath.net - or you can write:
UnRavel the Gavel, 14 Hurricane Rd. #1, Belmont, NH 03220. We look forward to meeting you.