Antiquing in Shelburne, Vermont

By Cybèle Elaine Werts  
CybeleW@aol.com

Unlike most competitive businesses, when it comes to antique shops, the more the merrier! Both Vermont residents and out-of-state tourists have discovered the joys of antiquing through Shelburne, which boasts enough stops to put a smile on any shopper’s face. Most of the shops are on Shelburne Road, or Route 7 as it winds south from Burlington into Shelburne and through to Charlotte.

So Many Antique Shops In One Place!

The antique shopping season is most active during the summer and winter months, thanks to Vermont’s tourist economy, but local shops say that business has been steady, and in fact growing all year around. This is particularly true for large stores such as the Burlington Center for Antiques which hosts 75 dealers in some 10,000 feet, and describes their customers as about 50% Vermonters and 50% out of state visitors. With this much space, even the most discriminating shopper is sure to find something to whet their whistle. The center, which has been named one of the ten best in New England, has a strong mix of merchandise thanks to the large number of dealers. "I don’t see our stores in competition with each other," says Bill Ehrhart, husband of owner Laura Ehrhart. "Having a large number of stores in a small area attracts more customers to Shelburne!"

The Burlington Center for Antiques specializes in oak furniture and glass dishes, but the curious customer will find everything from moose heads from the Saranak region of New York to antique clocks. Plates of cookies keep customers fortified as they wander the many rooms of this bright and busy store. The Burlington Center for Antiques has been in business at this location for seven years, based on twelve years experience in New York and New Jersey. "I think part of our decision to have our own store in Vermont was because we wanted to run a really professional business," adds Ehrhart. "Little stores have their little idiosyncrasies, such as inexperienced clerks. We wanted customers to be able to ask us any question on their mind and get an educated answer." Like many antique shops, they have a search service, as well as a 24-hour return guarantee if a customer is not completely satisfied. "It’s exciting having such a big store because people can take one or two hours to do the full tour," says Ehrhart. "We are a destination store for that reason."

A different kind of destination store is J. Dickerson antiques and oriental rugs, a specialty shop in downtown Shelburne. One half of the shop is piled with oriental rugs of every style and color, and the other half with mostly early American furniture from 1860 and prior. The shop also offers a selection of Quimper French peasant pottery as well as Queen Ann furniture, and custom bench-made reproductions of early American antiques. "In addition to our sales here, we do a lot of wholesale trade and out-of-state shows." Says co-owner Alison Dickerson. The store also has in-house craftspeople who will copy your favorite piece of furniture, or create a unique one-of-a kind piece, including things like farmhouse tables, country pine and hardwood cupboards, and Windsor chairs. "It can be tough to survive on antiques in Vermont, but being creative helps," she adds. Fortunately with their search and shipping services in addition to the perfect location, J. Dickerson has plenty of customers coming in.

Nearly across the street from J. Dickerson is the Somerville House Antiques shop. Their specialties are period American furniture, Chinese export porcelain, and prints, primarily Currier and Ives. "We don’t carry toys," says owner George Colpitts. "But we do have Autoban prints from 1840-1870 as well as many very popular bird and botanical prints from the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Furniture pieces here vary from formal Boston and Philadelphia pieces to French Canadian painted cupboards. All their items date from 1730 to about 1820, with lower end pieces starting at a few hundred dollars up to the top end pieces at $15,000 – $20,000. "I’ve seen a steady increase in demand for American furniture, and very fine country furniture that’s painted." Adds Colpitts.

"The Chinese porcelain started being imported into America in the 18^th century," says Colpitts. "The most popular were the Canton or Rose Mandarin styles which were patterns formalized from about 1800 to 1850. "The Chinese were the first to make such high-quality china," he adds. "What they did around 1776 is start to design for American tastes, which meant using bolder colors with less scrolly designs, (such as French garlands and swags) and using crests and coats of arms which appealed to Americans who had no nobility or coats of arms of their own." 60% - 70% of Somerville House’s customers are out of state visitors, and many come looking for very specific items. Fortunately packing materials have become very high quality, and his shipping service sends the beautiful porcelain all over the world safely protected.

Another important stop for the avid antiquer is the Champlain Valley Center for Antiques, owned and managed by Tom Cross, who also agrees that having a group of shops in close proximity is an advantage to both buyers and sellers. About twenty dealers find their home here, with collections of furniture, glassware, prints and paintings, as well as some primitive pine cupboards and tables. "Even though I used to be an engineer, antiques are my first love," says Cross. "I started this shop because I wanted a small business, something very different from the manufacturing arena. My father was also involved so it was a great opportunity for us as a family." Many of the dealers at this center are part-time, and use the income as a second income. "We get new dealers from the antique journals," adds Cross. "It’s something we keep up with because we have a couple of spaces open now. We always have room for a quality antique dealer." Most of the items are pre World War II, and Cross makes sure that all his dealers carry only high quality antique items. "If you can buy it in a gift shop, you shouldn’t find it in an antique shop!" Cross says.

Competition from Internet Auction Houses

Despite the seasonal draws of wandering the shops on a beautiful Vermont afternoon, many shoppers are increasingly turning to on-line antique auctions such as ebay.com. Although there is clearly a place for internet shopping, local dealers say that is has not significantly impacted their business. "We’re not an EBAY type of operation." says Ehrhart, of the Burlington Center for Antiques. "People want to see and touch antiques, so they come here, although some do come with pencil and pad in hand to compare prices." George Colpitts of Somerhouse Antiques agrees. "Our customers are finicky and want to see things in person. I haven’t found that internet auctions have cut into our business at all. I think some of it has to do with the fact that collectors enjoy the process of seeing and holding an object. You can’t get that on the internet!"

Still other dealers use the internet as an additional income, as does Tom Cross of the Champlain Valley Center for Antiques. "I do auction some specialty items on EBAY," says Cross, "especially those kind of things that are hard to find a buyer for."

"From the buyer’s standpoint, internet shopping is really great," adds Cross. "There are thousands and thousands of little items. But for the dealer, the labor and cost is very high for small items because EBAY charges a listing fee as well as a small percentage of the selling price." Cross says that the items he auctions on line are usually higher end at prices above $100 which makes the on-line work, fees, and shipping more cost effective.

Who’s Shopping for Antiques?

One might expect antique shoppers to be of a mature generation, but store owners say this isn’t the case. "We have a broad range of ages coming here," says Bill Ehrhart of the Burlington Center for Antiques. "The baby boomers make up a large chunk of our customers, and they’ve passed their preferences on to their children who are coming in increasing numbers." Dennis and Michelle Reina are the perfect example of this, a newly married couple in their 30’s and shopping at J. Dickerson Antiques for an oriental rug. "We’re decorating one room from the ground up," says Dennis Reina. "The rug is the foundation, and we build the rest of the room based on those colors." Reina, a consultant in human and organizational systems, could also be found browsing a set of miniature leatherbound books which cost a reasonable $2.50 each when bought as a group. "We’re waiting for that ‘ah ha!’ with our rug," says Michelle Reina. "I think we’ll know it when we see it." She adds that they plan to buy mostly antique furniture for this room, but that the rug will still dictate the overall feel.

"I sell antiques because I love them!" adds Colpitts. "Not only that, but antiques are an excellent investment, sometimes making 10-12% more than stocks. Even better, you have something with character for your home, a beautiful object that has a life of it’s own!" Antique shopper Mary Austin agrees. "Antiques are a lesson about the past and a chance to build an "inheritance" for my children. Since both sides of my family lost almost everything during the depression, I don't have "Aunt Letties best silver teapot" to hand down to them. Besides, collecting gets to be an obsession. You never know when you'll find that one piece worth thousands of dollars!" That’s a sentiment other buyers are sure to echo this summer while browses Shelburne’s antique shops.

Copyright 2000