Am I been a little pretentious?

pauline

pauline

Registered Guest
When I go to vintage fairs I get the feeling that the dealers look upon me more as been with a wife or girl friend and one of us have wondered off in a different direction, ( it's a natural thing to assume)
So I decided to make myself a small business card to give out with my collection and contact details well email address.
Is that been a little pretentious or helpful in making contacts as just a customer I now wondering now!.
Here it is


Image11-4.jpg
 
How about a vintage card simple name title vintage collector phone email.

What do they used to call them calling cards....

They make these cool cases for them.

This is just what I am gong to do for myself....

Nice handbag......

-Chris
 
I love it when collectors give me their card with contact info and what types of items they are interested in. I have a little file where I keep them and if I come across something I think a customer will like, I have it at my fingertips to give them a call!

Here at my B&M antiques and vintage clothing shop, I have a huge stack of cards from marble collectors and train collectors. Only one from a vintage clothing collector!

Sad, because I rarely have marbles (lost 'em years ago - haha) and have never had trains and probably won't ever. But clothing and jewelry ... got LOTS of that!


Diana
 
i think its a great idea.. and yes you are right, dealers are looking past your shoulders for a wife or girlfriend.. thank you for pointing that out, I'm sure many of us have done that ourselves:icon_dante:
 
Originally posted by listitcafe
How about a vintage card simple name title vintage collector phone email.

What do they used to call them calling cards....

They make these cool cases for them.

This is just what I am gong to do for myself....

Nice handbag......

-Chris
Click to expand...


I sort of agree a simple name and phone number card would be more vintage correct like the past and I did think of that and is more my normal style.
I thought if I did not go a little over baord it might look like I was giving out my other halfs one instead, as Paul is also sort for Pauline & Paula

It accept it's difficult for dealers to know if I a proper customer or just a stand blocker, without offending the chap by asking " do you wear vintage",
I am told there 3 more chaps with a similar interest in a 50 mile radius of me and if i do not know who they are you cannot really expect dealers to be either unless they sell or buy from them.
So it's difficult I know.
So this is my solution a little OTT them sometime that's the way to go!
 
I now having a re think over the text, more about will people bother to read the small text, maybe not, less might be more.

it's nice to here what you all think about it .

I have to sleep on it, I get my best idea in the small hours, but forget them by the morning.!
 
I think it's a really good idea. People ask me for certain things and if I actually am able to get their info it's usually on a scrap of paper or the back of one of my cards - which may well end up not being seen again. Very smart~
 
OK, I am a graphic designer AND vintie, so I'm going to have a go at this both ways.

I think it's wonderful that you should have a card to hand to dealers who seem to have the sort of stuff you like. It's also a great way to break the ice, with the sort of "here's what I seek" line.

I would nix the majority of that. You want to maintain a professional look, so I would put on only your name, email, a small about you blurb, and your web addy.


Perhaps:
Pauline Delaware (in feminine yet readable script)
Collector fine, original vintage ladies wear and accessories from the 1920s-1960s. (straight sanserif font)
www.PaulineDelaware.net (larger but same font as above)
email addy (slightly smaller than url, same font)

Imagery, maybe a fine scrollwork, sketch of purse and gloves, light background texture, etc.

If you're willing to spend for a 2 sided card, the back side can have the sizes, styles, etc you are looking for.

I also worry that at the amount you have now it will be too small to read.
Jenn:spin:
 
I'd go along with most of what Jenn has suggested Paul except rather than having sketches I might use your favourite photographic images or accessories from your website which btw I think is great! The stockings and powder compacts would be lovely - and yes that patent handbag could even be use as a stand-alone image - it's inviting left open like that.
 
Take #2

I taken on board some of what ben said above and produced these two ( middle and bottom).

Dresses do not look very good in such a small scale as this becuse it's hard to tell what era they are from,
so I gone for the bag again which is a strong image , and either powder compact or box of stocking ( not too sure if the stocking would give the wrong impression).
Oh yes apart from changing the text.




Image1-2.jpg


P.S yes it a good idea putting the size on the back or I will end up with every thing under the sun which will not fit :excited:
 
The 2nd one, definitely -- and I really like Jenn's suggestion of putting measurements you are seeking on the back. That way there's no questions.

Since we opened, I've had a couple of gentlemen collectors come in the store - two in full dress, and a couple who I suspect were simply too shy to ask for what they wanted. Usually, those ones DO say they're shopping for a wife or girlfriend but I had the sense it was a cover story. I imagine one would fear bringing quite a lot of ridicule onto themselves in some shops - I can't blame them.

One of the gentlemen in full dress was very outgoing & friendly once I greeted him and offered my full assistance with no awkwardness, and the 2nd one was kind of awkward. He was very thin and easily 6'2" AND wearing sky high heels - he had to duck walking into the store! I was smiling & friendly and offered any help he might need. But he was skittish & not very talkative. He perused a few racks and skedaddled out the door.
 
I don't cross dress (at least not since Halloween 1983, but that's another story...) but because I look at 'lady's things' at sales some dealers assume I might wear them and they start fumbling around for the correct words to use so as not to offend me one way or the other. There is nothing wrong with information and I think creating a card that clarifies what you want and why will put the dealers at ease. Go for it!
 
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