Glass Discussion & Research. NO IDENTIFICATION REQUESTS here please. > Scandinavian Glass

Kaj Blomqvist and Bengt Orup difficult to sell

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David555:
Hi all

I bought these two vases at what I thought was a reasonable price to sell on eBay - say £40.00 each – I was going on the fact that they are beautifully designed retro glass and by well known designers - I thought?

First is an undulating bark vase of great beauty fully signed to base by Kaj Blomqvist (there is an 'e' but well away from name or is it Blomqviste) for Humpilla of Finland - I thought a collector on eBay would snap it up even though it weighs 2.5k – it is such a beautiful cinnamon colour

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/blackcatgla/images/humpilla%201%20copy.jpg
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/blackcatgla/images/humpilla%202%20copy.jpg


Second is a vase by one of my favourite designers, Bengt Orup – I know this was a range and this is not the best shape, but its 6.5” high and quite heavy, signed to base with Orup’s special label & 'H' when at Hyllinge Glass of Sweden – only worked at Hyllinge for 3-4 years so I thought the stuff was quite rare – I notice that this designers work when at Johansfors is more highly rated yet less experimental – a bit went recently for £120.00 on Ebay

http://hometown.aol.co.uk/blackcatgla/images/orup%201%20copy.jpg
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/blackcatgla/images/orup%202%20copy.jpg

It amazes me that I can put two items like this on and there is no interest when people are paying silly money for Whitefriars, etc.

Maybe some more info about the designers and the companies will help – any comments accepted

Adam D555 :twisted:  :twisted:

glasswizard:
Why doesn't something sell? I have had this discussion many times over the years. There are so many variables that come into play. I have been involved in researching and selling glass since 1989 in a mall setting. I have a booth or for some of you what would be called a stall. When I take something there my lable shows my research because I tell the customer what it is. As with fashion, glass goes through cycles. What is hot today is not tomorrow. A few years ago Tiffin was very hot. I couldn't keep it, now it barely moves.
I have a friend who does Shows. He travels around the country setting up and tearing down and generally having a good time, but also watching his bottom line to detect what is selling and what is not. He just told me that all of his EAPG glass is going into storage because as he said "Its dead in the water"  He knows it will come around again.
Now we come to Ebay. I have not sold on ebay, but it is a marketplace just like any other. This is my take on ebay and remember its just IMHO.
In my setting, the booth, the customer can pick the item up, feel it, look at it, read the lable and make a decision. In the show situation my friend is there to answer questions (and some of the questions he has told me he is asked you would not believe but thats for later) He knows his stock and thus becomes an exert in residence. He can actually see what is drawing people and where their interests lie.
Ebay to me seems much harder. Sure you have a wider buying audience, but all they have to go on are the pictures you post and your description. I would imagine its a tougher sell. Finding the right category, getting good pics, writing a description that is both accurate and  will want to make a customer buy. As I said I don't sell on ebay, but I recognize the amount of work that goes into it. Hopefully some of our ebay sellers will jump in and add some comments.
As I sit here I can think of so many other factors that come into play, but will stop for now and let someone else take over. By the way, I love both of your pieces and nice pics. Terry

Bernard C:
Adam — my sympathies.   It has happened to me, too often in my early days on eBay.   The problem is self-perpetuating, because, as more find that unusual items don't sell on eBay, fewer unusual items get listed on eBay, and then fewer prospective buyers look for them on eBay.   Like Terry, I much prefer and enjoy consultative selling at fairs.

I am working on a basic selling website at present.   I think it is the way we will all have to go eventually.

Bernard C.  8)

chuggy:
Maybe a cyber fair is the answer where within an overall site sellers can rent a stall with maybe 20 or 30 slots to display items and develop customer relationships this way. If anyone more technically minded could devise such a thing I'm think it would probably take off quite well, but to avoid becoming dominated by one or two large sellers keep all stalls to the same size and pictures automatically sized to the same size, then if further details are required they could be obtained from the individual stall holders.

Just an idea.
Paul

Anonymous:
The Humppila is fabulous -
How big is it ? I have a feeling smaller than this picture suggests..
Humppila is not well known ...yet

There are followers of Orup but Hyllinge is not well known.
Is there a name for this technique ?
Is it graphite ion the glass ?
The appeal here is somewhat stark and modernist.
This has it's admirers but for many "pretty" wins out.

But no point in "blaming" the items ...
You may need to re-evaluate your selling strategies...
I can't comment on those as I didnt't see your original auctions.
There are many things which go towards a successful sale. Very few items "sell themselves".  For shining examples of how it should be done see Bernard's (bernard-cavalot ?), Wayne's (20thcenturyglass-com) and Javier's(svazzo) auctions.

Bidders are looking for bargains ...thats the mentality fostered and indeed promoted by Ebay themselves and it is after all an auction just like any other. It's warfare out there

Apparent anomolies abound. Its instructive to review the achieved prices at www.whitefriarsorg.org and to see identical vases sell in the same month at different prices. To find out why you need to analyse and compare the seller features as well as photos of course. Occaisionally it's just good or bad luck.

Your pics are good but some close close ups wouldn't go amiss especially on the internal decor of the Orup.

It's important to spell Humppila correctly and re-list !!!
I hope this helps

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