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The Company: Huntleigh Antiques
Headquarters: Saint Paul, Minnesota
Website: Click Here
Email:
Huntleigh Price was Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Los Angeles, California She attended school on the East Coast, attending private school in Massachusetts and college in Washington D.C..at Mount Vernon College. Returning to Los Angeles after college to start a business. She recalls where her love of antiques and all things collectible began. Buying an Oster Blender at a yard sale, I was so excited and immediately was attracted to the shiny chrome and unique design.
As a youth I was constantly surrounded by the arts; music, film and fine art . It would only seem natural that her loves would include all of these influences and much more. I started wearing vintage clothes once I got to high school, and had was finding great Bowling and Hawaiian shirts as early as age 14. We would go to all the thrift stores and cherry pick the racks, and then we would sport our finds at Ska Band concerts.
Vintage clothes were only the beginning, I was always attracted to the Art Deco era, maybe it was from all the great landmark buildings and theatres in Los Angeles. We went to the movies every week in Hollywood. I first started selling to the Hollywood antiques stores and prop houses around the age of 24. It was a great time, the market was wide open, there was no internet or Ebay, it was all profit and no headaches. Selling to the prop houses really made me see that this was not just a weekend hobby but a bona fide business opportunity. Huntleigh first sold in a fixed location at the world famous Pasadena Rose Bowl and the Long Beach Flea Markets. It was always a lot of sweat equity, but I loved the hunt and I loved the final sale. A win win as they say.
In terms of guidance and support I have always had great mentors. To name the three most influential: Chris Prentiss who now owns the Passages Rehabilitation Center in Malibu, California. I also had a great antiques, art and coin mentor Bob Venger of Los Angeles, California. My spiritual mentor was Dr. Havapola Ratanassara who has passed, but was superb for me and understanding the value of life and love.
In 1996 She opened her first store in Palm Springs California, it was called Sahara Vintage. Leaving Palm Springs for Minnesota in 1998, Huntleigh begins selling on Ebay in 1999 and shipped well over a thousand packages globally. In 2005 another retail establishment was opened in West Saint Paul, called Huntleigh Price Antiques. After closing the store, she went to private by appointment only business practices, and does a few big antique shows every year. Her services include buying and selling antiques, appraisal and Notary public services, estate consolidation and liquidation. There is also private consultation for family matters: including death, hoarding disorders, and personal downsizing. For more information please feel free to call or email.
The future of antiques is still strong, and people will always collect and be interested in them. They trigger memories and comfort people, and people always want to have good memories.
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PAST ENTREPRENUERS
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October 08 Huntleigh Price
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Interview By: Larry Knudsen |
Tell us about yourself?
I am Choctaw Welsh, African American.
How did you get into the Antique business?
I started selling in Hollywood, Ca to antique stores and to large Prop Houses that supply the Film and TV business.
What types of antiques do you focus on, if any?
I really like American antiques, and my favorite periods are Art Deco, and mid- 19th century furniture traditional pieces Chippendale and Sheraton
Do you travel a lot with your antiques?
I have in the past, I have been to London and Paris. But there are treasures everywhere. The Mid-west has incredible pieces tucked away in barns and pole sheds.
What is the most interesting place you have been?
I love Miami, and the Architecture and fabulous neon signs and a very famous actor's modest home that is filled with Picasso, Monet and Salvador Dali Art, as well as superb Art Deco Furniture.
What type of Antique shows have you attended?
Several, including Sotheby's Auctions. I just finished a large show here in Minnesota at the State Fairgrounds.
What is the most valuable item you have dealt with?
Most Unique. In terms of financial value, probably a 1936 Packard Convertible. Unique would be the 1928 Chase Art Deco pinwheel cocktail plates. They were so ahead of their time. But in antiques there is always alot of emotion behind many pieces because people become attached to them.
What intrigued you about Antiques to start your own business?
There are several reasons; in antiques you need to combine many skills to become successful.
I love history and research, I like sales and marketing, I enjoy meeting new people and traveling, and of course finding a home for the object is rewarding. It is complex and cerebral. You are your own person and there is no corporate control.
Do you deal with a regular clientele, or the public?
I deal with people from all walks of life. That is what makes it so intriguing
Is there any education involved to work with Antiques?
It is a job you can enter with out a formal education, but having a background in the arts, historic preservation, architecture will give you a definite leg up in the industry. Being honest and having integrity are key as well. You can have repeat business for many years if you cultivate your clientele. The key is you need to love it and be willing to put in the sweat equity as well as having a mind that wants to learn something. You need to be a good listener as well, in this business there are lots of stories that come before the close of a deal.
What is the best advice is to give to someone starting out in the antique business?
Don't just get in it for the money, it's not as glamorous as it seems. You deal with a lot of dirt, chemicals, and hours of research. Be prepared to get burned at least once on a bad purchase and learn and grow from the error. People in the antique business are often the same people you see at the beach with a metal detector. We want to find the Holy Grail. The hunt keeps you going.
Do you use the internet for research on antiques and collectibles?
Yes consistently, it is an a excellent reference source. There are some excellent web sites as well. I do still use reference books also. I moniter live auctions for current pricing and major aquisitions.
What hobbies do you have when not working Antiques?
I am outdoors person, I love the water and snorkeling. My favorites are dirtbiking, sailing, photography, framing art, vintage clothes, and horses. I have too many hobbies I like a lot of diffferent things.
Is the American Indian Business market important to your Antique business?
Yes, for several reasons. First off as we all know many museums and private collectors have American Indian Artifacts that should be returned to the tribes and nations. It is important to understand the sacredness and the power of these objects,. They are wonderful to look at and share, but they are extremely personal and spiritual objects. We are not a carnival freak show, we are people with a deep respect for our elders and the traditions that pre date Christianity and many other religions. The American Indian market is also extremely important to me because I will give good advice, and I hold respect and esteem for all people, but with us trust is so important. It is important to establish a rapport with any one, but with us it is paramount. Again a complex position. |
