Shop Talk is a weekly column featuring locally owned and operated businesses. This week, we talk to Val Riedman, one of eight dealer-owners of the Grand Gorge Country Hutt Antiques Cooperative.
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How long have you lived in the area?
Since 1952.
Tell me about your business:
Eight dealers rent space in the store. We each have an area in the store, where we sell antiques, gifts and collectibles. We all work on a rotating basis. We sell everything from record albums, Mason jars and jewelry, to porcelain dolls and antique clothing. We even have a Civil War vintage washing machine and artwork from local and area artists. Our business is open four days a week.
Describe a typical day in your business:
Dave, Christl and I are constantly on the go, doing estate sales, marketing, advertising and sales. The estate sales are how we acquire our antiques and memorabilia.
How did you get started in this line of work?
My wife and I used to own hardware stores in Roxbury, Grand Gorge and Prattsville. We began selling antiques out of the Roxbury store in the '80s as a niche market. My wife and I always dabbled in antiques, even before we opened the hardware stores.
After closing the stores, we started an antique center in our Grand Gorge store. It was a co-op then, too, in so many ways. We still operate similarly.
In 1999, we sold the Grand Gorge building and we moved to Prattsville, where we opened an antique co-op there in a building we owned. In 2007, we sold the Prattsville building and moved back to Grand Gorge, where we rent space.
Where do you see this business in five years?
The economy, gas prices and road repairs have negatively impacted our business over the past few years. However, we're optimistic that things will eventually turn around. We haven't stopped buying. We travel all over from New Jersey to Little Falls to find our items.
Describe a memorable moment in your workplace:
They are all memorable.
What is the most challenging part of what you do?
Buying right and trying to please customers. You need to understand how to deal with customers. For example, some may want to negotiate an item. It's important to make them happy and really want that particular item.
Another challenging aspect of what we do is recognizing reproductions. And now, the early reproductions are becoming classic antiques. How to value these can be tricky. We are constantly learning. It's an ongoing process.
The most enjoyable?
Dealing with the customers and seeing how happy they are to purchase a particular item.
What are some drawbacks and advantages of doing business in this area?
The recession and gas prices. There isn't as much traffic coming through as there used to be. We can't really understand the traffic patterns.
The advantages to our current location are that we are in an active hub in Grand Gorge. There's the Variety store across the street, a real estate business, a hardware store, a restaurant, a wine store and so many businesses close by.
What sets you apart from your competitors?
We are constantly bringing in new items.
What advice would you give to someone trying to enter your field of work?
Don't give up your day job in hopes of finding that million-dollar antique. We're all looking for that.
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Shop Talk interviews are conducted by M.K. Moynahan. To reach Moynahan, e-mail mkmoynahan@gmail.com. For more information about Shop Talk, call Emily F. Popek at 432-1000, ext. 217.
