2009 Kickoff

Let's hope it's a trend.

Sales have picked up the pace at the first two shows of the new year. Great results.

We don't fool around, we went to work at 7am Jan 1, 2009, New Year's Day. What's that you say ? It was a holiday ? Supposed to sit back and watch bowl games on TV ?

So, we hammered down four hours plus on the road to West Palm Beach, unloaded the van at the main exhibition hall of the fairgrounds, and set up most of the display. Had to be ready for the crowd that we hoped would attend when the show opened Friday at noon. We were ready by then, and as I stepped out front for a breath of fresh air (read: to have a cigarette), I was astonished by the size of the line of people waiting for the doors to open. Biggest crowd I've seen for at least a year. Maybe it had to do with the magic touch of the new owners of the show.

Interest was strong, sales were much better than the previous 6 or 7 shows. I began to think,"Hey, maybe we've turned the proverbial corner. Maybe the public will loosen up and start spending again." It's no secret that small businesses have been struggling to make ends meet, just as you have been, gentle reader, and we were no exception. Especially at the shows we've attended around the state in nasty old 2008.

For the first time since I can't hardly remember, we made an actual profit from sales at a show.

Next up for us was the Community Center show on Sanibel Island, which resulted in even stronger sales than we enjoyed in WPB. Say "Hallelujah !"

We have available a group of Harold Newton paintings from his bright and beautiful masonite period, and some of them just walk and talk and could probably cook breakfast for you, too. Sorry, haven't had time to photograph and post them on the website. If the public, whether or not they have ever even heard of the highwaymen, could buy these paintings with compliments, we would definitely be sold out.

We'll know shortly if CHANGE from pessimism to optimism has actually come in anticipation of the new administration. If only the news media (damn their eyes) would shift out of their "doom and gloom" mode, we all can get off to a fresh start psychologically, adjust our attitudes from forced depression to limitless hope.

It doesn't take much to influence a relatively small market (like vintage highwaymen art) to start a new cycle. Let's hope the prices of the investment quality pieces can get off their flat line and start showing some increases again.

Next up, Ft Myers show, followed by Punta Gorda, then back to WPB.

My New Years resolution is to try and more consistantly update this blog.

Until next time, gentle reader, don't let your meat loaf.