Manelle Britton, a Versailles vendor at Heart of the Bluegrass, said profits at the sale were great last month. "But sometimes sales are slow," she said.
She's able to pay rent at the building to store all of her items. Britton also makes enough money from her antique sales to cover gas bills. She's been involved in antiques for about 14 years.
"I love it," she said. "It's in my blood."
Making several trips to haul antiques is not unusual, as many vendors use trailers and trucks to transport their merchandise. Cliff Dunne, owner of Under the Rainbow Antiques in Danville, said gas is an issue for antique vendors. He also is in charge of the Heart of the Bluegrass antique and collectibles show and has been working with antiques for about 30 years.
"We'll see if tourist trades are affected in the summer," Dunne said.
Thinking before driving
Gas prices have made the antique business and travel a little more expensive, he said. People are thinking more carefully about where they travel, how they shop, and how they spend their money, he said. Gas can affect profit for vendors as well.
As far as the condition of the Heart of the Bluegrass antique and collectibles show, Dunne said it is slowly recovering from the tornado damage in February. The antique show originally started in a tobacco warehouse but has since moved to the old Cricketeer building. The show started five years ago and has monthly sales.
"People don't buy like they did," Carey said. "I guess they just buy what they have to have."
Similar feelings are present among other vendors, including Harold Lester, a former American Greetings employee in Danville. He's been working with antiques for about 20 years.
He said the gas prices seem to affect everything - from costs concerning travel to antique shows to the amount of products people buy at his booth.
Although antiques are more of a hobby for Lester, he notices the high gas prices and how they are affecting sales.
Carey said she used to make good profits on her antique sales, but lately profit has been down.
A tactic she uses when buying antiques is to stick to buying the items she likes. Carey is a fan of Victorian lamps and chairs, "so if I don't sell it, I can live with it," she said.
But regardless of sales and the high gas prices affecting them, Carey said she enjoys getting together and talking with other vendors.
"We used to travel more, but a lot of places have closed," she said. "And gas makes it hard."
