I'm Toma Clark Haines, host of The Business of Antiques podcast. I'm on a mission to make antiques sexy, modern and fun... and PROFITABLE!
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June 11, 20261 hr 3 min
Consistency, Authenticity & the Untapped Social Media Opportunity for Antique Dealers with Lynn Byrne
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Lynn Byrne, a design writer, OG blogger, social media consultant, and author of the Substack newsletter Emerald City, to explore the untapped digital marketing opportunity for antique dealers, why consistency on Instagram is the single most important factor for growth, how the rise of long-form platforms like Substack is creating a wide-open niche for antiques and decorative arts content, and why showing up authentically online even imperfectly is the key to building the trust that converts followers into high-value clients.Check out the links from our episode.Lynn: Instagram | SubstackToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
June 4, 202657 min
From Pop-Up Gallery to European Buying Trips: Building a Resilient Antiques Business with Olga Granda
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with longtime friend and industry icon Olga Granda, a property and art advisor, licensed auctioneer, realtor, and antique dealer based in Miami's historic Coconut Grove neighborhood. Olga shares her remarkable journey from growing up on international buying trips with her antique-dealer father, to launching one of the early online antiques marketplaces, pivoting through nonprofit theater, and now running a curated pop-up gallery inside a 1925 historic bungalow. Together, Toma and Olga dive deep into the real business of antiques: why the most successful dealers maintain at least three revenue streams, the 10% rent rule every dealer should know, how to avoid self-sabotaging pricing decisions during slow periods, and why right now is actually a great time to enter the antiques market. They also reveal their exciting new collaboration; the Chianti Cucina at Toma's Chianti Clubhouse in Italy and explore how buying slowly and strategically in Europe can transform your inventory and your bottom line.Check out the links from our episode.Olga: Instagram | Email | olgagranda.comToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
May 28, 20261 hr 14 min
From Budapest to Beverly Hills: How Gábor Újvári Built a Global Antiques Empire
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with legendary Hungarian antique dealer and entrepreneur Gábor Újvári, the man who single-handedly launched 1stDibs across Europe and founded the curated fine art and antiques platform ArtOrigo. Gábor shares his remarkable journey from selling antiques at Lake Balaton as a nine-year-old to specializing in Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Bauhaus in Budapest, running auction houses in Palm Springs and Los Angeles, and ultimately building ArtOrigo which is an invitation-only marketplace with zero returns in seven years. Along the way, he and Toma discuss the power of tenacity, the value of self-education, the importance of your word as your handshake in the European antiques trade, and why patience and building brick by brick are still the secrets to lasting success in the antiques business.Check out the links from our episode.Gábor / ArtOrigo: artorigo.com | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest | XToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
May 21, 202657 min
Branding, Instagram & Buying Trips: Inside the Antique Business of Tortoise & Hare
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Carrie Eves and Anne of Tortoise and Hare Vintage, a beloved antique and vintage shop with two locations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Carrie and Anne share the story of how a 20-year friendship born on the football sidelines turned into a thriving antique business, how they built a visually stunning Instagram brand around blue-and-white aesthetics, and what it really takes to run a successful antique booth in a collective. From sourcing in Italy to recovering from losing 93,000 Instagram followers overnight, managing inventory backlog, and keeping a business partnership healthy by putting friendship first, this conversation is packed with honest, actionable insights for antique dealers and vintage sellers at every stage.Check out the links from our episode.Tortoise and Hare: Instagram | EtsyToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
May 14, 20261 hr 17 min
Antique Dealer Insurance 101: What Every Dealer, Collector & Designer Needs to Know
Insurance is one of the most overlooked and most critical topics in the antiques business. In this episode, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Steven Becker of The Becker Agency, a specialist in fine art, antiques, and collectibles insurance, to break down everything antique dealers, collectors, and interior designers need to know about properly protecting their businesses and collections. From general liability and inland marine policies to transit coverage for inventory shipped from Europe, workers' compensation, and the often misunderstood limits of homeowner's policies, Steven demystifies the world of antiques insurance in plain, accessible language. Whether you're a new dealer filling your first container of European antiques or a seasoned collector with a six-figure collection, this episode could save your business and your livelihood.Check out the links from our episode.Steven Becker: beckeragency.com | steven@beckeragency.comToma Clark Haines: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack | toma@antiquesdiva.comThe Three Graces Episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
February 12, 20261 hr 7 min
Season 6: The Recalibration - Building a Business That Supports Your Nervous System
In this season 6 premiere, Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, returns from a two-month sabbatical spanning Oklahoma and Vietnam to discuss the critical connection between nervous system health and business profitability.After ending 2025 early and choosing to start 2026 with the Chinese New Year, Toma reveals why antique dealers aren't struggling due to lack of discipline or clarity—they're struggling because they're burned out.She introduces a powerful five-section self-audit covering inventory velocity, pricing structure, buyer alignment, decision cadence, and nervous system regulation, designed to help dealers build steadier revenue streams.Toma also announces new offerings including quarterly business check-ins, a training bundle combining 40 instructional videos with 20 hours of personalized coaching, and wellness retreat opportunities at her home in Chianti.This episode is a call to action for antique dealers to stop white-knuckling their way through their antiques business and instead create systems that support both profitability and well-being.Check out the links from our episode.Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack | @ toma@antiquesdiva.com
January 1, 202658 min
From Skirted Roundtable to Design Icon: Linda Merrill on Blogging, Podcasting & Business
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, Toma, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with interior designer, blogger, and pioneering podcaster Linda Merrill, the force behind the influential design podcast The Skirted Roundtable. From her early days blogging as “Surroundings” to becoming a trusted voice in the interior design community, Linda shares how a simple desire for self-promotion evolved into a masterclass platform for designers around the world. She and Toma talk candidly about naming your business, how a brand can grow beyond what you ever intended, and why showing your face builds the kind of trust clients—and listeners—actually buy.Together they dig into the realities of creative entrepreneurship: imposter syndrome, the pressure to be perfect, the challenge of monetizing passion projects, and the importance of knowing when “done is better than perfect.” Linda reveals behind-the-scenes stories from The Skirted Roundtable days, including interviewing top designers, obsessing over sound quality with limited tech, and why authenticity always beats slick production. Whether you’re an antique dealer, interior designer, or creative business owner, this episode is a rich, evergreen lesson in building a brand, serving your community, and giving yourself permission to just start.Check out the links from our episode.Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
December 11, 202548 min
The New Marketing Playbook for Antiques Dealers
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with luxury marketing expert Dawn Moore of Moore About to tackle the question every antique dealer and interior designer is asking: How do I market my business when I have no time and no budget? Dawn draws on 40+ years of experience with high-luxury brands like Harry Winston, Mikimoto, and Chopard to translate “big brand” strategies into practical, doable steps for small luxury businesses. From why your photography has to be “antique porn,” to how your website and blog feed your SEO, to the surprising truth that email newsletters still convert better than social media, Dawn and Toma walk you through what to prioritize first when every marketing dollar counts.They also dive into storytelling, point of view, and crisis management—including how dealers pivoted during COVID and what that means for selling antiques in today’s uncertain market. Toma shares honestly about authenticity, vulnerability, and her own struggles with consistency, while Dawn explains why done is better than perfect and why your clients now need up to 20 touchpoints before they buy. As they look ahead to 2026, the pair talk about AI as a tool (not a threat), the power of real-life experiences and experiential marketing.Toma and Dawn want to offer you as a listener a complimentary one-hour joint consultation to help you finally get your marketing working for you in the new year. Email Toma or Dawn to find out more.Check out the links from our episode.Dawn: Instagram | mooreabout.comToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
November 27, 202542 min
Grow Your Sales: Retail Merchandising & Event Marketing for Antique Stores
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, continues her conversation with long-time friend and industry insider Derrick Ricketts, diving deep into what really works in antique retail, merchandising, and sales. Drawing on decades of experience in showrooms, design centers, and hospitality, Derrick shares practical advice on building a concept store, creating the right mix of antiques and new products, and using layered merchandising so customers can actually see your pieces in their own homes. From Gustavian chairs in Sweden to color stories inspired by Aidan Gray’s iconic orange, this episode is packed with real-world examples that antique dealers and interior designers can apply immediately.Toma and Derrick also tackle the realities of social media fatigue, event marketing, and how to stand out in a saturated feed without spending a fortune. They discuss why resetting your floor regularly matters, how to guide traffic through your shop, why corners are often missed opportunities, and how to use customer service and authenticity as your ultimate competitive edge. Along the way, listeners get stories from Round Top, the Paris flea market, Bali, and Chiang Mai, plus smart ideas for non-discount promotions, gratitude marketing, and even using pets as part of your brand. If you own an antique store, have a booth, or dream of opening a shop, this episode is a masterclass in making your store more profitable, memorable, and inspiring.Check out the links from our episode.Derrick: InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
November 20, 202542 min
Perception vs. Reality: Derek Ricketts on Travel, Career Pivots & the Business of Design
In this episode of The Business of Antiques, Toma, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, shares a behind-the-scenes conversation with one of the interior design industry’s true unsung heroes: Derek Ricketts, Director of Sales, Hospitality at Palecek. From their chance meeting at High Point Market to an impulsive trip to Buenos Aires that involved polo ponies, countesses, and Austrian-steel fortunes, Derek and Toma unpack how curiosity, courage, and relationships can completely reshape a career in design. Along the way, Derek traces his unlikely path from radio and Shakespeare festivals to national sales roles, luxury linens, and hospitality design, revealing what he’s learned about sales, merchandising, and owning your value in the trade.They also dig into the realities behind the “jet-set” life that shows up on Instagram—points hacking, hotel loyalty, and doing it all on a shoestring budget—versus the polished perception people see online. Derek shares the inside story of how he brought Diane Keaton and The House That Pinterest Built to the Dallas Market Center, and the powerful lesson in doing your homework before pitching a big idea. If you’re an antique dealer, interior designer, or home furnishings professional who craves more travel, bigger opportunities, and the confidence to take risks in your business, this conversation will make you laugh, think, and dream a little bigger.Check out the links from our episode.Derek: InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack
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