The Business of Antiques

Hosted by Toma Clark Haines

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104

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Aug 2026

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About the show

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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60 recent

September 3, 20261 hr 5 min

Curating a Modern Antique Shop: Indio White’s Buying Strategy

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Jason and Tina Fisher of Indio White to explore their journey from world travelers and interior designers to antique-store owners in Columbia, Tennessee. They share how travel shaped their distinctive design aesthetic, how they curated and sourced French and European antiques for their new retail space, and why mood boards, buying budgets and a carefully planned inventory strategy were essential to filling their first container. Along the way, they discuss the realities of opening an antique shop, including shipping delays, cash flow, pricing, calculated risks and the unforgettable château doors that transformed their vision by offering practical inspiration for antique dealers, interior designers and creative entrepreneurs building a profitable, modern antiques business. Check out the links from our episode. Indio White: indiowhite.com | Instagram Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

August 27, 20261 hr 13 min

Why Antiques Are Therapy: Keri Seery on Creativity, Curation, and Building an Interior Design Business

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Keri Seery of Antique Therapy Interiors, a Massachusetts-based antique dealer turned residential interior designer whose eye has been shaped by two decades of Brimfield booths, curated pop-up markets, and hunting for treasure alongside her mom from a very young age. Recording from a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean in Corsica, Toma and Keri unpack why antiquing is literal therapy, what it really takes to run a curated booth at Brimfield and the marketing and logistics lessons Keri learned when she launched her own antiques fair. They dig into her pivot from brick-and-mortar retail to interior design, marketplace selling, and a future concept shop blending antiques, vintage fashion, workshops, and wellness. Plus how she wins clients through Instagram and local Facebook groups, the delicate art of business partnerships, the case for trusting your intuition over Google Lens and designer group chats, and why the pieces you personally love are almost always the ones that sell, because energy, as Toma puts it, is everything. Check out the links from our episode. Keri: antiquestherapyinteriors.com | Instagram Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

August 20, 20261 hr 7 min

Finding Your Niche in the Antiques Trade: Tina Bird on Relationships, Reinvesting & Staying Soft and Strong

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Tina Bird, founder of Decorative Garden Antiques , to unpack how she launched a thriving UK garden antiques business as a second act after 25 years running her corporate events company, Team Tactics. Tina shares how she landed the priceless domain decorativegardenantiques.co.uk , why she sells primarily online through her own site plus aggregator platforms like Vinterior and Decorative Collective, and the WhatsApp-video and phone-first approach she uses to build trust with designers and collectors. Toma and Tina dig into the realities of sourcing showpieces like Louis Bourget Ondu's vases and Medici-crested Italian olive jars, why long-term supplier relationships beat fair-hopping at events like the Grand Braderie de Lille, how to price for both UK buyers and US resellers pulling from 1stDibs, and the logistics of shipping heavy antiques across Europe and to the States. They also explore the mindset behind a sustainable antiques business — keeping standout pieces at home to build a tastemaker reputation, reinvesting profits instead of taking a salary too early, finding your niche, outsourcing what isn't your zone of genius, and staying both soft and strong in an insular industry. Check out the links from our episode. Tina: Instagram | Pinterest | decorativegardenantiques.co.uk Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

August 13, 20261 hr 23 min

From Broadway to the Fabulous Factory: Steven Favreau's Wild Antiques Journey

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, reconnects with longtime friend and interior designer Steven Favreau for a heartfelt, wide-ranging conversation about creativity, reinvention, and the changing world of design. From their unforgettable first meeting at High Point Market to Steven's path from Broadway dancer and Moulin Rouge soloist to celebrated maximalist designer and founder of Boston's legendary antiques warehouse The Fabulous Factory, the two explore how manifestation, resilience, and self-discovery have shaped their careers. They dig into the highs and hard lessons of the antiques business from buying trips through Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, and Bruges, the emotional challenge of parting with beloved pieces, and how COVID wiped out a million-dollar events calendar overnight. Steven also reveals how he's future-proofing his interior design practice by embracing AI and social media through his new venture, Real Design Help, giving DIY design lovers accessible tools as the industry rapidly evolves. Candid, funny, and full of wisdom on antiques, maximalism, entrepreneurship, and staying authentic in an AI-driven world, it's a must-listen for designers, antique dealers, and anyone chasing a creative life on their own terms. Steven Favreau: Instagram ; @stevenfavreau | @real_design_help Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

August 6, 20261 hr 17 min

You Make Your Money When You Buy: Sourcing Antiques Across France, Belgium, England & Italy + What’s Toma Been Up to in 2026

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down for a candid solo mid-year review of 2026 to share where and where not to buy antiques in Europe right now. After a whirlwind first half of the year spent sourcing across the continent, Toma compares the major buying destinations: the crowded but spectacular des belages of the South of France (Avignon, Montpellier, and Bezier); the underrated, lower-priced fairs of Le Mans and Chartres where the professionals actually source; the relationship-driven warehouses of Belgium and the Netherlands; the curated, showroom-ready inventory of England; and her beloved Italy, home to the deepest long-term relationships and the famed Mercante in Fiera. Along the way she reminds dealers that you make your money when you buy, not when you sell, and that lasting success comes from tracking your numbers, protecting your energy, negotiating hard, and building a diversified, multi-country buying strategy. Part business masterclass and part heartfelt reflection on the value of doing your own mid-year review, this episode is essential listening for antique dealers, interior designers, and collectors who want to source smarter not just harder through the rest of 2026 and into 2027. Check out the links from our episode. Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

July 2, 20261 hr 3 min

Antiques of the Future: Sustainability, Heirloom Furniture & Why Well-Made Lasts

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Zack Taylor, president and co-owner of Wesley Hall, the high-end, 100% North-Carolina-made upholstery house known for its hand-detailed craftsmanship and signature color-changing lacquered doors at High Point Market. Toma and Zack trace his path from English-lit major and textile painter at Valdez Weavers to leading one of America's most beloved furniture brands, and why a personable, transparent, "under-promise and over-deliver" philosophy has become Wesley Hall's calling card. Their conversation ranges from the artistry of custom upholstery and the 15-to-20 suppliers behind a single sofa, to the resurgence of traditional design among younger buyers, the true meaning of sustainability, and how the weight and construction you can't see are what turn a well-made piece into an heirloom — the antique of the future. Along the way they share candid reflections on creativity, failure, the pandemic, and a few unforgettable adventures from Lake Como to Venice. Check out the links from our episode. Zack: wesleyhall.com | Instagram Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

June 25, 20261 hr 9 min

From Interior Design to Root Cellar Textiles with Tamara Stephenson

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with longtime friend, interior designer, and textile visionary Tamara Stephenson of Root Cellar Design. They discuss Tamara's journey from interior design to creating her own classically inspired textile line. The conversation delves into the resurgence of vintage appreciation among younger generations, sourcing antiques in the Hamptons versus New York City, and innovative business strategies for antique dealers—like curating shop spaces and setting up vintage wedding registries. Plus, discover how tools like Pinterest can elevate your antique marketing strategy. Check out the links from our episode. Tamara: Instagram | Root Cellar Designs | Nest by Tamara Blog | Root Cellar Designs Instagram Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

June 18, 20261 hr 1 min

Inside the Trade Press: How Executive Editor Cindy Hodnett Shapes the Home Furnishings Industry and Why Antique Dealers Should Pay Attention

In this episode of The Business of Antiques , host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, turns the tables on one of the home furnishings industry's most respected voices, Cindy Hodnett, Executive Editor at Bridge Tower Media and the powerhouse behind Furniture Today , Designers Today , and Home Accents Today . Toma and Cindy explore Cindy's fascinating career journey from consumer journalism to trade media, her philosophy of "eclectic by design," and why antique dealers and interior designers should be paying close attention to trade publications. They also dive into the global trade show circuit from High Point and Las Vegas to Maison & Objet in Paris and Meble Polska in Poznań — the evolving role of authenticity in the age of AI, and the power of telling the story behind every antique piece to connect with modern buyers. Check out the links from our episode. Cindy: LinkedIn | Instagram | Furniture Today | BridgeTower Media Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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 | Substack Toma: 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.com Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack