Cashing in on Young Punks
by Alice Goldfuss
Auction audiences are a dying breed. Literally. Attend any “antiques” sale and you’ll notice a trend in the average consumer…mainly, that he was minted around the same time as the coins he’s bidding on. Sure, many collectors start early, but unless your genius twelve-year-old nephew has 50,000 friends just dying to get their hands on that piece of hobnail Fenton, your market share is still pitiful.
However, there is a section of us young adults (read: Whippersnappers) dying to get our hands, feet, and claws onto your wares. Are we weird? Yes. Do we have money? Yes. Am I going to get to the point anytime soon? Top of the next paragraph.
The word is Steampunk. It originally described a genre of fiction where history and science fiction blended and now can be applied to anything, from music to clothing to custom made computers. The bulk of Steampunk fashion and art stems from an “alternate” version of the Victorian Era, where steam-powered robots are driven by sassy maidens in corsets. Think H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. Giant zeppelins, submarines, and anything with cogs.
What does this mean for you? Well, for one thing, a way to connect with the grandkids. But, mostly, it means money. Lots of money.
Just try it. Add “Steampunk” to your online listings and watch your hits go up. Be the envy of all your friends!
Well, okay, it’s not quite that simple. Close, but not quite. See, you need to know what items are worthy of the Steampunk label. Not everything you find in that cat lady’s attic is going to titillate a Steampunker. And us Steampunkers, we appreciate quality.
So, what should you be looking for? Anything Victorian. Corsets, boots, top hats, vests, long coats, riding gloves. Every Steampunker needs a costume for conventions (yes, we have conventions). And they all start with a Victorian base. Sure, there will be the occasional Mr. Must-Be-Different who decides to dress up as George Washington with a flame thrower for an arm, but feel free to ignore him.
After the clothing base, there comes the most important aspect of Steampunkery: accessories. Steampunkers love gadgets, especially seemingly obscure ones. Unique lighters, cigar clippers, lockets, canes, compasses. Pocket watches, pocket watches, pocket watches. Did I say that enough times? Pocket watches.
Once you get a feel for the Steampunk scene (I would recommend everyone’s friend, the Internet, for this) the sky’s the limit. Some Steampunkers completely immerse themselves in the scene and outfit their entire homes with original Victorian furniture and crank-powered coffee makers. Others embrace a particular interest, such as making their own daguerreotypes or constructing their own pistols. Sell to your audience.
So, what’s the catch? Well, besides finding a place to store all your cash, you should be aware of one thing. Steampunk is all about modification. It’s the “punk” part. Therefore, that pocket watch you sell could be completely dissembled and made into a one-of-a-kind brooch. That beaver fur top hat could be outfitted with a periscope. That carved ivory cane topper could be wrenched off and used as a chain pull on a fan. You can’t control what your Steampunk audience will do with their purchases and if you prefer to sell to people who will treat these antiques with a certain historical reverence, look elsewhere.
If you like making money, however, park your zeppelin next to mine.
