Advertise on podcast: The Business of Antiques

In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down with Kate of Mad About the House to explore how consistent content, authentic storytelling, and thoughtful design can build a recognizable and profitable creative brand. Kate shares how her journalism career evolved into an influential interior design blog and Substack, why treating writing like a muscle helps overcome creative blocks, and how antique dealers can turn the objects around them into engaging content. They also discuss the psychology of color in homes and businesses, the relationship between our surroundings and mental well-being, and Kate’s immersive Italian design retreats in Turin, Milan, and Venice—offering practical inspiration for antique dealers, interior designers, and creative entrepreneurs who want to strengthen their brand, connect with their audience, and grow with confidence. Check out the links from our episode. Kate: madaboutthehouse.com | Substack | InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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 | InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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 | InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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.ukToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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_helpToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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

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 | InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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 InstagramToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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 MediaToma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack

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

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

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

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

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 | [email protected] Clark Haines: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack | [email protected] The Three Graces Episode: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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 | @ [email protected]