By Grant Hamilton, Publisher
One of Linda’s favorite retail stores is the HomeGoods store. While she shops I like to do a little market research there. They often catch the wave when it comes to “looks” that are nostalgia-related. Over the years I’ve seen shabby-chic, industrial, steampunk, farmhouse, tin and enamelware, summer cottage, and other décor trends that were created by trend-setters and close followers who haunted antiques shops and shows, auctions and flea markets to buy the real thing. The retailer apparently has good sources that quickly manufacture products. Most of these products copy the look of the original collectible (not antiques), aren’t an attempt to fool anyone and aren’t overpriced.
One item for sale was a framed motto: “Collect Memories, Not Things.” Allegedly, Millennials prefer experiences over things. Maybe there is research on this, maybe not. Then it hit me. The motto didn’t say “Don’t Buy This.” That clever motto company was trying to sell a “thing.”
Many of us who have collected for years know that collecting antique “things” typically come with “memories.” It wasn’t too long ago that Linda and I were recalling shopping at an architectural salvage barn in New England. The memory wasn’t of the window. It was the sound of a large shop cat snoring as we opened the door to go in. I can remember making my first solo auction purchase as a teen, and going on quests for Roycroft items with my father. Often while traveling through Canandaigua, New York, Linda and I recall a favorite gift and antique shop we visited during our college years. Both of our sons began collecting early on, so there are things and memories with them as well.
There’s a satirical birthday card that reads “he who has the most things when he dies wins.” Perhaps I misinterpreted the message on the motto. Maybe both messages suggest that the thing itself is less important than memories that will be made around it. Antique “things” are naturals for creating memories. As a bonus, there is a history of memories of former owners we can imagine or perhaps even know.
