Four Tips for Getting Started in a Collectibles Business

 Every history lover has walked in to an antique shop and wonder how must it be to own their own antique business. You rarely walk into an antique shop and its busy with people curious about antiques. Most you will find are a hand few of seniors looking at things and enjoying the nostalgia of their childhood memories, a few new home owners looking to be original with their decorations (and that's a definite maybe!) , and that one lonesome customer analyzing everything closely and carefully (probably the history geek). Bottom line is that profit margins are very slim, most of the time close to none. However, with the digital age high and mighty many antique shops were able to adapt themselves and pull more customers at a greater range consequently increasing profit margins.

This was the case with Mike Wolfe, owner of Antique Archaeology and star and creator of the 'American Pickers' from the History channel. He began his career track in search of old vintage bikes, he would find them restored them to their glory and sell it. Of course with the show it helped his shop grow tremendously, but he began like everyone else from the bottom. On this article, he shares four tips that got him going on his track of growing his business in collecting.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/220182

Expedition seeks to unearth £500m worth of masterpieces buried by Nazi looters in mine

During WWII the Nazi's, as they conquered and destroyed lands throughout Europe, looted artworks from museums and private collection. Fortunately enough with the advancement of radar technology we are able to find forgotten underground war bunkers and mines.
Many paintings and sculpture are believed to be buried in a silver mine outside of the city of Dresden near the Czech and German border. These paintings were belonged to the collection of Baron Ferenc Hatvany, a leading Hungarian-Jewish industrialist and art patron. 
Nazi SS Lieutenant Colonel Adolf Eichmann was responsible for the looting of the Hatvany collection. Between the 250 to 500 pieces were shipped out of Hungary.  

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2120124/German-expedition-unearth-500m-worth-masterpieces-buried-Nazi-looters.html 

NPR: A contrast of our job situation from the Past to the Present

This article contrasts the current job situation with what it was in the 1970's. The only job that held its position strong was at the Federal Government and Retail stores level. In the 70's the number one job sector on the list was Manufacturing, now it stands at the bottom of the spectrum. Their source is the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

We all know what happened and where the jobs went and some may contest that having better technology means manufacturing with better efficiency at a much lower cost. In other words more profit for the manufacturer. A question that can be made is that if they have higher profits is there a possibility for higher wages for their employees or does it mean higher bonuses for themselves?

"What America Does For Work"