In today's episode, join Toma Clark Haines, Founder and CEO of The Antiques Diva and Co and The Republic of Toma, on a warm cozy climb into the head of long-time antiques dealer, Kim Hites. Kim sells at the Thoroughbred Gallery in Lexington, Kentucky. Although Kim has been travelling to and shopping in France and importing shipping containers of antiques since 2012, her career as an antiques dealer specializing in continental furnishings actually goes back thirty five plus years to when she was in college and working on her interior design degree. It was then that she completely fell in love with the history of antiques. Kim's years spent in a variety of capacities as an Interior Designer and Antiques Dealer make her a wealth of detailed information on the ins and outs of selling antiques which she shares openly in today's episode. Thoroughbred Gallery is, to a certain degree, the "antique mall model"; although it's a bit more exclusive than typically comes to mind with that model. They have maybe ten dealers there in their charming historic building, and she has been able to grow an incredible clientele there, having started with 300 square feet of the space and having now expanded to a little over 1200 square feet. They are also a full service design center so they're doing fabrics and wallpapers, upholstery, and the like – supplying local designers not only with antiques but meeting all of their design needs. Being one of the dealers there is the culmination of Kim's life-long love affair with antiques. Kim's insight into what sells antiques – spoiler alert and you've heard it before – STORY is king, or queen in this case! Kim has observed over the years how people truly fall in love with an item when they fall in love with the story of the item. Maybe Kim was in a certain barn in the French countryside when she discovered it. She has learned that nine times out of ten, when people love the story, they purchase the antique. She also attests to one of the things Toma often shares on the podcast – it takes a village to run an antiques story. Kim shares how her movers, restoration specialists, gallery owners, and other vendors all play a powerful role and are part of her "village".  And you WILL NOT WANT TO MISS Kim's antique must-haves every antiques dealer must sell!For more information on Kim Hites and what she is doing as she pivots into 2024 in expanding new ways, follow her at their website https://kimberlyhites.blogspot.com, Kimberly Hites on Instagram, and Kimberly Hites French Country Antiques & Interiors on Facebook.

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