Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1412891
A ROUND TOP ANTIQUES SHOW GUIDE ADVERTORIAL The pandemic has added yet another layer of difficulty to the antiques business in the form of shipping delays. "Shipping is a nightmare," she says. "The prices have gone up, everything in all levels has gone up. Containers are always delayed, from being hijacked by government storage to being hand-inspected by the Department of Agriculture, to missing the boat — literally. We have experienced it all. There's currently a container shortage and a trucker shortage, so even when shipments arrive, you are still waiting. It can be a very frustrating process." Perks such as staying at glamorous French hotels (Smithers frequents La Bastide in Gordes, Provence, during shopping trips) outweigh the hassles of the business. Getting first pick from shipments is another plus that keeps her going. Smithers always keeps at least one piece. "This time, I kept a Bombay chest from the 18th century with the original paint. It's very ornate, and it just spoke to me. I couldn't leave it behind. Now I get to TREASURES 24/7 Can't make it to Round Top? Fickle International's inventory at The White Barn can be shopped 24/7 from their virtual shop on chairish.com. Lori Smithers shares: Chairish Member Status: Seller since 2019 . Chairish Sales: So busy, Fickle hired a full-time person for the job. Chairish Inventory: New items posted daily. Chairish Buyer Profile: We tend to think of Chairish as our millennial crowd. They love color, art, furniture … really, the works! I know that all kinds of vendors sell on Chairish. You can really sell anything there. It's a great marketplace. Chairish Seller Perks: It's really an easy backend system with a lot of the work done for you. You just print [shipping and packing labels] and drop off [at UPS], or they pick up and deliver — no need to worry about shipping at all! see it every day, and it makes me smile." While she always keeps an item or two from her shopping trips to Europe, Smithers makes sure there's always plenty of the good stuff left for her clients. In fact, she's making room for more inventory, with plans for additional Fickle barns at The Compound in the works. Come be fickle with Lori and her band of amazing vendors (check out her vendor spotlight at fickleinternationaL.com) at The White Barn year-round Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm. Hours may vary, so check social media @ fickleinternational on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Inside Fickle International's booth at The White Barn Harvest table decorated by Fickle International Lori Smithers (Continued from 17) 18