Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Nelson.
Brandon, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My wife and I moved from Chicago 25 years ago and as a graduate of the School of the Art Institute, I started dealing in art and antiques at a local mall.
I quickly realized this profession was a perfect fit for my proclivities and obsessive interests and strong desire to continue to educate myself and that I could do this for a living and opened my own store 20 years ago.
I then opened the second store, 10 years ago, and finally a third, two years ago.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a slow natural build.
I began with interesting quality merchandise that was more affordable and as pieces sold over the years I always invested back into merchandise for better and better quality.
The trajectory was always towards better and more rarefied objects as my eye and education improved.
The struggles have been financial, both as far as purchasing the buildings to open the stores and the money to invest in the perpetual acquisition process.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Trilogy Antiques + Design and Alchemy Antiques story. Tell us more about the business.
We have antique stores that offer very high-quality, one of a kind objects of interest and historical esoterica that are curated and offered in an artistically heightened clean environment.
We offer original vintage artwork and antiques that include Mid -Century Modern, Architectural Artifacts, Folk Art, Americana, Tribal Pieces and Garden Antiques.
I am most proud of the quality and consistency of new inventory.
We are set apart from other companies by the volume of new inventory we are perpetually getting and the quality of that inventory and the very clean edited and designed spaces in which these pieces are offered
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t really believe in luck to a large degree as far as the general direction of the business or life.
Of course, there are times that you are lucky and acquiring certain pieces from an antique show prior to someone else.
I believe in hard work.
Luck is the combination of working hard and opportunities presenting themselves and taking advantage of them or creating the opportunities by sheer persistence of will.
Pricing:
- We have pieces that are priced from $5 to $50,000
Contact Info:
- Address: Trilogy Antiques + Design
19 S Elm
Three Oaks, MI 49128
Alchemy Antiques
13696 Red Arrow Highway
Harbert, MI 49115 - Website: Www.trilogyantiques.com
- Phone: 269-756-3300 / 269-756-3404
- Email: brandon@trilogyantiques.com
- Instagram: trilogyantiques / alchemy_art_and _antiques
Image Credit:
Brandon Sloan Nelson
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