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Step-by-step guide: how to make easy money in time for Christmas

Posted by Chris on 01/11/2025

A step-by-step guide to selling your unwanted antiques and vintage items to thousands of people who are searching for the best Christmas gifts - and make some easy money in time for Christmas.

The start of November means that Christmas is rolling around again. And with it in earnest starts the Christmas gift-buying season.

Around the world, people are beginning to think about what they’ll be buying for their family and friends. Next to nobody in the Christian world escapes – nor do their wallets!

You may be thinking about how you’ll afford this year’s gifts, unless you’ve saved a dedicated gift fund (well done if you have!)

You may also have items around the home that are of particular value in the antiques world – and maybe you’ve fallen out of love with them, or perhaps they’ve been sitting on a shelf or in a spare room for a while without having been thought of.

If you do, there’s a really easy way that you can solve both the problem of affording the ever-rising cost of Christmas gifts this year, whilst also making room in your home for things that you really do love.

Skip to:

• Types of antiques that sell well at Christmas
• How to get started and list your items

 

 

The rise in demand for antique and vintage gifts

Each November and December, on Antiques.co.uk, we see over 100,000 page views from over 30,000 people, from all corners of the world. They’re looking for antique and vintage items – and many of them will be searching for interesting gifts for the holidays.

And with tens of thousands of items listed with us, there is a lot to choose from. But don’t worry, there is always room for more listings, as people seek out new items and unique gifts that can’t be bought on the high street.

If you have any of the types of antique or vintage items below, then you could really benefit from getting them listed right here on Antiques.co.uk – and we’re going to tell you exactly how to do it from the comfort of your own home, including what makes a great listing.

 

Types of antiques which sell well at Christmas include vintage jewellery.

 

Types of antiques which sell well at Christmas

Collectibles

Collectibles in the antique world can be anything a collector chooses to gather, from a set of commemorative spoons to sports cards, comic books, or even classic cars (and yes, we do have the odd classic car and motorbike listed on Antiques.co.uk!)

Unlike antiques, there is no set age requirement for a collectible. Many are not old enough to be truly considered antique, however vintage collectibles are typically items over 50 years old.

So it might be worth digging through boxes in the attic to find original comic book copies, baseball or football cards, coins, stamps and even posters.

Memorabilia is also very popular: items associated with celebrities, movies, music, or historical events, like concert t-shirts, movie props, or sports programs.

Prints & maps

Antique prints and maps are excellent Christmas gifts because they are unique, personal, and rich in history, offering a more thoughtful and lasting alternative to mass-produced items. You might have antique maps already displayed on your wall that you no longer enjoy – there is a great chance that it would make a great gift for someone with a connection to that place.

Prints offer a timeless appeal, featuring muted hues, intricate details, and a sophisticated charm that can enhance any home decor style. There will be someone out there who has a love of a particular period of design style – and their loved one could be looking out for it (think Art Nouveau, vintage travel posters, art exhibition prints and so forth). Perhaps you have some at home which would be worth from £50 up to several hundred pounds to someone as a gift.

Books

Antique books can represent significant moments in history, thought, and culture, making them meaningful objects beyond their literary content. Many people like to fill their home with books as a reflection of their interests and tastes – and quite often, to bring a sense of gravitas and studiousness. First editions can be particularly popular.

Jewellery

Antique and vintage jewellery pieces – for both men and women – showcase fabulous craftsmanship and design that stands the test of time, and it’s certainly a popular category for buyers on Antiques.co.uk.

From Art Deco rings for women, to Victorian signet rings for men, and antique brooches and necklaces – diamonds, rubies, emeralds and other precious stones – there is likely to be a buyer looking for the item that has been gathering dust in your jewellery box!

Also popular with gifts for men at Christmas are vintage tie pins and cufflinks.

Vintage couture

Vintage couture – basically any brand that made a name for itself on the famous Champs Elysee in Paris – makes a wonderful Christmas gift, because it's a unique, sustainable, and high-quality present that often comes at a more reasonable price than new designer items. Of course, these brands will be doing a brisk trade at Christmas in their flagship stores, but there is something more meaningful about classic Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Hermes for instance.

Remember, pieces should ideally be at least 40-50 years old, but vintage couture from the 1980s is also a sought-after gift on Antiques.co.uk

Items could include scarves, compacts, purses, clutches and bags – or even clothing and shoes.

Vintage wrist and pocket watches

It’s a well-known fact that both men and women love a quality wristwatch. And on Antiques.co.uk, vintage wristwatches are very popular – whether they’re Rolex, Seiko or Casio – they just need to be over 40-50 years old.

For men in particular, we find that antique pocket watches are really popular – so if you have an item with a good story, and in good condition, then it’s worth considering selling it to the many collectors out there.

Wine & alcohol accessories, including hip flasks

Christmas time is a very pertinent time of year to give gifts related to whiskey – and any man will appreciate a cool antique or vintage hip flask. We also see a rise in demand for other alcohol accessories, including tantalus and decanters, and wine coolers.

Toys, including model cars & trains

The gift categories above are certainly more popular with grown-up gift recipients – but there is also a lot of demand for antique and vintage gifts for children.

Antique toys include cuddly toys such as bears, dogs and dolls (and even dolls prams) – and model cars, boats, trains and planes are absolutely timeless classic gifts for children (and quite often, the young at heart!)

Also popular are vintage toys and games – think original Subbuteo, board games and the like. You might even have vintage playing cards that would be very valuable to somebody.

Rocking horses

Christmas for many is synonymous with antique rocking horses, and these will often be worth anywhere from £500 and upwards into the thousands. You may have one of these at home which isn’t being used, or loved. Why not sell it in time for Christmas, so that it will bring joy into someone else’s life on Christmas morning?

Children's story books

There's something both lovely and traditional about giving your children a book for Christmas – especially an antique or vintage one. Do you have any on your bookshelves from when your own children were young, or from your own childhood? The stories and illustrations are usually exceptionally timeless, and demand for them rises significantly in the Christmas gift-buying season.
 

How to list your items on Antiques.co.uk: a step-by-step guide

 

Here’s how to list your items

Remember, just because you don’t love your old items any more, doesn’t mean that someone else won’t.

You’ve identified one or more items you’d like to sell. So what now?

Here’s a step-by-step checklist on how to get them listed on Antiques.co.uk
 

How much does it cost?

It’s free to set up a pay-as-you-go seller’s account, and any sales you make are commission-free. The only cost with this free account is a £9 fee to list each item – but in return, you’ll be getting it in front of tens of thousands of antique and vintage buyers from around the world!
 

Getting started

You’ll need access to a laptop or desktop PC or Mac, with internet – and a digital camera or phone with camera.
 

Register for a pay-as-you-go seller’s account

On our registration page, you’ll add your name, address, phone number and email address (you’ll also add a password which you’ll need to log back into your account).

You can ignore the boxes under the ‘company detail’ – this is just for trade sellers. Add a link to your Paypal account if you have one.

Select ‘Pay as you go’ under ‘Membership type,’ and agree to the terms and conditions.

Click next, and then your account will be confirmed. You’re ready to start selling!
 

Selling your items

Click, ‘add an item’ to create your first listing.

Create an item title: this should be relatively informative – think about what buyers might be searching for. For instance, instead of ‘Gold ring,’ you could put ‘Vintage 1940s 14CT Gold Ring for Women with Stunning Diamonds.’

 

An example of good photography: great detail, quality, lighting.
 

Photography: it’s important!

First, make sure your items are clean and presentable.

You’ll need a mix of wide photos (i.e. ones which get all of the item in); and close-ups (for the finer detail – buyers love these).

We recommend at least 5 photos if possible – square is fantastic, but any orientation is fine. You can add as many as you like, and the first photo will be the listing’s main image so make it a good one!

Upload your photos in a high resolution – the website will automatically resize them (to a maximum of 900 pixels wide). Uploading images less than 900 pixels wide (or high) won’t do your item justice.
 

How to take great photos that will help your item stand out

You can take photos on any digital camera, and phones are fine too. Adding a ‘depth of field’ always makes items look great – it’s on the ‘portrait mode’ on iPhones.

Identify a good place to photograph them: taking them in daylight is best, and with the light source coming from the front, or sides (avoid windows or lights behind objects).

Make sure your photos aren’t blurry – this can really put buyers off.

The background of your item should be as clutter-free as possible, and ideally against a plain wall or similar.

You’ll need to get the photos from your camera or phone onto your computer so they’re ready to upload here.
 

Add your item description

Try and write as much about the item as you can. Perhaps you can write about the item’s history, where it came from, and its story. Is there a maker, and what can you find out about them?

Making sure you get spelling and grammar right on your description will also help buyers interact with your listing.
 

Add your price - and double check your listing

This is down to you – try looking for something similar online (or on Antiques.co.uk, and using it as a basis for your price. You can change this later on, if you decide to reduce or increase it.

You’ll need to roughly measure it so that you can add the height, width and depth – and add the item’s materials if you know them.

You get to add your item to two categories – just use the dropdown box to choose them.

Before you click ‘continue,’ go to the top of the page and read through your listing – does it all make sense, and sound like something that someone would want to buy?

If so, then you’re ready to continue. You’ll just need a credit or debit card handy to pay for your listing.

Once your listing is live – why not try sharing it on your own Facebook or Instagram accounts?
 

How we promote your listing

At Antiques.co.uk, our marketing elves will be hard at work over November and December. We’ll be writing numerous blog posts about the best Christmas gifts for fathers and husbands, mothers and wives, and children – and promoting them on social media, to our thousands of email subscribers, and people searching on Google. So your item has a good chance of being featured!

Once listed, your item will appear in the categories that you selected when you created your listing – and for around 7-10 days, it’ll show up on our Latest antiques feed.
 

Claim your free seller's account - and create your first listing

Click here to get started and list your first item on Antiques.co.uk – to make some cash in time for Christmas. 

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