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How would you like a job
that
enabled you to work three or four weeks a year in one of the world’s
most beautiful countries? Debbie Chamblin often gets the impression
from her customers at Belle Maison Antiques that they would happily
join her on one of her buying trips to
France.
“People ask me all the time if they can accompany me,” Debbie said. “I
think they envision beautiful scenery, cobblestone streets, quaint
cafes, and wonderful museums. Of course, France offers all that and
more but my time spent there is not quite so romantic.” Her trips
involve many 16-hour days, long drives and train trips, room service
meals, and
6 a.m.
wake-up calls. “It’s true that I get to see lots of beautiful and
interesting sights but unfortunately, I rarely get the chance to smell
the roses. My buying trips are very fast-paced and I have to stay
focused.” One of only a few American antique shop owners who directly
import their merchandise, Debbie spends nine full days purchasing
items on a typical trip.
Her objective is to fill a container, and that generally takes about
200
pieces. She photographs each item for the Belle Maison Antiques
website at the time of purchase. |
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A shipping company gathers the various items from locations throughout
France, packages them into a container, and ships them via boat to
Norfolk,Virginia.
After clearing customs, the container goes by train to Cincinnati,
then by truck to Belle Maison’s front door in Lexington. Debbie is in
her sixth year of buying in France. During that time, she has
cultivated sources and established business relationships and
friendships with many antique vendors. She buys at international
venues for dealers, from individual sources and warehouses, and from
the famous Marche au Puce (Paris Flea Market), which has 2,250
vendors, the largest conglomeration of antique dealers in the world. A
typical trip takes her to half a dozen regions of the country. By
buying directly from sellers of origin, Debbie eliminates the normal
middleman expense and passes the savings on to her customers. Her
selection typically includes items dating from the 1700’s to the
1940’s and features furniture and decorative accessories for the home
and garden. The pieces range from French country to more formal, with
a focus on well-made, stylish pieces at reasonable prices. She’s
constantly on the lookout for unusual items, such as a five-foot-high
antique birdcage, a faux bois terrarium, or a 19th century
homme debout.
In addition, Debbie always carries a list of approximately 100 items
requested by customers. She usually finds “about 40 percent” of
them.“I love calling customers and telling them I’ve located the item
they requested,” Debbie said.“That makes the 16- hour work days seem
not quite so long.” |
