Episode 47 | Always Buying Always Selling: Life as a Full-Time Antique Dealer with Laura Saville
In this episode of House of Folk Art, Matt Ledbetter sits down with longtime friend and full-time antique dealer Laura Saville for a wide-ranging, honest conversation about what it really means to make a living in antiques.
Laura has spends all her time buying, selling, filling booths, working shows, and constantly moving inventory. Inspired by early memories of her grandfather’s Milwaukee saloon to a career at Nordstrom that sharpened her eye for curation and merchandising, Laura explains how every chapter of her life quietly prepared her for this work.
Together, Matt and Laura talk about the rhythm of the antiques business, the reality of selling full time, how dealers decide what to hold and what to let go, and why shows like Liberty feel so special. They also reflect on how the trade is changing, why younger dealers are entering the field, and why it is never too late to start if you truly love it.
This episode is part storytelling, part shop talk, and part encouragement for anyone curious about life as a full-time antique dealer.
CHAPTERS
00:00 | Introduction and Meeting Laura Saville
05:08 | From Pottery to Retail and Booth Presentation
10:08 | Going Full Time and Starting with Liberty
15:10 | Running Multiple Booths and Managing Inventory
20:22 | Buying vs Selling and Dealer Mindset
25:00 | Folk Art, Primitives, and Buying When You See It
30:36 | The Last Liberty Show and Holding Back Personal Pieces
35:10 | Auction Strategy and Buyer’s Premiums
39:17 | Taking Losses and Letting Go
41:32 | Is Being an Antique Dealer Still a Job
50:41 | Shipping, Auctions, and Customer Expectations
55:00 | The Reality of Online Auctions and Logistics
1:00:22 | Buyer’s Remorse, Seller’s Remorse
1:05:00 | Cane Buying, Bidding Wars, and Knowing When to Push
1:09:18 | Identifying a Face Jug and the Power of Reference Books
1:10:41 | Making Money at Auction and Using eBay Strategically
1:16:40 | Closing Thoughts and Wrapping the Conversation
Where to Find Laura Saville Laura Saville is based in North Carolina. You can find her regular booth at The Antique Marketplace, located at 6428 Burnt Poplar Rd, Greensboro, NC 27409. Laura’s main booth is the first booth to the left behind the counter.
More information: https://antiquemarketplacegso.com
Laura also regularly sets up at regional antiques shows, including:
The Tarheel Antiques Festival
April 10–11, 2026
226 North Lloyd’s Dairy Rd, Efland, NC 27243 https://www.tarheelantiquesfestival.com
Liberty Antique Festival
April 24–25, 2026 (final Liberty show)
2855 Pike Farm Rd, Staley, NC 27355
Laura’s booth: M5
https://www.libertyantiquesfestival.com
Fishersville Antiques Expo
May 8–9, 2026
227 Expo Rd, Fishersville, VA 22939
Inside the first building
https://www.heritagepromotions.net
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(919) 410 8002
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Follow @houseoffolkart for more stories, adventures, and upcoming auction dates at LedbetterAuctions.com.