Meet Andrew Taylor

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrew Taylor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Andrew, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?

I didn’t grow up in the antiques world. My parents weren’t dealers or really collectors, other than family pieces, so when I started dealing I was truly starting from ground zero. 99% of the people I have come across as I’ve been on this journey the past 13 years have been helpful and cheering me on. I have gotten great advice from other antiques dealers, auctioneers, and people online who post videos or blogs that have sourcing tips or other reselling advice. As I move towards being someone who has delt antiques “for awhile” I try to pass along the things I have learned. Whether that is an auction house people should check out or how to restore vintage cast iron. I believe that helping other people is not only the right thing to do, but will repay itself by elevating the entire antiques trade.

When it comes to generosity in my personal life, my wife Ashley is our family’s guide. She often reminds me that no matter how bad I think we may have it at a particular moment, there are plenty of people out there who have it worse. We are able to feed, clothe, and shelter ourselves while still having some extra money, time, or resources to help others. If we can help even one person, especially in our local community, we’ve done our small part.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Mountain Man Antiques let me really explore my love of history and the past. At this moment, it isn’t my full-time job but my full-time job has nothing to do with my interest in history. Buying and selling antiques lets me have a hands-on look at the past. Some of my favorite items to find are old photographs or letters that open a window into the past. One thing I do a lot of is restore vintage cast iron cookware. When I have saved it from being scrapped and I’m ready to pass it on to the next user, I just think about all of the meals a skillet from the 1940s has made. Or the stories an 1800s bean pot has heard told around the campfire. I enjoy getting to meet all sorts of people at sales or auctions or antiques shows. People who are life long collectors or other dealers and just listening to how certain objects have resonated with them over the years.

I have two physical locations where I sell antiques; Rolling Hills Antique Mall in Harrisonburg, VA and Valley Vintage & Variety in Lost River, WV. I also sell over social media and on eBay. Going into 2026 I would really like to expand my online presence. That will start through eBay but I would like to have my own website eventually where I could post items for sale and also possibly blog posts and longer form videos as well. The main thing I will be doing is continuing to source the best items I can and finding new homes for them.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think the most important thing for people to have is self-discipline. When it comes to having your own business or being an entrepreneur, you have to hold your self accountable. You probably won’t have any other employees, especially at the start, to keep you on track. You’ll be doing a lot of work on the weekends and in the evening after other people have gone to bed. It’s about not doom scrolling on social media or getting distracted by what’s on TV. The only person that is going to hold you accountable is you.

Another quality you need to have is a thirst for knowledge. I am always looking through and reading books on antiques, I listen to antique or reselling related podcasts, and I am always asking questions of more experienced dealers. Some of the podcasts I listen too are about people who resell clothing or Amazon returns but I might be able to learn things from them about selling on eBay or how they run their social media.

Something that someone early on in their journey should be is open-minded. You may have a set-in-stone idea of how you want to run your business but you have to open to new ways of doing things. I try to mainly sell antique and vintage items, and probably 95% of what I sell falls under those categories. However, the collectibles market has grown a lot the past few years so instead of ignoring those items because of their age, I have pivoted to occasionally buying and selling newer, collectible items. It isn’t a big part of what I do, but it is one more way for me to make money.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

If you don’t count providing a stable home growing up, the most important thing my parents have done for me is support my antiquing adventure. I started out mainly selling family related items on eBay for my mom and when I started selling things I had bought, she came with me to set up at flea markets and shows. She continues to source items for me in Michigan (I am located in West Virginia) and keeps an eye out for items along her travels. My dad doesn’t do much sourcing, but he helps haul items from Michigan to West Virginia when they visit. He has also been known to peruse a thrift shop or two if he sees them. They both encourage me to keep trucking on through the tough days and listen to me geek out over something I found or an auction I attended.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainmanantiques/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MtnManAntiques/
• Other: eBay: https://www.ebay.com/usr/mountain_man_antiques