Meet Andrew Taylor

We were lucky to catch up with Andrew Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
I don’t come from a background of antiques dealers or anything of the sort and everything I know about antiques I have learned over the last 12 years either on my own or with the help of more experienced dealers, auctioneers, etc. There are definitely times, especially when I’m at a higher end auction or show, where I feel like I don’t belong. Like I will be seen as a backwoods antiques dealer from West Virginia who doesn’t belong at the table with dealers from the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia) or the eastern part of Virginia; dealers who tend to have bigger check books and more knowledge than I do. However, I constantly remind myself that while I respect these big time dealers and I can do my best to pick their brains and learn from them, I have to stay true to who I am as Mountain Man Antiques. Sometimes that means I won’t be able to outbid someone for an item or sometimes I’ll have to pass on an item because I just don’t know enough about it. But, at the end of the day I may know something about cast iron or stoneware or local advertising that nobody else in the room knows and that lets me get a great deal on an item. I really think you have to recognize your strengths and weaknesses as a business owner or artist or entrepreneur and use that knowledge of yourself to always grow and push yourself.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Andrew Taylor and I own Mountain Man Antiques, an antiques business that helps people find wonderful antique and vintage items at every price point. I have a booth at Rolling Hills Antique Mall in Harrisonburg, VA and a space at Valley Vintage & Variety in Lost River, WV. I really try to encourage people to use their antiques and live with their antiques, especially when it comes to cast iron that I restore and sell. I want you to fill your home, apartment, or room with items that bring you joy and make you happy to be around them. I enjoy the history and stories behind the objects I sell and I hope that those stories help people enjoy things they purchase from me just a little bit more.

I have a full time 9 to 5 job and run Mountain Man Antiques as a part-time job. I’ve been selling antiques since 2012 and officially started Mountain Man Antiques in 2017 when I opened up my booth at Rolling Hills Antique Mall. Before that I sold, and still sell, on eBay while also selling at a few live shows. In April of 2023 I was asked to be a part of Valley Vintage & Variety and opened up a space there. I no longer sell at live shows but it is definitely something I’d like to again in the future. I love talking to customers and learning from them. For the foreseeable future Mountain Man Antiques will be my side hustle and I will continue to grow it, both in my physical locations and on social media. I am really focusing on expanding my eBay presence this year as well.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think one of the most important qualities to have is self dedication and drive. I am lucky and have the full support of my family, including my wife. But, we have a regular life, including a toddler running around. That means that a lot of the time I’m am cleaning items, doing research, and pricing items after the other two members of my household are in bed. I don’t have a boss to direct me or keep me on task. I have to make sure I don’t waste time on social media or things like that, At the end of the day, in my case at least, it doesn’t matter how much support and help I have from my family, I’m the one that has to make sure items are ready to be taken into my booths or listed for sale online. It wouldn’t matter how much help my wife gave me if I wasted my evenings on YouTube or Instagram.

I don’t have many “handyman” skills; I can’t fix a car or build anything. However, I’m always willing to learn and try something new and that has paid off well for me when it comes to antiques. You always see cast iron pans at auctions or Goodwill that are covered in crud or rust, or both, and I always used to wonder why anyone would buy them. With a little research and talking to some people I met through social media. I decided to learn how to restore cast iron myself. While it isn’t too difficult, it did require me to go out of my comfort zone by building an electrolysis tank and experimenting a little bit until I found the best way to restore these items, Fully restored cast iron cookware is one category of items that I sell that I enjoy the most. I enjoy the actual restoration part and I also enjoy being able to bring a rusty, cruddy item back to life. I’ve restored some cast iron pans that were from the late 1800s and now they can be enjoyed and used for the next 100 years. Another thing I do is commission work where I will restore cast iron for other people. I had one customer that had an old family griddle that I restored and now they can continue to use it for family meals. You have to be willing to learn new skills and since I did, cast iron is one of the most profitable parts of my business.

Knowledge is something I try to gain anytime I can. The owner of Rolling Hills Antique Mall has been in the antiques business for most of his life I believe and he is always willing to talk. I try to talk with him every time I see him and he not only answers my questions about specific items, he also helps me with business advice and ways that he sees to improve my booth. I also read articles, sales reports, watch videos, and message other dealers on social media. Buying and selling antiques may not be my full time job but it is definitely my passion. When I go to auctions I’ll talk to people or make sure I’m listening in if I hear two people discussing an item. Knowledge is free and it’s helped me become a better antiques dealer in so many ways.

How would you describe your ideal client?
It is very simple to be my “ideal client.” All you have to do is appreciate what you are purchasing. That’s it. We all collect and appreciate different things and I try to provide as wide of a range of antiques as possible for that reason. Like I mentioned earlier, many people collect cast iron cookware. Some people collect it to use while others collect it for its monetary value and to display. At one of the first ever shows I sold at, the local weekend flea market, I sold an obscure sewing item to someone who was going to give it as a gift to their wife. He appreciated the research I put into an item that had a low monetary value and I was happy knowing that the item would go to someone who would cherish it. I think we get caught up in the Antiques Roadshow version of antiques where everything has to be worth a lot of money to be appreciated or considered collectible and that just isn’t the case. I think the best way to collect is to buy what makes you happy.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Where does your self-discipline come from?

One of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. We asked some

Productivity
Tactics & Strategies for Keeping Your Creativity Strong

With the rapid improvements in AI, it’s more important than ever to keep your creativity

Productivity
Working hard in 2025: Keeping Work Ethic Alive

While the media might often make it seem like hard work is dead and that