Selling Antiques/Vintage in an Antique Mall Vs. eBay

I have recently starting selling an an antique mall. I sell anything from antiques, vintage to modern dishes.
There is no clothing except if you have a few old articles. I had to bring in my own display cases and shelving, price my own things and spray disinfectant on any non-washable cloth. The rent for a very small area of 4 feet x 7 feet is costing me $125 per month. On top of that, they charge me $4 for advertising they may do.

Most dealers go to auctions and buy their items at dirt cheap prices. I have not gotten that far yet. I do not want to shell out too much money at first. Plus I do not have much room to hold furniture. So I have to visit thrift stores, garage sales and other antique malls. Sometimes prices are reasonable or a dealer does not think that item is worth much, but it is. That's when I buy it and put my price on it. I also make things. I have recently put in handmade greeting cards and floral baskets.

The problem is they do not sell all at one time. I am having trouble making the rent. I think $125 is too high and I am only keeping the owner of the building in operation. I search high and low for things to sell and keep them at a reasonable price, but not everyone is buying my things. I walk through the antique mall and I see the same things each week not moving. How can any of them make their rent. I can see if the mall is in a tourist area, but this one is not. Things do not move quickly.

I will have to say it is very hard making money this way. Even if you are selling large items that will make you enough to pay your rent, you have to rent a larger space to display the items. I believe it is all relative. No get rich quick thing going on here.

I also sell on eBay. I make out much better in the comforts of my own home. The whole world is able to view my item. There are so many styles out there. Some people decorate with shabby whites, Tuscan, French Country, Traditional and so on. In my town where I am selling my items at the antique mall, most people do not even know how to decorate with those styles. On the internet, people can find their styles in a click. So after this month, I think I will clear out the mall and stick with the homey approach of eBay.