Our Annual Tag Sale

Our annual Berkshire tag sale, fostering community, and more...

For over 20 years, Robert and I have hosted our Berkshire tag sale each summer, although the pandemic put a stop to it. This past month, we felt we needed to start it again. We’ve always been flea market goers, yard sale seekers, and fit right in with the carnival types that this lifestyle can bring. Each summer in the Berkshires allowed us to move design items we didn’t use for clients, help declutter our places since we’re always experimenting with decorating, and let our kids earn a little extra summer money. We enjoy the physical work too.

Each spring, I start by noticing what I need to purge. I also look at my true antiques and ask, "Am I tired of you? Is it time for a new hunt or a new piece?" We live close to Hudson, NY, where Warren Street is a mecca for antique dealers, many of whom are our close friends. Robert and I usually contact them a night or two before the sale for the real stuff. Some places require you to pull a permit, so be sure to narrow down the tag sale date and get your permit. We also love old school methods, so running ads and putting up flyers helps, as well as posting on social media.

The art of tag sales includes early birds, and naturally, we had one this time at 6:30 a.m., even though it didn’t start until 9. As the guy shouted over our fence, I yelled back, "If I open the gate, you better buy something," in a nice but honest kind of way. We enjoyed seeing younger people getting items for their first apartments or homes. It reminded me of our days partying all night but waking in time to join the hunt for treasures back in Chelsea when the flea markets were the best.

Going to flea markets in other countries is a great way to learn about a new place. We often drag our kids along and suggest they hunt too. Maybe old toys, vintage clothes, or whatever catches their fancy. Not everyone likes this lifestyle, but if you haven’t tried it, I recommend you give it a shot. Some years, my friends bring things to sell in my yard as well. It’s about relationships, really—giving up stuff to have experiences.

At the end of the day, I’m a designer who loves beautiful things, but that’s the catch: it’s just things. Moments matter, not materials. You meet your neighbors, hear local stories, and build community. That is why we do it.