Antique Way

Waterloo Antique Store Thrives

Paula Strom co-owner of Good Things Antiques & Gifts, 1419 W. Fourth St. in Waterloo, has advice, too. "Hard work. Know your customer and financial discipline."

Her partner, Katie Hildman, adds one more important point: "Keep work fun."

Strom and Hildman went into business together two years ago.

Strom had experience selling antiques on consignment out of a small rented space at Crossroads Mall in Waterloo. Hildman rented a booth in the same location and had experience as an antique appraiser for estate sales.

They talked about someday going into business together, but it was just talk until the day Hildman called her friend on her cell phone with the news, "I found the perfect location for us to open our antique shop."

The call took Strom by surprise. She was visiting her daughters in Portland, Ore.

Hildman described the three-story house built in 1919, located in Waterloo Church row neighborhood. It was in good shape, and the asking price was $90,000.

"Okay, let's buy it," was Strom's answer. "I will be your silent partner."

Strom's daughter, Alison, came up with the name Good Things.

When Good Things opened, they brought a small guest book, planning to record customer's names and addresses.

The guest book turned into a customer wish book.

"Our customers write in what they are looking for. We always take the book to auctions and estate sales," Hildman said.

They spend most weekends at auctions, bringing back the day's find in Hildman's truck and Strom's jeep. "We're the buyers and the movers," Hildman said.

"We go to auctions knowing how much money we are willing to bid, keeping in mind we buy for retail," Strom said.

The owners make several trips a year to markets in Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City for new gift items.

They take empty suitcases when they travel to Boston, "the biggest flea market in the country," Strom said.

Strom had been a teacher, but quit to raise her six children.

After the children were grown, Strom said "I was bored staying at home." She is also a community volunteer for Green Scene, the Waterloo Public Library and is a court-appointed special advocate working with a family in need.

"I got my first Social Security check a month before we opened the business," she said.

Hildman had bookkeeping experience working with her husband, Mark, owner of CheckMart Appliance and Repair in Waterloo.

Her husband of 26 years, Mark wasn't all that happy about his wife's new business venture. He would be losing his bookkeeper and she already had a part-time job as a late shift secretary at Covenant Hospital (she still does).

"Now Mark is now one of my biggest supporters and will spend weekends moving furniture we buy at sales," Hildman said.

Customer service and their one-of-a-kind antiques is why Courier readers voted Good Things, first place in the "Best Unique Gifts and Best Collectibles," in the Cedar Valley for the past 2 years.

"They have a nice little shop and good quality antiques," said Dan Tindall of Grinnell.

Quality and authenticity are important to Tindall, who restored the Cedar Falls Black Hawk Hotel, built in 1879.

It was late on a recent Saturday afternoon, when the hotel owner walked in and said he was looking for antique furniture for his guest rooms

He ended up buying a 6-foot walnut wardrobe with bevel glass, a chest-of-drawers, footstool, large antique mirror and room accessories.

"It was our biggest sale ever," said Hildman. who was alone in the store when Tindall came in.

"It's too bad, so many antique shops in the Cedar Valley have closed over the years. The owners of Good Things know what they are doing," Tindall said.

Good Things is a shopping destination when Jane Rademacher of Norfolk, Nebr., visits her mother, Pauline Bergstrom of Waterloo.

Last week, Rademacher bought a window pane side table and a large handmade clock, made by local woodworker, Russell Poyner. "The next time I come for a visit, I am going to bring a trailer from home," she said.

The dining room in the Victorian-style house is decorated for Christmas with gift items "you won't find in department stores," Hildman said.

Local artist, Ann Whitmore, Waterloo, crafts "Down Time Design" fabric fashion purses.

Good Things carries an assortment of unique candles and stemware. The jewelry line is trendy and some vintage. They also have fused Dichrioc glass and silver necklaces.

Individual all occasion cards, reflect their one-of-a-kind philosophy. Most are black and white pictures of people from the 50's with humorous verses.

In the kitchen area, is a display of kitchen gadgets and pottery items and gourmet foods. With 24-hour notice, the owners will prepare custom gift baskets with gourmet foods and bath luxury items.

Vintage clothing, antique records, lamps, radios, teapots, tins and toys are everywhere on all three floors.

The first floor displays large antique furniture, dishes and depression glass.

"We are always checking our customer book. We want to have what people are looking for," Strom said.