Post #194610 by Sweet Daddy Tiki on Mon, Oct 24, 2005 7:41 PM

I agree with Wahine - go every day. I work near a thrift store that has a high turnover and sometimes I go twice a day and find new stuff each time.

And yes, recruit friends and family. You may have to educate them in the finer points of tiki recognition to avoid getting lots of aztec/african type stuff. Buy or lend them copies of Tiki Style or Tiki Quest or point them to appropriate web sites so they know what it is you're looking for.

Also: check ALL over the thrift store. Just as stuff is misidentified on eBay, it can be misplaced in the store. Always check out the vases for stray tiki mugs.

And yes, it's not such a bad idea to approach people randomly. Well, not randomly, exactly, but at garage sales. Often people have stuff they don't bother to put out, so it can well be worth asking. The owner of a vintage store told me he was at a garage sale and starting talking to the owners. Somehow they got onto the topic of tiki and it turned out the people owned the Tiki Tiki restaurant. They invited him into their house which was full of Polynesian stuff. None of it was for sale, but he gave them his card in case they ever wanted to sell.

Good luck in your shopping.