American Pickers' Danielle Colby's Biggest Advice For Amateur Pickers
We live in a world full of material stuff, though much of what we wind up with comes and goes at some point in our lives. However, not everyone lets their possessions go, instead choosing to stockpile whatever objects strike their fancy. Some of these items prove to be nothing more than junk, but others can carry a hefty price tag for one reason or another. These are the artifacts that "American Pickers" — a reality show about the unearthing of long-lost trinkets from across the United States — seeks to discover every episode.
On a base level, the work of "Pickers" hosts Mike Wolfe, Danielle Colby, and formerly Frank Fritz boils down to a few basic elements: meeting with collectors of various pieces of Americana, sifting through their mountains of stuff, and adding the really good finds to the Antique Archaeology inventory after a price negotiation session. It seems so easy that pretty much anyone could do it, right? To an extent, yes, but there's a lot to learn should one want to become as successful as those making big-money deals on the long-running History program.
To get one step closer to that point, one would be wise to heed the advice of "Pickers" icon Danielle Colby. Here are her words of wisdom to amateur pickers.
Picking is all about doing proper research
Danielle Colby has been a key component of the "American Pickers" formula since day one. A longtime friend of the show's creator and star, Mike Wolfe, she originally joined the cast as a predominantly desk-bound worker at Antique Archaeology, but it didn't take long for her to adopt a more active role on the series. Aside from alerting Wolfe and Frank Fritz of good buys and worthwhile places to check out, Colby eventually found herself going out on the occasional pick — using her knowledge of American history and popular culture to snag some must-have items for the shop.
All of this is to say that Danielle Colby certainly knows what she's talking about when it comes to picking. Therefore, it's fair to say that the knowledge she offered up on The Sailor Jerry Podcast in October of 2021 was worth listening to if you're hoping to get into the game yourself. "You'll find treasures wherever you're looking. And I know that sounds really cheesy, but the key is pretty much to do your research," she said, explaining that it's important to get a sense of the area you're planning to pick in and make connections with people wherever you can.
It's far from an industry secret, but this little nugget of information could go a long way next time you're traveling or browsing locally for antiques. After all, it's coming from one of the most recognizable and successful pickers in the world.