By KATHERINE McKERROW
AntiqueWeek Columnist

As the U.S. economy slowly heals and recovers, some bumps in the road are inevitable.

A chart of the Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index, which measures economic optimism as indicated by consumers’ saving and spending, currently looks like a potholed street. From May to June, the index dropped from 54.8 to 49.3, bumped down to 47.4 in July, and then surged upward to a surprising 54.8 in May.
The index splashed down to 49.3 in June, before falling to 47.4 in July. Then, in August, it again surprised chart-watchers by pushing upward, to 54.5. The indicator bumped down a bit in September, hitting 53.1. It’s certainly been an up-and-down year: In February, the index plopped down to 25.

The index is considered an accurate economic yardstick, and certainly, the past year or so has been rocky for anyone in the business of buying and selling. Are there any consumers who aren’t so unsure? And if there are, how can antique dealers reach them?
Fine art and high-quality antiques (the stuff of treasure houses) have continued to perform well among the wealthier consumers.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “Investing in fine wines, and art and antiques, has gained in popularity recently as equity, bond and cash portfolios have stumbled.”

The big, old auction houses are still hammering down stratospheric prices for genuine treasures – Christie’s is gearing up to sell a Raphael drawing with the estimated price tag of $20-26 million.
The cream-of-the-crop fine art and antiques are always going to fare well, either because those with the money to buy them still tend to have the money to buy them, or because they’re seen as a sensible alternative investment when stocks take a tumble.

However, you may currently not be planning on stocking any Rembrandt paintings or Louis XIV antiques in your shop or mall. Luckily, there’s another demographic that’s still spending money.
Teenagers are out there buying lots of stuff. On an annual basis, they’re plunking down $176 billion. True, that number is lower than pre-recessionary spending trends, but it’s still an awful lot of money.

A survey conducted recently by Seventeen magazine revealed that an estimated 75 percent of teenagers are receiving the same or more amount for an allowance as they did before the economy took a turn for the worst.

As many teenagers aren’t paying for rent, utilities, or even car payments, most of that money is going to material goods. And believe it or not, there are material goods that teens want that antique and vintage dealers can offer!

Teenagers and young adults tend to spend a good portion of their money on clothing. If you’ve followed the fashion magazines or TV shows, you know that the retro look is in.

Even A-list celebrities are stocking up on vintage clothing. Vintage clothing offers an escape from the often poorly made items offered in today’s malls.

Older clothing pieces are also more one-of-a-kind, important for young people who always want to be “individual” and creative. As well, the “green” movement has many young people wanting to recycle even clothing.

In an article on teen spending, the Associated Press reports, “Buying second-hand is also appealing to a growing eco-friendly sentiment among teenagers.”

In today’s anything-goes style world, fashion looks from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and even the ‘80s are au courant. If you’re a dealer specializing in vintage clothing, flaunt it.

Anything fun and funky is trendy these days: Western and plaid shirts, prairie dresses, vintage denim brands such as Levis, and military-style jackets are especially hot among the younger set. Consider holding a “retro prom” shop event this spring, and stock up on vintage formal dresses to offer style-minded, and budget-conscious, girls.

Accessories are also in vogue these days – plastic bangle bracelets and long beaded necklaces, especially.

Offering these colorful jewelry pieces can bring in some youthful sales.

Another huge trend among teenagers is the DIY movement. Partly because of the economy, and partly as a statement against mass-produced and shoddy goods, lots of young people are making their own clothing, accessories and even art.

Offering and advertising funky vintage printed fabric and buttons can lure in the crafty youngster. As well, small items can be eagerly bought for use in artwork and craft projects.

Beads, scraps of paper ephemera (think postcards and old greeting cards), even small boxes and kitschy figurines can become art.
Look around the Etsy.com website, and you’ll easily find “shops” of “recycled” goods sold by teenagers and young adults.

On recent trips to antique malls, I’ve personally seen more and more young people browsing about, buying things they like.
If they’re accompanying their antique-loving parents, they’re not just camping out in the snack area, plugged into their iPods.
They’re shopping, going through racks of vintage clothing, flipping through boxes of records and adding to their own collections. They’re certainly interested in catching the collecting bug. However, they need to know that they’re welcome and not being judged for being young.

If an antique shop or mall is known for having desirable vintage items, and the staff is friendly, they’ll come back and bring their friends.

Although they may seem like an unlikely demographic, teenagers are growing more and more interested in buying vintage and even antique items.

They’re using these items to stay  in style, and they appreciate the design and well-made quality of vintage things. They’re also using these items for “eco-friendly,” recycled art.

Most importantly, they are the collectors of the future.

In 20 years, they’re going to be the ones buying the antique furniture for their homes and the ones collecting the art pottery.
They’ll be buying the Rembrandt paintings and the Louis XIV chairs. Why not welcome them and get them started while they’re young?