Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Psota.
Robin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started as a “madwoman” in New York City. I worked in the media and creative departments of major ad agencies in the 1980s and 90s. I moved to California in 1996, where I started buying and selling antiques and vintage goods. Eventually, I started an Estate Sale Company. After gaining recognition on some Celebrity Estates, like Larry Hagman, from I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas, as well as Richard Dawson from Hogans Heroes and Family Feud, my company quickly started receiving more and more inquiries, and secured one job after another job. Today, we generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for our clients through a variety of sales tools and resources, fine-tuned over the years, to offer services specifically tailored to each unique clients’ needs, in order to increase sales dollars over what other competitive companies can offer any given client.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’d say the 2 biggest issues in our industry: One, justifying to clients that sometimes the contents of their homes are not as valuable as they think. Although it’s great when we can tell them that an item in their estate they believe to have little value is really a very valuable item! And two, convincing a potential client not to hire a company based on commission and to hire a company based on their resources and experience. Due to the larger number of companies in this business now, most of whom are trying it out like a hobby because they watch too many reality shows, and a tendency for some lesser experienced companies to cut their commissions, we sometimes have a tough time getting a contract signed.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Retro Robin LLC – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Well, first of all, everyone seems to like our name… Retro Robin. We get a lot of comments about it! We don’t specialize in anything in particular. You can’t in this business. You have to know a little about everything, and have staff or contacts that can appraise specialty collections or items. We do love Mid Century and Danish Modern estates. These estates are really really hot at the moment, and usually quite valuable, but few and far between, even though prevalent in California. Most reputable companies look for antiques and vintage items including furniture, silver, jewelry, art etc. vs, more yard sale or newer general merchandise, and so do we. However, these estates are probably one in ten calls, if that. That is why we have carefully developed a method that can get all items sold, leaving nothing behind. We have buyers, whether dealers or collectors that will buy items at fair market value, whether through a traditional on-site estate sale or through private sales. We also have a very profitable way of selling higher ticket items, and that’s our extensive network of higher end auction houses, that we will broker client items for less in fees than if they took it there themselves. We’re proud to have been filmed for several tv shows, including having had a Hollywood “Sizzle Reel” done on us, for our own TV series.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Easy. Best, is the sheer volume of opportunity to access quality estate items. And least, no brainer, the traffic to go see these estates!
Contact Info:
- Website: RetroRobin.com
- Phone: 310-308-5540
- Email: [email protected]
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
