Here at Northeast Antiques, we look at rising fuel costs and shake our heads in amazement just like everybody else. Travel is indigenous to this industry, whether you are a seller or buyer. We have regular routes we follow in search of that hard to find antique, and fuel is part of the cost involved. We talked to three dealers who are also veteran collectors and asked whether fuel increases seem to be having an effect on day-to-day business. We hope you’ll enjoy reading what they had to say.

NORTHEAST: Tell us about your business.

PHYLLIS CARLSON: We’ve been in business now for over 35 years. Tim and I sell a range of eighteenth and nineteenth century watercolors in period frames. We have folk art, textiles and sterling silver as well. We do shows primarily and have a shop where we see clients by appointment.

TERESA PUCKETT: Charles and I started full time in 1981, but he has operated galleries off and on since 1971. We specialize in medieval manuscripts, antique maps and classical antiquities. We don’t have a shop, but show by appointment and exhibit at 15 to 20 shows per year.

STEPHEN SHAPIRO: We’ve been in business for 20 years. We like American antiques from the Federal period along with appropriate accessories. We are show dealers and don’t have a shop. Right now we have 17 shows scheduled, but we might do fewer next year.

NORTHEAST: Have increases in fuel pricing had an effect on how you operate your day-to- day business?

TERESA PUCKETT: Not at this point. We still need to do business regardless of the price of fuel. We need to drive to Houston and the East Coast in order to pursue our business.

STEPHEN SHAPIRO: Well, yes. It costs $60-$70 to travel to New England one way with a truck and trailer. That’s close to twice what it cost us last year. We’ve become very reluctant to drive unnecessarily. We want to target a destination without a lot of browsing. We will go to a specific auction or shop. One problem with this kind of shopping is that you don’t see as much merchandise without the browsing. And it’s a lot less fun. Costs in general have gone up and the economic climate isn’t as good these days. Things have got to get better.

TIM STEVENSON: No; the cost of doing business includes fuel prices. We don’t have any control over these costs.

NORTHEAST: What do you hear from clients about how fuel increases have affected their shopping habits?

STEPHEN SHAPIRO: Nobody has mentioned much to me.

PHYLLIS CARLSON: Customers haven’t said anything to us, though we have noticed a slight decline in traffic at shows. Time will tell whether fuel prices have anything to do with this phenomenon.

TERESA PUCKETT: Nobody has said anything to me. I have honestly seen no evidence of decreased traffic. If you think about it, most shows are local anyway. People who attend don’t have to travel far to get to them. The shops may suffer, though. Some people might think twice before traveling a 500-mile loop to see shops. I think local shows might actually benefit from any reluctance to drive long distances.

NORTHEAST: How about shows and shops? Have fuel increases had any effect on traffic or attendance?

PHYLLIS CARLSON: I overheard a man today say that it cost him $50 to come to the show. He said that fuel costs won’t matter to anybody with a passion for antiques.

STEPHEN SHAPIRO: Some clients we are accustomed to seeing don’t seem to show up these days. It’s hard to tell why people aren’t around. But it seems like traffic is lighter at shows. Fuel prices lead to demand destruction which will lead to less consumption and less dependence on Middle East and Venezuelan oil. This might be a great thing for America.

TERESA PUCKETT: I think it’s too early to talk about long term effects of this phenomenon. Some of our shows are indicating increased traffic these days.

NORTHEAST: Do you favor a decrease in government taxes on gasoline?

STEPHEN SHAPIRO: No; there’s no need for that. If the government would spend its money responsibly, we wouldn’t mind paying even more taxes than we do – so long as the spending benefits the country. The energy problem became visible 30 years ago. Our country has done little about creating alternative sources of energy or drilling off American coasts. There has been a failure across the board of our government to address our country’s needs.

TERESA PUCKETT: No, if we cut taxes, how do we pay to repair our highway infrastructure?

PHYLLIS CARLSON: I don’t think it matters much; the government will get it one way or another.