You Make Your Money When You Buy: Sourcing Antiques Across France, Belgium, England & Italy + What’s Toma Been Up to in 2026

In this episode of The Business of Antiques, host Toma Clark Haines, CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, sits down for a candid solo mid-year review of 2026 to share where and where not to buy antiques in Europe right now. After a whirlwind first half of the year spent sourcing across the continent, Toma compares the major buying destinations: the crowded but spectacular des belages of the South of France (Avignon, Montpellier, and Bezier); the underrated, lower-priced fairs of Le Mans and Chartres where the professionals actually source; the relationship-driven warehouses of Belgium and the Netherlands; the curated, showroom-ready inventory of England; and her beloved Italy, home to the deepest long-term relationships and the famed Mercante in Fiera. Along the way she reminds dealers that you make your money when you buy, not when you sell, and that lasting success comes from tracking your numbers, protecting your energy, negotiating hard, and building a diversified, multi-country buying strategy. Part business masterclass and part heartfelt reflection on the value of doing your own mid-year review, this episode is essential listening for antique dealers, interior designers, and collectors who want to source smarter not just harder through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.Check out the links from our episode.Toma: Instagram | antiquesdiva.com | Substack