I am a multi-passionate entrepreneur, who turns passion into profits. And I’m your Guide… helping you do what I do. At The Republic of Toma we offer Brand and Creative Strategy for Small Retailers & Boutiques specializing in Antiques, Art, Artisan & Handmade Goods and One-of-a-Kind. We also do Brand Partnerships and Promotion as well as Product Development. For the last 15 years, I’ve worked as CEO of The Antiques Diva & Co, which provides customized global antique sourcing tours. We grew from a 1 woman firm to a global team helping clients to source and ship antiques internationally operating in 16 countries and 3 continents becoming a specialist in international art and antiques shipping. Our clients have included antique dealers, interior designers, furniture manufactures, hoteliers, architects, and developers. Working with some of the top names in antiques and design, I am the unique position of being able to forecast trends in design. Others have described my job as being a "Cool Hunter". I speak often on the subject of entrepreneurship, growing and pivoting in business, mixing antiques with modern furnishings, the history of design and the business of antiques at international conferences, trade shows and events for interior and architectural designers, design bloggers, and antique resellers.In addition to Antique Buying Tours, we also provided Design Inspiration Tours with leading furniture and textile manufacturers and designers to assist with creative direction and product development. This entailed liaising with craftsmen and factories worldwide to produce products based on various traditional design aesthetics. Inspired by this process, I launched my first licensed line (The Antiques Diva Collection by Aidan Gray).Working with Antique Dealers I noticed a need in the industry for Business Coaching so launched our Antique Dealer Training and Mentoring Program and a popular podcast The Business of Antiques. As if all of this wasn’t enough to keep me busy (!), I pursued my passion for fashion designing a jewelry line for The Republic of Toma. We are branching into handbags. Last but not least I am a writer... A favorite part of my job is sharing my knowledge. You can follow my Diary on The Republic of Toma which I describe as Eat, Pray, Love (Yourself) meets Elle Decor + a bite of Gourmet, dash of Goop and a pinch of Entrepreneur.