I woke at 3. Tried to nod off again for an hour as my alarm was set for 4, but gave up at 3.40 and got up. There was a lovely sunrise from my (dirty!) bathroom window. The bats were just heading home to bed.
I did all my chores (watering plants included) and set off at 4.50 for Carmarthen, getting there at 6.10. Gates opened at 7, so I was early in the queue. Not that I need have worried about not getting close to the unloading door I needed, as there were not the melee of cars jostling for parking places that I remembered pre-Covid, which is when Keith and I used to sell here regularly. The stalls were quite spread out too. Whilst there were old friends, there were new faces too. Virtually no-one had an outside stall - perhaps 7 or 8 people. Only two were left when I went home.
Kitchenalia etc.
I bought the chair home, as no interest in it, and Laurie the Chair Man had a much better selection on his stand.
The footfall was pretty poor. I have covered my costs, but not made a huge amount on top. Respectable I would say. Yet back in the day, sometimes Keith and I would barely break even, but I was selling totally different things then. One chap opposite me had a double table of the cheaper crappier childrens' sweets and I think only sold one thing all day! WHY, when it is called an Antiques Weekend, did he think he would do well? Scarcely any children to be seen so totally the wrong demographic.
The chap next to him had nothing but modern reproduction Chinese china and don't think he sold much/anything either, and packed up to leave instead of staying a 2nd day. Another friend of mine with jewellery wasn't bothering with tomorrow either. The problem is, it isn't advertised. The showground folk just want the traders' money and don't want to do anything for it.
This lady specialized in Poole pottery. We had a little chat as I said I used to live close to Poole.
Right, I am going to sit down with my latest copy of Country Living which was waiting for me when I got home today. Thank you so much D, for the subscription.
The washing up can wait until Monday . . .
You mean you were up with the crack of eggs, last time I did the was getting up at 3am to get photos of Didcot Powerstaton being demolished. Never thought anything of it getting up at5 and going to work. That’s a bug old market, did you sell your stuff
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely expression. Well done on getting up that time to get the photos of Didcot Power Station being toppled.
DeleteThe market looks bigger than it was as they have spread everyone out and given them extra tables for free! - we used to have twice the number of stands in there when Mr Pugh was running it, and 100s of punters through the doors too. I sold a few pieces, pricier ones too, and got rid of several bits of old stock to dealers first thing, who were delighted with them (and I was delighted to get rid!!)
Your stall looks great. I would really enjoy browsing and having a chat. I think a lot of fairs have gone downhill since Covid.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the sweetie man had a very boring, unprofitable day. My daughter lives in Oxford. She says that people are always opening cheap and cheerful take-aways on the local high street. It clearly isn't a student area, but they are obviously the customers they are expecting. The shops close down after a few months and are replaced with others, which quickly go under too. A little homework would prevent a lot of outlay and upset.
I had some nice comments on it. Fairs have certainly changed since Covid. The calibre of people coming round has been the biggest change - these folk seem to know nowt about owt! We used to have customers who genuinely knew about various antiques, furniture especially. If it's militaria, then there are always folk who pretend to be the world's biggest experts, because I am selling some of Keith's collection and am a woman, and clearly know nothing. Grrr! Mind you, when Keith was selling some genuine WWII German helmets, my goodness, the "experts" had to be seen to be believed!
DeleteSounds like people in Oxford aren't doing their homework either.
Wheb we first started doing shows, we used to expect to take 10 x costs. now we are lucky to take 3 times. costs have risen so much. Since my husband died, I have not done a show and find selling on line ok, but I miss the other dealers and the customers who have been coming to see us for 45 years . I have often thoufgt about doing your type of show more locally, after all minerals and fossils are definarely antique. Hope your unit goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteKathy
Gosh, 10 times this weekend's costs would have been £1400!!! From the social point of view, I enjoyed the weekend, as so many old friends selling and coming round buying as well. I had a good natter. You would probably find that minerals and fossils would garner interest, as so many people find them interesting. Just don't sell cheap sweets Kathy!!
DeleteNot advertising will backfire on the organisers soon enough. Hope today is a better day for you again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a foolish man selling kiddies sweeties in an antique fair! Not the demographic at all!
The dealers need a venue though, and clearly hope that it will pick up but I shan't be returning. If I lived just up the road and knew the weather was ok I'd do an outside stall, as that's about £45. I had some nice chats yesterday, and got home early so that made up for barely selling anything (had just one, lovely, customer).
DeleteI'm just back from my once a year selling at a boot sale adventure - as usual I end up saying - never again! Lots of people but not many spending. All shapes of humanity was there! And as it was hot there was too much of some peoples shapes on show - ugh!
ReplyDeleteBoot Sales are a thing apart. Again, they used to be good fun, but when you get the market traders muscling in on them, not so good. We used to do a boot sale at Carew (not that far from Tenby, and a big holiday area, and it attracted dealers over from Ireland too) and we could take more there than doing a Fair. Isn't it awful when people don't look in the mirror on a hot day!
DeleteYour stall looked lovely. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you. I will try to make it more sparse this weekend as not so much room. A couple of people this weekend had barely enough stock which had they sold it all, would barely have covered their costs! Someone else I know bought along the less desirable sort of furniture that hadn't sold in their shop, and no, it didn't sell there either! One needs less desirable prices!
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