The great outdoors - vintage in the wild!

The summer time is a great time to be doing outdoor vintage and antiques events.  Many fairs take place in amazing settings - often privately owned properties and not generally open to the public.  My own visits to outdoor fair venues this year have included the glorious grounds of a wonderful country castle; the well-tended gardens of a delightful Cotswold stone country cottage in the middle of nowhere; a beautiful green park in London - complete with pond; a golf course overlooking the South Downs in Sussex.  The atmosphere is always joyful as the fairs' organisers bring together unusual and speciality catering ranging from afternoon tea to fashionable street food purveyors;  entertainment and attractions such as vintage car and bike displays, jive or Lindy Hop dancers, swing singers or brass bands,  even old-fashioned fete games and attractions. And these events bring a much wider audience than most specialist vintage or antique fairs.

For the vintage trader, these outdoor events are a great way to get out and meet a wider audience.  Whilst the real vintage addicts will visit every fair and shop they can, many more people will just enjoy a day out at a lovely place, with the vintage as an extra bonus.   And a new audience equals potential new customers.  Whether your stock is beautiful antiques, decorative vintage, funky retro, upcycled furniture or handmade items, your stall may inspire someone to try a new look or buy something unique.  So many people only shop on the high street or online so a fantastic vintage event can be a real revelation and inspiration to them.  Footfall at many of these events is high - one big London annual fair held on Wimbledon Common attracts 10,000 visitors!  And the first Classic Car Boot Sale, held on London's iconic South Bank, drew in over 7,000 visitors who enjoyed the amazing atmosphere with live music, street food, stalls and vintage vehicles to view.

Rather like camping, trading outdoors is a challenge - rain, wind, mud or heatwaves all present their own problems. It is essential to have some kind of decent rain/shade cover in place - on a hot day you will welcome the shade and on a wet day, it will protect you and your stock.  If you are on a tight budget, all the supermarkets and homestores sell cheap gazebos which do the job of covering your stand area.  These are usually very lightweight, relatively easy to assemble and cost around £50-75.  However, they tend not to wear well with heavy use.  Be aware that most are 3 m x 3 m so when booking your space, make sure you have enough room for a gazebo.  If you are only given space for a table, then an garden umbrella may be your only option.  Make sure you fix it into a sturdy parasol base, tie it down or hammer it into the ground - a strong gust of wind and you may find your umbrella flying off or knocking over your stall!  An umbrella won't stop the rain blowing in underneath on a very wet day.

Hardware stores sell plastic sheeting by the metre, so you might also invest in some large pieces of this to throw over your stock if not covered entirely by your gazebo or umbrella.  These are useful if leaving stock out overnight at an event, as the sheeting protects delicate items from condensation, birds and nosy parkers!  Get clear plastic if you can, so your stock can still be seen on a wet day even if you have to cover it over.  Large clamps or pegs are useful to clip the sheets to the tables - otherwise weight them down with stones.

If you want a more professional gazebo, it is worth spending a while researching a good one and getting recommendations from other traders.  The best I have used are the pop up variety which concertina out on jointed frames.  They usually need two people to put them up, but someone will always give you a hand at an event.  The better quality ones have steel frames, which are less likely to bend or snap than cheaper options.  Buy the sides as well - these are essential in wet weather or if leaving your stall overnight.  Some companies even make bespoke gazebos in different colours with your own logo or name imprinted.  A good gazebo can cost from £150 upwards, but should last you a few seasons.  If the gazebo gets wet, you should dry out the cover when you get it home to prevent rotting.  Don't forget to take leg weights to secure the gazebo - some fairs now insist on this, as a Healthy and Safety requirement.  If using guy ropes, put coloured ribbon or tape on them to ensure visitors can see them and do not trip.  It is your responsibility to make sure your equipment is safe and cannot cause an accident.

There are also gazebo hire companies - they provide units in various sizes including small marquees which are of professional quality.  Hiring is a good option if you only do an occasional event or have nowhere to store gazebos and umbrellas. Some companies will even deliver, erect and collect their equipment, depending on the type hired.  This can be a time saver if you don't have anyone helping you or space in your car for equipment.

At many outdoor events, you can drive your vehicle onto or close to your pitch for loading/unloading.  The organiser should tell you about the arrangements for delivery, loading and parking before the day. But if the event is on a private garden, you will probably have to carry your stock from a parking point.  It is worth investing  in a decent portable trolley.  There are several types of trolley available - a sturdy shopping trolley or basket might work if your stock isn't bulky or heavy such as jewellery or handmade textile goods.  Heavier items can be moved either on a sack trolley - the upright sort used by railway porters, or on a flatbed trolley - where items can be laid on the trolley base and pulled along.  Many trolleys fold down flat so are easy enough to transport and store in a car or van.  Using a trolley will save you a lot of time and a sore back if you have a lot to move.  It is also useful to have a trolley available to lend to customers who want to take heavy items back to their cars.

Many outside events organisers do not supply traders with a table/s, so you will need to source your own suitable tables.  Old-fashioned wooden trestle tables look wonderful at country events and are also very hard-wearing.  The trestle legs fold flat, but the tops don't fold so you will need a long estate car or van, or a sturdy roof rack to transport them.  The wooden tables are heavy as well, so may not be ideal if you find lifting and carrying difficult.  Lightweight modern trestle tables, with plastic tops are a good alternative.  Both types of table can be purchased online through specialist companies.  Old style wooden tables come up on Ebay, and on specialist sites - but they can be expensive.  Or you may be lucky and find one in your local free ad paper or through a village or church hall that is getting rid of them.  A simpler option is the decorator's pasting table, much loved by boot salers.  These fold up, are light to transport and easily available.  Avoid the very cheap plyboard options, as these bow under weight and are very flimsy..  Go for the ones with solid tops and strong legs - a bit more expensive but will last longer.  All types of these tables can be found at Homebase, B&Q and other hardware/DIY stores.

Keeping warm at outside events can be a challenge, especially you do them in the winter months.  An old piece of carpet or even a piece of strong cardboard to stand on helps to keep your feet warm and dry.  Concrete or wet grass can make your feet very cold and uncomfortable if you are standing all day.  Fingerless gloves or wrist warmers are useful for keeping your hands warm but allow you to handle money easily.  Pocket handwarmers available from camping shops are also handy, if you suffer with cold fingers.

Personally, I always take a picnic with me to outdoor events.  A little folding table and chairs to sit at is very useful, and gives you a place to put your notebook, pens, wrapping materials as well as somewhere to eat.  Coolbags for your water, drinks and food are a sensible and hygienic way to keep food chilled and bug-free.  Food at outside events can be costly and if you have to queue for a while, you could be losing out on sales at your stand.  Having your own supplies keeps things simple and cost-effective.  If permitted by the fair organiser, a camping stove or portable barbeque can be useful to warm up soup, cook a few sausages or just boil a kettle.  And it all adds to the fun of the day for you and your helper/s.

You will probably have more space to set out your stock than at an indoor event.  Make the most of this by bringing larger items of stock and seasonal items.  Garden items, sporting paraphenalia, luggage and beach furniture are very popular in the summer months.   A row of stripey deckchairs or an arrangement of garden statutary can be really eye-catching.  Some of the items that sell well at outdoor events include:

• garden furniture - sets of tables and chairs, benches or tree seats in wood or metal

• garden statues, urns, water features and small ornaments - animals are particularly popular

Gorgeous vintage whippet statue

 

• deckchairs, sun loungers, windbreaks and directors' chairs - colourful and vibrant

• galvanised items such as baths, buckets and containers look great displayed with flowers

Eye-catching collection of gardenalia

• vintage bicycles and tricycles, handcarts and trolleys

• vintage toys such as rocking horses, pull-along toys, ride-on toys are visually appealing

Pull-along dogs - what fun!

• enamel containers such as florists buckets, large bowls and baths for planters

• weathervanes and decorative ironwork such as rose arches,plant troughs, plant holders

• croquet sets, old tennis racquets, clock golf sets

• quirky items such as old bird cages, finials and gargoyles, lobster pots are great talking pieces

• terracotta flower pots, rhubarb forcers, planters are useful and ornamental

• wicker picnic baskets, with or without their cutlery and crockery - popular with vintage car enthusiasts!

This can form all or part of your stock - outdoor items look great mixed with homeware.  Adding plants and flowers to the display really enhances the appearance - ferns, lavenders, geraniums, hydrangeas, lupins and foxgloves are perfect.

Once well equipped, outside events can be enormous fun - with a picnic and the sunshine you could almost be on holiday!  Winter outside events are more of a challenge.  Sunbury Antiques Market, held at Kempton Race Course, runs all year, rain or shine.  But it is always packed with traders and buyers.  Wearing lots layers, taking hot drinks and soup with you and moving around all help to keep warm.

If you have not done an outside event before, look out for new events in magazines with listings such as Homes and Antiques http://www.homesandantiques.com/.   Many events only run in the summer or are held as part of another bigger event such as a country show.   Being outside in the English countryside on a clear day beats being in an office anyday so make the most of the opportunity!

New ways to sell your vintage and antique stock.

Running a stall at a fair or market is great fun but sometimes it is hard to sell specailist items, or you need to reach a wider audience than your local customers.  There are other options for selling available, both through the Internet and also at specialist events.  Many traders who have a stall or a shop use other methods to sell their wares -often an item might not "fit" with other stock, but an online auction allows a sale at a good price.

Social media has opened up a world of possibilities.  Before Facebook, selling online involved having a website or using ebay or other auction sites.  I have noticed recently that more and more people are listing and displaying photos of items on their business Facebook page and doing a great trade.  This could be for vintage china and glass, craft and hand made items, second hand goods for the home or furniture and larger objects.  To be successful, you will need to build a following for your business Facebook account - however, there is plenty of information out there on how to do this.  The most important part of this process is to have a good, clear photo or photos of the item and to give a decent description.  If there are faults you should mention them - an unhappy customer will not be slow in making their feelings known on your page!  Some people build up some excitement by announcing a Sale or Auction of their items.  If you have a big following this can be a good way of getting people to focus on your page.  Others just list items as they come in, using a fairly simple template photo and short description to do the deed.  Don't forget to mention post and packing costs if you sell this way.  Even a small item can be costly to post and your profits will vanish if you have to cover this cost without charging for it.  If the item is very large, investigate using a courier service - these can work out cheaper.  If you do sell on Facebook, it seems to work best on a first-come first-served basis, but you will need to manage your page.  Be quick to acknowledge who makes the first offer by putting up a SOLD message with the name of the individual tagged, so there is no doubt who purchased it.  It is then up to you and the buyer to arrange for payment and ensure the item is sent promptly.  Paypal is a good method of receiving payment, but you might be also be willing to accept cash, cheque or postal order.

This rather informal method of selling has less protection for the buyer and seller than Ebay.  For example, if there is a dispute there is no mediating party to sort it out!  And if someone doesn't pay, you can't do much about it.  So, be a little cautious about selling via Facebook.

Ebay (www.ebay.co.uk) is the giant online auction service which allows you to sell pretty much anything you can imagine.  You will need to set up a personal account and agree to their terms and conditions.  As well as paying for each listing, you pay a % on every sale. Look out for free listing offers for specific categories or over weekends.  Listing is relatively simple as you are taken through the process stage by stage.  There are countless books and articles about how to sell well on ebay, so I won't go into massive detail here. It pays to be very clear in your description about the piece and to provide plenty of photos.  You should be meticulous about describing damage and flaws, otherwise your disappointed buyer is sure to give you poor feedback.  Feedback gives you credibility as a seller and buyer and if it is tarnished by a few complaints, might deter other people who were potential buyers.  You may want to start out with some small, low-value items and get familiar with the process. You have the option to set a starting price or reserve, to sell only to a domestic audience and to offer items for collection only.  Bear in mind the more conditions you add, the less bidders you will have.  A zero or low starting price auction tempts the treasure hunters and being willing to post or courier to home or abroad brings your pieces to a wider audience.  Again, do check costs and state these clearly from the start for any postage or delivery charges. 

It is worth spending time writing about your item - some ebay sellers are positively flowery, others terse to the point of almost non-existent information, which for a buyer can be frustrating. Find a happy medium and write upbeat, descriptive and factual selling copyy.  If you are selling something with any age, use the words "vintage antique old"  in the title - this picks up searches on each word.  Check your spelling! Poor spelling means your item may not be found by keen buyers who search only on correctly spelt wording. Remarkably, there are now specialist sites that search ebay for misspelt items on behalf of bidders.  These item can often be bought at bargain prices, due to lack of competition in the bidding process.  Look at how other, experienced sellers word their descriptions and use photos to best effect.  Many ebayers have shops and have nicely designed templates within which to sit their information, terms and conditions.  Do spend time on the terms and conditions of sale and returns.

Other sites that are popular for selling vintage/antique items abound.  Etsy is a great source of the quirky and unusual, with many vintage items listed.  Sellers can set up an Etsy shop with a picture of each item, price, description and postage.  Many Etsy sellers also post links to their Etsy sales page from Facebook -  a kind of social media double whammy. Writing good descriptions, photos and clear sales information including post and packing costs is important.

Another great service for selling antique and vintage items is The Hoarde (www.thehoarde.com).  Items on this site tend to be the more decorative antiques and vintage and there are plenty of different sellers on board to study.  There is a selection process, which is clearly explained and if you like using a computer, take good pictures and want to expand your audience, this could be a good option to follow up.

Another way of selling is to set up parties in people's homes, a bit like a Tupperware party!  You take your stock along, the host or hostess invites their friends and provides refreshments.  You have the chance to demonstrate and sell your stock in a mini-presentation.  This can be fun and sociable, but sales are never guaranteed.  Often the chit chat and gossip dominates the evening and the purpose of the party is somewhat lost.  Or people are not that interested in your items and have just turned up to support their friend. A more fruitful opportunity for generating business are the invitation-only private house parties, often held for charity, where a few selected traders are selected to sell.  These can be very profitable if the visitors are the yummy mummies and  well heeled ladies that lunch who like a bit of private shopping with an exclusive edge.  An extension of this are the charity gift fairs that abound in the autumn - many have stringent selection processes and are difficult to get into.  It is arguable whether antique and vintage items are popular at these fairs - not everyone wants to buy used items for gifts.  However, many charities attract a strong and loyal following of affluent supporters, who will spend generously at such events.

If you fancy being really ambitious, and specialise in an area such as dog or horse collectables or gardenalia, you could take a stand at the shopping villages of major dog, horse, country or garden shows.  The investment in these can be substantial and you will need masses of stock, as they are often several days long.  I have seen dog antique stands at Crufts, packed with china, glass, brass, silver dogs and dog-related ephemera.  Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows often have stands with a range of vintage garden tools, furniture and statuary - often with big price tickets!  If you have a theme or passion for a niche area you will find other enthusiasts at such events.  If you like automobilia, then a stand at Goodwood Revival could be the perfect outlet for your vintage oil cans, road maps and picnic sets.  The same theory could apply for sporting events with vintage equipment and ephemera available at golf tournaments, tennis matches, cricket games etc.  There are also many auction houses who hold specialist sales once or twice a year and if you do find something unusual, consignment to a specialist sale could bring you a great price.

Developing your business takes a bit of thinking and effort, but it can yield great results.  You may find less competition for business and a more knowledgeable and enthusiastic audience by investigating specialised and niche events and selling opportunities.  Be bold and try something different!