PLEASE LET THE SUN SHINE 


Well the final push today to be prepare for the big event that is Newark Antiques Fair this Thursday and Friday at the showground... and boy what a lot of work goes into it indeed.  All the punters turn up with two fabulous days of shopping and bargain hunting...but while thinking of those bargains that you are going to bag save a little thought for us the hunters and finders and the effort it takes to get all these pieces in one place... not saying we don't love a good barter and also not one to moan but when you are offering less than half of the asking price please don't be disappointed when your offer is not taken with open arms....here is why. 

Now firstly the best part of the job for me is the hunting for the pieces and we go far and wide and spend many hours ratching in old buildings, auction houses...not going to give away all of our sources but this is the time consuming part of our job.  The next step is to clean up the finds...some need minimal work some need a good few days of sanding, polishing and re-upholstering.  Then the costs of the exercise, petrol, materials and of course time as we do need to take a daily wage just like any other job.  The final piece of the puzzle is selling the pieces and be it either in the shop with overheads, at fairs with the cost of travel too the event...pitch cost and hotels if you are away for home...saying that hotels are a luxury to us and we just tend to get our heads down in the van.  The van has to be carefully packed to ensure no damage to any of the pieces...and what a jigsaw this can be all to be unpacked at the over end and displayed so that the pieces on our stall stands out from the rest ...with over 2000 stalls there is a lot of competition, followed by 12 hours of selling, can be just one day or two then the reverse of this sequence....phew all in a weeks work for the vintage dealer.  Sounds manic hey...but we LOVE it and there is nothing better than having a happy customer walking off with a piece of history that has had the love breathed right back into it by us.

So have a little thought for us dealers when you are at the next antiques fair... be nice to us and have a cheeky barter... stike up a good relationship as we are the people who can find you those sought after pieces you so long to have..and as I say customer satisfaction is the one of the biggest kicks we get.

SEE YOU ALL AT NEWARK. 
SISTA SOCIETY XX