factory boy
Tat Addict
Posts:552
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| 12 Apr 2019 08:04 AM |
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Looking at the number of antique/collectors fairs there are still being organised in a shrinking market makes you wonder what the future will hold? Which events will survive and which will go? I am becoming more and more selective as a dealer and a buyer. Both buying and selling is becoming more difficult. Not enough new material is coming to market, fewer young people are taking up collecting as a hobby, many collectors only want to buy top end items. Added to this is the threat from online selling which is definitely having a massive effect on fairs and shows. I used to stall out at 50+ shows per year, now I do around 10 - only those with big footfalls. I never thought I would ever see the day when I hear fellow collectors' say... 'I went to ? and didn't buy one single thing!'
What are your views on the future of fairs & shows?
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trixon telstar
Guru Tat
Posts:1517
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| 12 Apr 2019 09:47 AM |
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Hi Brian . You've answered your own question really. For the reasons you've underlined I think most of these fairs are doomed . Add to that the fact that some organisers got greedy and added extra fairs , then what you get is overkill. The "glory" days have gone that's for sure. |
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Lummox
The Tatfather
Posts:5223
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| 12 Apr 2019 11:46 AM |
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As you get older, more and more fairs get worse and worse ! I go to Kempton every month I do obviously find the odd thing BUT it is becoming more and more like a POOR Car boot. I actually as time goes on, enjoy meeting my collecting friends , having a cup of tea and talking about all things nothing in particular, more important than selling things or finding the odd treasure !!
I reckon fairs have 15 to 20 years max left, which will see me out. As you say there are very few collectors under 50 years old , not just the young ones !!
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Arkwrights
Mad Keen Collector
Posts:234
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| 12 Apr 2019 11:49 AM |
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All the more reason to support and spread the word about the collectors fair in York on 9 June.
Organised by Andy and Jez who are keen to keep the hobby alive and not profit. We want to increase footfall so please spread the word.
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Alan Blakeman
Guru Tat
Posts:1595
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| 12 Apr 2019 01:48 PM |
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As I approach 200 BBR Fairs total as an organiser I'm wholly aware of all the headaches & pitfalls Brian states... it gets no easier.
Given the stallholder support @ Elsecars' 4 big quarterly events my remit remains to advertise, advertise, advertise - £800 in Antiques Trade Gazette alone, & local newspapers are three figures for postage size box ads... plus the specialist magazines here & overseas! If customers don't throng then the stallholders will not attend/ stand & after the initial rush you can hear a pin drop in empty halls in some places.
Definitely getting harder as costs rocket. As Arkwright says - use or lose.... but that's been shouted for a while, and it doesn't alter folks lack of enthusiasm to get up early & see the same old stock fair after fair each year.
Newark & Donington rose & fell - now replaced by a currently burgeoning Peterboro' - cheapest stall £110. Cheapest stall @ BBR's SummerNational is £48 6ft, outside £52 (15ft x 15ft) those for both days, Sunday 'Car Boot' £15. On top of that one must add fuel, possibly accommodation, standing one or two days.... before you move into profit.
We've been forced, reluctantly, down the online absentee path which cuts out huge costs/ time/ staff, but does away with the camaraderie & social aspect which has been so much at the centre of BBR's 40 yrs of events.
The internet isn't going away, but as prices of post & packing increase it might see a reversal in trends.... at least there's free camping for the SummerNational in July - heed Arkwrights words - use or lose!! |
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factory boy
Tat Addict
Posts:552
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| 13 Apr 2019 08:56 AM |
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...A fair and honest appraisal from an event management perspective.
Advertising is always key to any event. All those hidden costs mount up for organiser's. I have questioned some major event organisers about price hikes to stallholders and told that the land/facility owner had increased their hiring fees for the site despite stallholder numbers having fallen! This cost was passed on to stallholders and even fewer pitches were booked making it a downward spiral.
Peterborough is advertised superbly, no doubt at great cost, but it does draw the crowds when the weather is good. Many thousands on each of the two days and the parking is excellent. Fifty five pounds per pitch per day seems reasonable.
The drive-on fleamarkets at Shepton and Malvern are 45 per van, 35 per car on the day (no booking) and attract a lot of casual sellers which make them good for buying. Again when the weather is good in spring and summer the footfall is massive.
There is also an amazing one day Sunday autojumble held at Newark Showground organised by Mortons (of magazine fame). Its only 25 to stall out and the place is buzzing - people seem to sell anything there! The footfall is massive. How do they do it for 25 quid a pitch though???
One of the big questions is how do we get more people, especially younger folks, interested in bottles, tins, signs and alternative antiques again?
Has the bottle digging scene finished? Why has this happened? I don't understand because I've never been a bottle digger.
Television might help by providing some interesting and meaningful collecting/interior design programmes instead of the awful 'contrived' fodder they churn out on a daily basis which probably puts people off buying antiques. Do they really expect us to sell our stock for half the ticket price? The're having a laugh.
Food for thought?
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langcat
Tat Addict
Posts:676
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| 13 Apr 2019 09:08 AM |
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I agree 100%, but there is one exception:
The fair in Egmond aan Zee. One's every year. Free entry for stallholders and free entry for visitors.
So come next year  |
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factory boy
Tat Addict
Posts:552
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| 13 Apr 2019 09:15 AM |
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Thanks for the offer. Sounds fantastic Langcat, only need buy the diesel then. Is there anywhere to park my van? Lol
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batleycarr1
Tat Addict
Posts:987
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| 13 Apr 2019 11:47 AM |
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As a (much) older advertising collector, these days I find the huge outdoor fairs are getting too much for me.
Ideal for me is BBR, which has plenty of stalls with my type of collectables in a very pleasant hall, complete with clean toilets and a reasonably priced café. It is not too large (one of the benefits of specialist fairs) has easy free parking and plenty of places for me to sit and chat with fellow collectors.
Long may it thrive!
The first York Advertising Olympia was also ideal, having free parking, loads of stalls packed full of great stuff in a nice hall next to a very pleasant café - an event well worth supporting! |
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langcat
Tat Addict
Posts:676
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Lummox
The Tatfather
Posts:5223
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| 13 Apr 2019 02:09 PM |
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I have to disagree a little bit about one thing...........The difference between specialist fairs (ie) BBR, Bottle shows, The old Donningtong advertising fairs and General fairs like Peterboro, Newark , Ardingley etc . Its a FACT that Generally The Public and General dealers don't attend Specialist fairs. You can advertise all you like but they just don't attend.
Us ( the collectors ) know when BBR is on, know the two Alton dates, The ABC shows, The Stanley Bottle show etc. etc and go if we can make it.
The Surrey show for example about 8 years ago had the grand total of 3 ' public entry ' tickets sold and the following year 5 , there was no one in the hall who was'nt a " face " be they big time or small . At both these fairs we had the following, usual ads BBR and ABC, FULL PAGE editorial in the local paper ( All the SURREY MIRROR editions massive coverage ! ) , plus adverts in papers, local posters + a spot on local radio.
When our " plant " at the local paper retired two years later we lost the editorial, and the special rates for ads, at a heated committee meeting it was decided NOT to waste time trying to encourage public entry. The following year we got 7 public entries so point proved.
Most of " our " fairs rely on a hard core of collectors which is unfortunately dwindling. I have always been enthusiastic about the hobby and continue to be so but facts are facts as collectors get older and fade away so will the fairs. |
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batleycarr1
Tat Addict
Posts:987
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| 13 Apr 2019 06:22 PM |
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Great fairs of the past I enjoyed, were Hemel Hempstead and the Birmingham Rag market, Ally Pally was good and so was Camden market - but of course we were young collectors then! |
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banjo boy
The Tatfather
Posts:6121
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| 13 Apr 2019 11:50 PM |
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Loved the Birmingham rag market Rich,,every Monday..Craven A finger plate £7 in mint condition,,Nectar teas £3.50 each, loads of them for sale.. |
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fleece77
Guru Tat
Posts:2120
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| 14 Apr 2019 12:10 AM |
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We call them swapmeets Downunder, for the last couple of years I have only been doing the one swapmeet, which is in Gawler, the largest in South Australia. I used to go to at least 10-15 a year, but as the internet grabs more of a hold, less and less stuff is even seen at these events. This year I started giving it another go, the first two I have gone to have reminded me why I have been sleeping in on my Sundays off. I have not seen one thing worth buying, back to bed !!
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factory boy
Tat Addict
Posts:552
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| 14 Apr 2019 08:11 AM |
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Agreed regarding the big Brum... a great fair in its day. I had a nice regular pitch there for a while, always took good money. Aylesbury and Dunstable were both good bottle shows in their day, as was Norwich. Donington was the show everyone loved and is still sadly missed. The Anthony Porter flea's at Leeds Queens Hall were cracking fairs. Granby Halls in Leicester was also a good show. Newark & Swinderby (Now Lincoln) were great for years but not so hot now. Anyone remember the Knebworth shows organised by Mike Smith?
Well done to all the clubs that still organise annual shows and long may they do so.
We have to remain thankful to BBR for maintaining the Elsecar shows which still provide the main focus of the hobby within the UK.
Good luck to Jez and Andy with the new York gathering.
Keep the Faith.
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