Lincoln and Newark fairs

my brother in law & his wife went today,they got to the gate,saw it would cost £50 to get in and left in a huff

I'm going tomorrow for a fiver

£25.00 each

I love Peterborough but always get lots of wonderful pottery from Wetherby

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/wetherby.htm

Considering giving Newark a go next month... will be the first time I've stood locally for.. nearly 5 years.

Weighing the cheapness of the cold and stinky cowsheds against the comfort of one of the halls.

the sheds have the more interesting pottery and glass imo

I think my problem with the cowsheds is that I'm not sure they inspire people to hand over a few hundred for a nice piece of glass. I always expect the cheap-to-midrange stuff to be bunged in there.

That said, I shifted a couple of bowls for nearly £900 in the P'boro fair sheds.

no they don't that's your job

we tend to buy lots in the sheds but the halls are left til last as we hardly ever buy there

I'm not really aiming at trade or at the folk after a bargain, which I think is the main customer of the sheds - I've researched my stock quite thoroughly and know exactly its market value.

My wallet would be happy for me to be wrong, though, as the difference in price between the sheds and halls is quite marked. I do have the advantage, usually, of having stuff that no one else has - but by factories that most interested people will have heard of (I've yet to see genuine Venini outside of specialist glass fairs). So it might not matter so much where I'm positioned in the fair - compared to, say, someone flogging Clarice Cliffe, Moorecroft or Whitefriars, which will be spread all over the fair in varying amounts and for varying prices.

But I will be glad to fork out the difference at P'boro's fair later in the year. I got stuck near far too many "Everything £1/£5" stalls for comfort in their sheds!

I believe the majority of people attending these fairs are after a bargain , in our hotel last time there were groups over from the states with the sole intent of attending these fairs , everybody loves a bargain , I think a mixture of ceramics and glass stands a far better chance of profit making than specializing on one or the other , price range also helps , all high is a passer by , bread and butter stuff is a good leader in that can hit bingo on other pricier items. the number of dealers who quote Ebay in their sell is increasing ( why don't they use it then ?) , fact is there are good times to sell on T'Net and not so good times , it's knowing when .

I try to have a range - probably 25% of my stall is well under £100, and 50% under £250 - but most of the time people only want the £1k pieces for pennies.

Usual scenario is...

"How much is that obviously pricey vase?"
"£1k"
"How much?!? I was hoping it would be around £50"
"Well it's a large, complex and unique piece by a very good artist. However, I do have a lot of other items to suit all types of budgets"
"No thanks, I was only interested in the obviously pricey vase."

Repeat this about 20-30 times, and you've my average day at a fair. I do wonder if standing in the more 'exclusive' areas of the larger fairs might give folk more realistic expectations of price.

The most I have ever spent on a piece is £550 and that was after three days deliberating if I really wanted it , I couldn't see myself parting with that sort of cash otherwise , I doubt there are that many people who attend the fairs thinking- I hope I can find a unique piece of murano around a grand , Nic , are your prices displayed in front or under the works ?

I don't price my stock - gives me a chance to talk it up to the people with the taste/money, but perhaps not the intial bravery to buy, before they flee at the initial fright.

It's worked well for quite a few pricey items in the past. They get to fall in love with the piece before the reality of finances crashes in.

Also, with seasoned Murano glass collectors £1-2k is small change.

Ah I See , different tactic , ask the price , then give them a chair to sit down

Nic wrote:Also, with seasoned Murano glass collectors £1-2k is small change.

Really , so you must be a very rich bunny then

I wish!

I'm still clawing my way up the Murano ladder. I've only a couple of pieces at the £1-1.5k mark.

I am sure you will make it , you have plenty time on your side as long as it's not too big a ladder.

Well I've only been at it a year - it's been a culture shock moving away from buying £30-50 Danish items, I can tell you!

Right, the somewhat cheaper (but still nice) George Stephenson Pavillion, where I wanted to stand, is full, so I decided to bite the bullet and have booked a double at the Cedric Ford Pavillion (the one that looks like a ski lodge) with all the top-notch stalls.

If I'm going to lose money, I'd may as well lose it in comfort!

Should I expect to see you lot at the end of the day, already loaded up with carriers?

no we usually take all our bargains back to the car,have some lunch and then look around that bit for the last 10 minutes...if we can be bothered

*pft*

You'd only lower the tone anyway.

message for Ed

I'm not going,would you lower the tone for me please?

Yes no problem, tone lowering a speciallity.

Nic wrote:Right, the somewhat cheaper (but still nice) George Stephenson Pavillion, where I wanted to stand, is full, so I decided to bite the bullet and have booked a double at the Cedric Ford Pavillion (the one that looks like a ski lodge) with all the top-notch stalls.

If I'm going to lose money, I'd may as well lose it in comfort!

Should I expect to see you lot at the end of the day, already loaded up with carriers?

We are going to the newark but only on the first day , so will say hola , very expensive pavillion , I suppose somebody has to pay for the carpets and chandelliers