Car boot sale or market tips?

terriermama

I've been thinking of doing a car boot sale or renting a market stall to sell off quality used/unused fashion items, tons of old LPs and bits. I've never done this before, anyone with any tips with best place to sell in London, hints for day, selling techniques (I'm not a good salesperson)?

Fran

The only real tip I've got for a car boot sale is beware of the vultures. The first one I did I couldn't get the stuff out of the car as a crowd had swooped in and were picking things up as I unloaded. (Probably nicking things too.) Regular car booters will know that you are new and be there like a shot.) So you need to get there early enough to unload without this happening & have someone else to keep an eye on things is not a bad idea.

idiot_3

right, you will need a sheepskin full length coat, a fist full of sovs, and wet look gel in your hair. interspace any usual conversation with spurious rhyming slang, and be very sexist to any women in a 20 metre radius.

seriously though, if you have good stuff at reasonable prices, the garments/items will virtually sell themselves. people go to markets and car boots to buy.

i would have thought the initial costs for you (ie, to have a stall/pitch) would be cheaper at a car boot than at a market, and you would prob do better as well, rather than competing against established sellers, with regular customers, who are at a market week in week out.

hint for the day would be to get there early - the early bird catches the worm and all that. also be prepared to haggle with and give some ground on your prices with prospective punters.

also do not look around - you are there to sell, not to buy a load of stuff to replace what you are selling. granted, you may pick up a bargain, but as you have posted in debt free, i guess you are selling to generate some $$$$$ to pay off what you are strggling to. buying more will defeat the object of what you are doing.

as for the best place in london, i have no idea, being from birmingham!

good luck! :beer: :beer:

terriermama

OK, I am terrified. The market stall may be a better idea then, though more expensive. I def. am not buying anything. I am hoping of roping my sister and her bf to help me. Plus my yorkie for protection.

Fran

Don't be terrified, it's good fun.

fuzzgun19

If you do the markets, I think you will have to register as a small business.
My husband did the markets a few years back and it was a hassle with all the costs(vat, paying about £20 to do each market, fuel etc) and having to do accounts.
I think the markets are dieing out and unless you can get cheap stuff and sell alot of it it's not worth it.

If i were you I'd do some car boots. Choose a popular one and a sunny day. In my experience if your prices are too high they wont sell so be prepared to be flexible and do a bit of bartering.
Good Luck!

honey

Fran's right - it's great fun

I think I'm quite a poor salesperson too but once you've sold your first few items you'll be fine (and richer!)

Only tips I can think of are take some carrier bags to give out if you can and also take a pot of change (I forgot both first time and my first customer wanted a bag and change from £10!!!)

terriermama

Hi Fuzzgun19,

I only want to do a one-off to sell some stuff to pay toward debt not buy more stuff to sell-on, and also to clear space at home. Do you have a register as a business at ALL markets?

fuzzgun19

Hi, I would assume so. All the market traders my husband worked around were all doing accounts etc and were a 'business'. We had to pay a yearly fee aswell to enable us to do the market.

If you dont have that much to sell, I would do car boots. It's cash in hand and then you can use the money for whatever you want.

terriermama

Thx All, I'm taking notes....so where are the best car boot sales to sell at in/around London?

barbie_babe

not sure were carboots are in london as i am in cornwall but price your bits up 50p a pounds more than you want most people will try and bring your price down.this way you will get what you want for your bits.