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For UK VFGuilders only ... your thoughts about good starting places for newbies

Discussion in 'PUBLIC Vintage Fashion - Ask Questions Get Answers' started by Impey, Dec 14, 2020.

  1. Impey

    Impey Registered Guest

    Dear all

    I'm not quite sure whether this find of question is allowed, so feel free to delete my thread if its inappropriate. I'm a recent entry to the world of vintage fashion, and very much dabbling in the shallow end, with the odd exception (e.g. St Michael, rather than Dior)

    Circumstances as they are, I've mostly been selling online, but I have had a couple of 'live' experiences, one in an ordinary, if 'boho' market, one at a more specialised vintage fair. I have to say the latter was considerably more fun, not least because of the opportunity to chat with people who knew an awful lot more than me about vintage clothes.

    All of which was a very long way of asking does anyone have any advice as to the best / most gentle places to start out as a relative newbie? Are there markets people have experience of that they think are particularly welcoming / diverse enough to encompass someone whose developing their portfolio?

    Finally, just to say how enormously supportive and helpful I've found this forum. I'm not sure if there are ever 'live' get together, but if so I'd love to come along and thank you all in person.

    All the best,

    Impey
     
    Impey, Dec 14, 2020
    #1
    Vintagiality and Retro Ruth like this.
  2. Retro Ruth

    Retro Ruth VFG Member Staff Member

    Where are you based impey? I used to do quite small affairs in London pubs, but I can't quite remember how I first found them. I was also a bit intimidated by the grand vintage fairs (much more st Michael than Dior myself)

    Some carboots are surprisingly sophisticated in terms of vintage offerings. I've never done one, but I think it's an easy way to get used to the practicalities of selling live. Plus outdoors is good these days
     
    Retro Ruth, Dec 14, 2020
    #2
  3. Impey

    Impey Registered Guest

    Thanks for the rapid response - I’m in Guildford, so I have a fair radius I could conceivably go in, basically from south london out to the south east / south central coast...
     
    Impey, Dec 14, 2020
    #3
  4. Retro Ruth

    Retro Ruth VFG Member Staff Member

    I'm not going to be much help, as it's a long time since I've done vintage fairs and most of the little ones I used to do don't run anymore. Also I was North London based. I'm now in Brighton, but I've never sold face-to-face down here.

    I have sold at Pop Up Vintage Fairs London, which I enjoyed and still exists, but as they were indoors generally, so probably not doing much at the moment.

    If possible I would visit fairs and markets as a punter before selling, to get feel and maybe chat to other stall holders.

    Once you start selling, you will get to know other sellers, and may find out about fairs and markets from them. That's certainly how it went for me. There's always quiet moments when you start chatting to your neighbours. It's a small world, and generally a friendly one.

    There's a certain amount of trial and error in the process of finding outlets that work for you, I think.
     
    Retro Ruth, Dec 15, 2020
    #4

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