Car Boot Sales

[horseshoes]

Good morning all. I'm new to selling at car boot fairs and was wondering what should I be looking at selling. I'm interested more in the collectors market especially china etc. The fair I'll be selling at is a permanent indoor stand - more like a market really, but it's called a car boot fair. Any hints and tips.

[NoMercy]

To be honest, food outsells everything in indoor and outdoor markets. You could look at selling freshly made cakes, chocolates, biscuits, etc. For non-chocolate items, there's no VAT so that makes things less complicated. There are dozens of suppliers in the Halesowen area and they often do a lot of clearance lines on which you can make a healthy and speedy profit.

[horseshoes]

Thanks fo that NoM. I'll have to dust off my baking tins!

[theparrots]

try repro pottery and furniture most who visit car boots are looking for that certain something that could be worth a fortune and with the repro stuff these days that comes out of china you cant tell the difference.

[mrs_overall]

I agree with NM
We had a glut of fruit & tomatoes this year so I made loads of jams and chutneys. They sold straightaway.

[NoMercy]

Horseshoes, there is a large bakery in Stourport or Stourbridge which supplies to all the wholesalers, small retailers and carbooters in the Midlands. They sell all manner of favourites to retail between, say, £1.20 and £3 per item. They used to supply me when I had my own business but I cannot for the life of me remember what they were called.

Some of the food retailers in the Midlands sell biscuits such as custard creams, bourbons and nice to retail at, say, 4 or 5 for a pound. These are the lines that are outselling everything, as they are so expensive to buy from independant retailers and supermarkets, and they are the sort of things people have on their shopping list every week.

If you want to make your own cakes, that will be costly and lengthy. Making your own cookies/biscuits could prove more cost effective.

[horseshoes]

NoM, there's already someone selling those sorts of biscuits etc. It's wouldn't have thought it was big enough for 2 people to be doing it, but I'll certainly look into it. Apple sauce sounds easy enough; I'll save my jam jars from now on. Thanks all, for your suggestions.

[NoMercy]

I'm not surprised there's already someone selling them, as they are great profit lines. You would turn over such a large amount. You could always locate some suppliers and ask them to email you their price lists. What customers love is a good variety, so try to outsmart your competitors that way.

[horseshoes]

I'll certainly look for a supplier then in that case.

[NoMercy]

There was a supplier called Lewis's in the midlands somewhere and they used to have fantastic lines. I'm sure they're still trading.

[mrs_overall]

Another money spinner (if you have a garden) is to take cuttings from plants & when they've rooted, pot them up and sell them

[rowanwitch]

Always did well with books...especially crime fiction and hobby related ones...often bought cheap from other booters and priced up a bit for small profit...costume jewellery and hair accessories went well too especially if you can get the latest kiddy trend but don't over- buy though they fade fast and you could end up with a lot of stuff you cant sell...Barbie and Hello kitty are pretty safe at the moment though

[rowanwitch]

Have to say apart from buying books which I'd read before putting back out I didn't buy -in...too risky but knew what sold well as it was things i always had loads of
Agree the tax man is rather fond of regular booters....but you can sell things you have owned and used yourself ...as soon as you start buy-ins you are a market trader not a car booter