Monday 13 July 2009

My flawed selling strategy

Big excitement in the village on Saturday, not one event but two. You need to know that in a little place that has no shop, pub, cafe or even a public toilet, any event is something special and to have two on the same day had the whole place jumping. In the morning there was a car boot/table sale in the village hall and in the afternoon jumble, cream teas and an auction in the church hall.
Pam had taken a table at the morning session and asked me if I'd like to keep her company. By the time I got down there the place was heaving, plenty of stalls and possible punters milling around. Immediately my strategy failed because Pam's biggest customer was me, her sales assistant. It must be something about sitting behind the counter contemplating the merchandise because I bought, and I won't bore you with pictures of everything -A tea and coffee canister set above
A stretchy bracelet also above
Another bracelet with tiny pearls and amethysts
A pretty red and black devore wrap
A pair of red sheepskin slippers
A file for taking the hard skin off your feet, one of my favourite pastimes, one of Mr FF's least favourite of my activities
A colourful fish dish
From another stall I bought a Winnie the Pooh mobile that plays a tune, for an expected baby not for myself, and from the church auction a couple of paperbacks. My total spend was £13. Mr FF dropped me at the hall in the morning and went off to buy some building materials, as soon as he saw what I had purchased he said 'this means we will be taking the car to Italy'. We are currently toying with the idea of driving to Lazio in August and taking various items for the house, it seems my suggestion that some, well actually all, of my purchases would be ideal to keep in our holiday house has settled the matter.
The auction was still going full strength when we left, anything that wasn't sold was being put into the next lot so someone wanting the set of Wedgewood plates found they also got a large chest of drawers. Just as well we didn't linger, I needed to come home to rethink my business model and there is a limit to what we need in Italy.

14 comments:

  1. Your post me chuckle. You can never have too many pretty plates and bits of jewellery, especially if they are a bargain! I love rummaging!

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  2. How funny!! You did bag some gorgeous gear though. Reading back through your blog, I bet it was the gardening that you posted about before your frozen shoulder that coaused you the problem (look at me - Dr Di!!) The doctor asked me if I had been gardening, decorating or knitting!! I think I'll take up a less dangerous past time like rally driving or something!!!

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  3. hi Jenny, thanks for your comment on my blog , just found yours, great! noelle x

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  4. i know what you mean about the kind of excitement that builds when there isnt any normally. it's the topic on everyone's lips!

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  5. Well done on the great finds. I bet your friend was well impressed - she'll be asking you to help out with every car boot sale from now on!

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  6. Such fun finds, Jenny--love the tea/coffee canisters! But such a funny post...has me laughing. And your town sounds much like our--just not that much happening--LOL! We have to go further afield for fun...Happy Days, my friend ((HUGS))

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  7. I would not have been able to resist such treasures either, Jenny! Baby mobiles are so expensive here so even that one purchase was worth the price.

    How exciting to be planning what to bring to your summer home in Italy! My husband would love to live a few months in Italy each year but it is too a big commitment for us right now...maybe soemday!

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  8. Hello
    I'm new here and think your blog is just lovely. The photos taken in Yorkshire are so pretty, looking at the houses, were you in the York area somewhere?? The glass in your other post is gorgeous too, I still have the glass bowl my Grandma used to fill with Woolworths pix and mix, way back when. This post made me giggle as it is just what I would have done too :)although your buys are great, so why not.
    Twiggy x

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  9. Sounds like you managed to buy yourself several bargains there. Hope that you can get them all to Italy in one piece.

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  10. Your hard skin comments have made me laugh! But then if you spend a life in flip flops your feet need to look cute!

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  11. I can see you're a lover of a bargain! Some great purchases, just right for your house in Italy, you must have been on a high that day, buying so many things, but not spending too much money!
    Love Vanessa xxx (do you mind if i knit)

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  12. That's so typical, isn't it? The last time I had a table at a car boot sale I made £20, which I immediately spent right there and then... You managed to buy some nice things, though. Love the bracelet!

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  13. You bagged some excellent items there. I would have done exactly the same,can't resist getting a few bargains. Enjoy!

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  14. I'll have some heat, I am freezing here. I'll have that cute fish plate too... :)

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