All the fun of the fair!
Alice Roberton talks to Clare Powell, co-organiser of The Vintage Bazaar Events…
Clare Powell has been running events in Frome, Somerset and Devizes, Wiltshire, since 2010 and, like many event organisers – especially those hosting indoor fairs – she had to adapt when the pandemic hit. Faced with the issue of not being able to run safe events during Covid’s height, she quickly turned her hand to running a virtual edit of the hugely popular Bazaar. With the halt of ‘actual’ events threatening the livelihoods of dealers, and a loyal customer base left with fewer opportunities to buy, The ‘Virtual’ Vintage Bazaar was a huge success: ‘Even with our physical events now back up and running, it’s still going strong. And, to our delight, it turns out that to run the two side by side serves everyone very well,’ says Clare.
What was the purpose of the virtual event? The Virtual Vintage Bazaar came about due to the cancellation of real- life fairs. For a number of our dealers, this was an opportunity to come together virtually under the VB banner and continue to sell. Our buyers were missing the events, too, so it enabled them to keep buying and feel a small sense of normality. The Virtual Vintage Bazaar has enabled buyers from all over the world to access our events which, in turn, has opened up a whole new market to the dealers.
How does it work? The dealers are introduced on The Vintage Bazaar Insta feed with a link to their account. Buyers follow each link to peruse the wonderful things for sale, and buy directly from the dealer. Goods are then posted from the seller to the buyer. Dealers are on hand to answer questions throughout the day. There are also links to our dealers on the day, via a dedicated website.
Can virtual events capture the atmosphere of actual events? The online events have been really popular, however nothing can quite replace the feeling of treasure hunting at a real Vintage Bazaar. That said, many of our long-time dealers and customers have cemented friendships whilst doing business online, and are so delighted when they finally meet each other in Frome and Devizes. Our Bazaars, both online and face to face, are a joyful blend of shopping and socialising.
Do you have any advice for first-time Virtual Bazaar shoppers? It’s actually easier than you think to shop at an Insta fair! My advice would be to check you are following all the dealers involved and turn on notifications for them. Make sure you’re following the hashtag #virtualvintagebazaar so you don’t miss anything. The great thing is that you can shop on the move or from the comfort of your favourite armchair.
What events do you have coming up?
The Virtual Vintage Bazaar will take place on Saturday 27th August, 24th September, 19th November and 10th December. We are also delighted to say that we will be holding The Vintage Bazaar at The Cheese and Grain in Frome on 22nd October. Turn to page 125 for more details on how to shop @thevintagebazaarevents
11th Antiques in the Park,
Trinity Park, Ipswich, Suffolk,
IP3 8UH. ablackdogevent.com
23rd–24th Peterborough Festival of Antiques, The East of England Showground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE2 6HE.
01636 702326; iacf.co.uk
24th–25th Long Melford Antique and Vintage Fair, The Old School, Long Melford, Suffolk, CO10 9DX. 07837 497617; melfordantiquesfair.co.uk
South
3rd Vintage & Very Nice Market Bazaar, The Assembly Rooms, North Street, Chichester, PO19 1LQ. vintageandverynice.co.uk
3rd Wanstead Vintage, Wanstead United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane (off Wanstead High Street), E11 2HD. wansteadvintage.com
3rd Whitstable Brocante, The Umbrella Centre, Oxford Street, Whitstable, CT5 1DD. 07903 286144
4th Clerkenwell Vintage Fashion Fair, Freemasons Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ. clerkenwellvintagefashionfair.co.uk
4th Alexandra Palace Antiques & Collectors Fair, Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY. 01636 702326; iacf.co.uk
4th Wimbledon Homes & Antiques Fair, Prince George’s Playing Fields, London, SW20 8TE. 07895 262799; @wimbledonhomesandantiques
4th Peckham Salvage Yard, Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, SE15 3SN. hackneyfleamarket.com
4th Antiques, Vintage & Collectables Fair, Village Hall, East Street, Corfe Castle, Dorset, BH20 5EE. 07790 126967; cameofairs.co.uk
6th–7th Ardingly International Antiques & Collectors Fair, South of England Showground, Ardingly, Nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH17 6TL. 01636 702326; iacf.co.uk
10th–11th Detling Antiques, Vintage and Collectors Fair, Kent County Showground, Detling, nr Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3JF. 01636 676531; b2bevents.info
11th Adams Antiques Fair, Lindley Hall, The Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, London, SW1P 2PE. 020 7254 4054; adamsantiquesfairs.com
13th & 27th Sunbury Antiques
Market, Kempton Park Racecourse, Staines Road East, Sunbury- on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5AQ. 01932 230946; sunburyantiques.com
17th Hackney Flea Market, Abney Hall, 73a Church Street, Hackney, London, N16 0AS. hackneyfleamarket.com
18th Antiques & Brocante Street Market, High Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 3AA. acvrevents.co.uk
18th Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London, SW3 5EE. 020 7503 9171; frockmevintagefashion.com
20th Epsom Racecourse Antiques & Collectables Fair, Epsom Racecourse, Epsom Downs, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5LQ. 01584 873634; continuityfairs.co.uk
24th Vintage Market at the Mansion, The Mansion, Beckenham Place Park, London, BR3 1SY. solastcenturyfair.co.uk
24th The Vintage Home Show North London, St Marys, Elsworthy Road, Primrose Hill, London, NW3 3DJ. 07880 910361; vintagehomeshow.co.uk
25th Lingfield Antiques, Collectables and Vintage Fair, Lingfield Park Resort Racecourse, Racecourse Road, Lingfield, Surrey, RH7 6PQ. 01293 690777; lovefairs.com
25th Antiques & Brocante Street Market, Broad Street, Alresford, nr Winchester, SO24 9DA. acvrevents.co.uk
25th Dorking Halls Antiques Fair, Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SG. 07952 689717; dovehousefineantiquesfairs.com
28th Wembley Park Antiques Market, Canada Lane, First Way, Wembley, London, HA9 0SJ. 01905 26100; wembleyantiquesmarket.co.uk
West & Wales
3rd Llandeilo Antiques Vintage Fair, Crescent Road, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, SA19 6HN.
01267 220260; derwenantiques.co.uk
3rd–4th The International Antique Home & Vintage Fair of Wales, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, LD2 3NJ. 01584 873634; continuityfairs.co.uk
4th Bibury Antiques Fair, The Village Hall, Church Road, Bibury, Gloucestershire, GL7 5NR. biburyantiquesfair.com
4th The Frome Independent, Frome town centre, Somerset, BA11 1DS. thefromeindependent.org.uk
11th Lostwithiel Antique & Collectors Fair, Lostwithiel Community Centre, Pleyber Christ Way, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0HE. 01208 368182; antiquefairscornwall.co.uk
16th–18th Shepton Mallet Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair, Royal Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN.
01636 702326; iacf.co.uk
18th Salvage Fair, Broad Street, South Molton, South Molton, Devon, EX36 3AB. salvagefairs.com
24th–25th Enys House Antiques Fair, Enys Gardens, St Gluvias, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9LB. ludgatehouseantiques.com
25th Bath Vintage & Antiques Market, Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath, BA1 1JB. 07711 900095; vintageandantiques.co.uk
SEPTEMBER AUCTIONS
1st Five Centuries: Furniture, Paintings & Works of Art, Lyon & Turnbull, 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3RR. 0131 557 8844; lyonandturnbull.com
6th Antiques & Collectables, Special Auction Services, Plenty Close, off Hambridge Road, Newbury, RG14 5RL. 01635 580595; specialauctionservices.com
6th & 20th Homes & Interiors Auction, Anderson & Garland, Anderson House, Crispin Court, Newbiggin Lane, Westerhope, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE5 1BF. 0191 430 3000; andersonandgarland.com
7th–8th Fine Furniture, Sculpture, Carpets, Ceramics and Works of Art, Dreweatts, Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE. 01635 553553; dreweatts.com
9th The Friday 500, Bellmans, Newpound, Wisborough Green, West Sussex, RH14 0AZ.
01403 700858; bellmans.co.uk
13th English & European Ceramics & Glass, Woolley & Wallis, 51– 61 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SU. 01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk
13th–14th Fine Interiors – Two Day Sale, Sworders, Cambridge Road, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE. 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk
14th Fine Art & Antique Auction, Trevanion Auctioneers & Valuers, The Joyce Building, Station Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 1RE. 01948 800202; trevanion.com
14th Interiors, Mallams Auctioneers, Grosvenor Galleries, 26 Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham, GL52 2SG. 01242 235712; mallams.co.uk
16th–17th Country House, Tennants, The Auction Centre, Harmby Road, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5SG. 01969 623780; tennants.co.uk
20th European & Oriental Ceramics & Glass, Capes Dunn, 40 Station Rd, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, SK4 3QT. 0161 432 1911; capesdunn.com
20th–21st Fine Art & Antiques, Books & Pictures, Chorley’s, Prinknash Abbey Park, nr Cranham, Gloucestershire, GL4 8EU. 01452 344499; chorleys.com
21st Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas, Woolley & Wallis, 51– 61 Castle Street, Salisbury, SP1 3SU. 01722 424500; woolleyandwallis.co.uk
21st The Oxford Library Sale, Mallams Auctioneers, Bocardo House, St Michael’s Street, Oxford, OX1 2EB. 01865 241358; mallams.co.uk
21st Prints and Multiples, Bonhams, Montpelier St, Knightsbridge, SW7 1HH. 020 7393 3900; bonhams.com
21st–22nd The Fine Sale, Cheffins Fine Art, Clifton House, 1& 2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 7EA. 01223 213343; cheffins.co.uk
27th Home, Garden & Natural History, Summers Place Auctions, The Walled Garden, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9AB. 01403 331331; summersplaceauctions.com
28th Jewellery, Sworders, Cambridge Rd, Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, CM24 8GE. 01279 817778; sworder.co.uk
29th The Autumn Auction, Duke’s, Brewery Square, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1GA. 01305 265080; dukes– auctions.com