Hellooooooo I'm back !

So I thought it would be a good idea to pop off and become self hosted, combining my online shop and blog.  I thought I was being a very clever bunny but it turned out it was far too complicated for my simple brain to navigate.  I had to rely on a very clever geek fairy to help me everytime I wanted to perform a simple task.  Quick blog posts and pictures were a thing of the past and as for trying to set up a workable postage system for my online shop ! FORGET IT !

Now a lot has happened in the last year to keep me away from blogging  (realising my dream of my own shop for one ) and to be honest I did actually loose my blog mojo  but now I have the shop pretty much up and running I feel I might have some time for the odd blog post or two.

I've no idea what has changed in the world of blogger or even if anybody will read my blog anymore but, well if you are out there.......

Waves hello.

Painting time

Day one as a shop owner.
The realisation of what I have taken on has started to sink in.
Only one thing for it, get the paint brushes out and start painting.  Luckily both hubby and Jacob were willing assistants today.
A lot was achieved.
EXCITED !

Jacob makes a start on the awful pine counters.  I was going to throw these but actually think with a little bit of a makeover they could be really useful to store paint and other essentials.

Meanwhile, Nigel makes a start on the wall outside the shop.  We are tucked away from the high street so need to make the space as inviting as possible for our customers.

First coat coming along well.  What do you mean, What am I doing ? I'm the boss!!

More painting....

bit more painting

Not a bad morning's work.  Think I need to go home for a rest.

I did it !

After years of dreaming about owning my own shop, I actually sign on the dotted line on Monday !

I received an unexpected call yesterday from the landlord of a property I fell in love with when I saw it recently.  The shop was newly up for rent but already had somebody else lined up to take over (luckily) for me the lady still has a property to sell in France and wasn't in a position to move as quickly as I was.

Today feels a bit like the morning after the night before.  I am feeling excited but really nervous too.  This is is not a decision I have taken lightly.  I've given it lots of though and looked at many, many potential shops spaces in recent years.

Can I make it work ?

Can I earn enough to afford it ?

Will people come and buy ?

What do I sell ?

How much do I rent space out for to other independents ?

How will I manage the childcare ?  Holidays ? Sickness ? etc etc etc

All I know is the space, although tucked away at the back of town (Exmouth) has so much potential.  Needs very little work to get it up and running and has a wonderful sunny outside walled space !   My instincts said go for it and so I have.

Here are some pics of how it looks at the moment.

I have big plans.

wish me luck .....

The entrance

Inside, looking from the back of the shop.  All the stock belongs to the current seller.

From the front door looking back into the space

My hubby with that "here we go again" look on his face.  He knows his considerable skills are just about to be called upon.

The outside "walled garden"  can you see it !!! can you imagine how it might look ???

Force Charity Shop

One of the questions I am most asked is "where do I get my stock" .  So I thought I would give you a peak into one of my favourite treasure hunting shops is the Force charity shop in Heavitree.
I mentioned them last week as they are always winning national awards for the amount of money they bring into the charity.  Unilike many charity shops these days who have jumped greedily onto the band wagon because of the vintage trend, Force (mostly) don't charge extortionate amounts for their items.  Consequently the stock turns over very quickly, the customers always have something new to look at and are happy with the cost, and the shop gets lots and lots of lovely cash.
Sorry about the quality of the photos I was trying to take pictures on my phone without anybody either seeing or having their picture taken.

As you enter the shop you have the till and the ladies, mens and childrens clothes section.  Always lots of great bargains and most of the clothes are sold for a flat rate of £3 unless deemed "special".  All items are always in great condition, nothing is smelly, rarely anything wrong with them.  All clean and ironed before put out on display.  I recently purchased a brand new pair of boots (with next label for £69 still on the bottom) for £6 !!

Up the step and turn left you have the childrens toy and book room.  Lots of lovely clean toys on sale and often many collectable items.  Childrens books on sale for 20p each.

Out the door, turn left and you have walls lined with nic nacs, picture frames, toiletries, vases and more

Into a long room filled from floor to ceiling with shelves full of crockery, ornaments, pictures, music section, teapots and more.

This is where I get most of my plates from.  All the plates stacked on the floor are just 10p each, bowls usually 50p.  You won't find anything on these shelves over £3.

The room at the end (sorry didn't get a photo ) is full of bedding, cushions, haberdashery, buttons, fabric, knitting patterns and more.

back up and off to the right, outside into the "lean to" is where small pieces of furniture, garden wares, picnic bits, plastic homewares, flowerpots and the 10p cups and saucers are kept.

Looks like somebody beat me to it on this day.  Not much to choose from.

This is what I found that day.  The brown cups and saucers out of the 10p box are Wedgewood.

So there you have it.  I missed out the main book room and the front display room which contains all the big pieces of furniture.  Sorry, but as you can see its a real treasure trove.  I love it.

Linking up with Liz at MagpieMonday

Ralph Lauren Denimware Thrifty Find!

Today I had possibly my best ever thrifty find !
A complete 20 piece dinner set of beautiful Ralph Lauren denimware for just £2 !
Yes, £2 !!!  10p per piece to be precise.
My favourite charity shop has a policy of selling its plates, bowls, cups and saucers for 10p each.  Their reasoning is they have so much stock donated it allows them to turn it over quickly and make a good profit.  and what a profit they make !  Consistently voted the top Force charity shop in the country, they have won many, many awards for the funds they bring into the charity.
Most of their stock is very reasonably priced, although they are quite canny and do their research.  They have experts in all areas and compare most donations on Ebay and the like before they put it on the shop floor.  Most of the high value stock goes off to auction and sometimes I will see an overpriced item in the shop because they deem it "current", but in the main it is a treasure trove of bargains.
It has become harder to find good stock, but if you have the eye and your timing is right you might just find a real gem like I did today.
Discontinued in 1997 the Denimware range was part of a collection called The Kate Reversed collection.  I believe from the 1980's and much collected today.

I adore the dark blue colour which closely resembles dark blue denim.

Linking up for the first time in a long while with the wonderful Liz at magpieMonday

Build your contacts

Although I am relatively "new" to vintage selling, I have already made several really useful contacts with people who are able to source stock for me.  One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is finding and buying stock.   I can't though, be at every bootsale or charity shop.  Timing (and luck) plays a  big part.
One of my first contacts (and best) was a man called Paul I met whilst selling at Exeter cattle market.  He was on the stall next to me and was selling off the contents of his grandma's house for silly prices.  I was unable to checkout his stall when we first set up because both of us were inundated with customers and I couldn't leave my stall.  I huffed and puffed as I saw fantastic bargains flying off his stall.  When things calmed down we struck up a conversation.  He commented that I seemed to know what I was doing and I told him what I did for a living.  He then told me he had loads of stuff to still clear from his gran's home including several Fortnum and Mason's wicker hampers.  His brother sends them every year to the family and when all the food is gone the hampers just gather dust in the garage.

Did I want them ?
Did I want them !  Is water wet ???
We agreed a price and true to his word he delivered 3 immaculate hampers the next day.  Result.
So imagine how excited I was when he called me last week and told me he didn't get a F&M hamper this christmas but a Harrods one instead.  Would I like to see it ?  It wasn't normal wicker though, but a dark seagrass with dark brown leather embossed lid.  Sounds fantastic, and it is !  I took a peek on the Harrods website and much smaller hampers are selling for £150-£200 !!
I paid a bit more than normal for this one but think it is worth every penny.

A great size, it would look perfect in a modern living room, especially one with brown leather sofas.  Use it for storage, as a foot rest, small occasional table, toy box. Lots and lots of uses with a stylish look.

A bit out of focus, but this is the inside of the lid.  The hamper will be available for sale soon on my shop page .

 

I have several other people who regularly contact me with treasure they have for sale, all of whom I have met out and about on my travels.  From the beautiful French girl who was in Devon on holiday and who now sources French homewares for me, to the lady of a certain age who has a house full of beautiful vintage china and homewares from the 1930s, 40s, 50s.

Don't be afraid to strike up conversations with people.  You never know what it will lead to.