Chelmsford Car Boot Sale - Clear that trash and make some cash!

Living in the UK wouldn’t be complete without experiencing the quintessential British Sunday indulgence – the Sunday morning car boot sale. Reflecting upon my childhood, I can vaguely remember neighborhood garage sales that would sprawl across front lawns/driveways, where passerbys would stop by for a browse, potentially finding that bargain of the century amongst a whole lot of tat. Over here in the UK, the principle of selling your trash to make some cash still remains the same, but where it differs is in the presentation. Sellers from the community and beyond all gather at a ridiculously early hour to sell their used goods, but by driving into a field and unloading it all from the car. This approach makes much more sense, giving buyers an opportunity to check out the wares from many people, providing a better chance to bag that perfect bit of junk, sorry, treasure.

My experience was as both a buyer and a seller. My sister (who also lives in the UK) was moving house and needed to clear out her loft, so we decided that a good ol’ car boot sale would be a potentially profitable option. And it was. It was also very entertaining. As we pulled up to out plot and popped open the boot to unload, we were bombarded by aggressive antique buyers who wanted first dibs on anything desirable. Upon realising we just had kiddie clothing and IKEA housewares, they quickly dispersed to prey upon someone else.

Here are my top tips for selling at a boot sale:

1. Make sure you have someone there with you (one to watch the cash, the other to chat with customers). It also means you have someone to chat with all morning if it’s slow. 
2. Bring chairs. Standing for five hours doesn’t seem that long, but you will be a lot more comfortable if you are able to rest your legs and bum.
3. Bring a blanket or table to display your goods and a clothes horse to hang your goods. The ground will most likely be damp and you don’t want your things to get mucky. Remember, presentation is important.
4. Bring lots of change. People don’t want to spend much money, which means you’ll need change for their bills.
5. Be prepared to be haggled.  Prices need to be flexible because everyone wants a bargain.
6. Bring snacks and water. A hydrated and nourished seller is a perkier seller.