Stonham Barns Car Boot Blog Archive: Jan - Jun 2013 

suffolk's traditional car boot sale ~ every Sunday from 8am 

 

I don’t remember Fathers Day last year but, I do remember the Owl Sanctuary having an event the same day last year. I suppose that it is the nature of our success that we consider having 52 sellers as a disappointment. It would appear that Dads win and many must have taken their dads out. Lucky them. Last year we had literally just started the Car Boot so I expect that over 50 sellers would have counted as a good day. 

 

I don’t enjoy quiet days at Stonham. It is more of a letdown for me than anyone else because, i’ve advertised all week that it’s going to be a nice weekend and we are expecting a good crowd and suddenly I have to look everyone in the face when it’s quieter than normal. Having said most people understand this and many had still sold well. Basically, for every one person that hasn’t sold as much as they had hoped there are always two that are chuffed to bits. 

 

Anyway, first things first. I had a good chat (email) with the nice man from the council and after requesting a copy of the complaint three times it became apparent that he wasn’t going to send it to me. I wasn’t exppecting him to send it with the address on but, it would have been nice to see the nature of the letter. He kept saying that it was up to them whether they are happy with the boards that are up and that it is actually an offence to put boards in the verge. So, was he saying that there wasn’t a complaint and it was actually him trying to moan at Stonham Barns or was he being gallant and not showing me. 

 

I pointed out that we had been given permission to put signs up so long as we removed them after the event (same day) and that there were signs up for weeks prior to events all over the area. He came back by saying that the signs were a blot on the countryside with so many ruining the country view. I quickly responded by saying that the rubbish thrown out of car windows was more distubing than a few Car Boot signs. Any difficult points I made were swiftly ignored and it came down to what he described as excessive boarding. 

 

It was tempting to question this little known disease where small men pop out of the undergrowth wielding small hammers and swiftly board anything that passes. I imagine little gnome sized people waiting for darkness. I suppose it sounds a bit like me on a Friday night jumping out the car and sticking signs in willy nilly… 

 

It was tempting again to ask him what he considers to be excessive but, I expect the answer would have been far lower than my idea. He queried two points and these were outside Stonham and the other was the junction with the A1120 and the A140. I used to have about 9 there but have reduced the number to 5. Either way….. what sad people really care about a few Car Boot signs. Mine are A3 in size whereas everyone else only needs one sign because they have a crane bring it in to position it where it takes up the whole of the verge. I notice that there are signs all over Suffolk for varying Halls and large events. I imagine that these are ok because said Council Man probably gets a free ticket to them. Maybe i’ll send him a buy one get one free burger voucher…. not quite the same but… 

 

Well, this week has been good so far (only Tuesday). I’ve had a few calls for Stonham and Toys R Us and many people have tried to book up stalls at Stonham which is always a good sign. I hope that no one gets too upset when I tell them they can’t book. I did try the bookings for a while but, when you have all of them booked and 3 waiting for them who haven’t booked it starts to become a pain. One week this happened and we had lots turning up that didn’t want covers and we were filling up which meant that I had to start leaving gaps so, that people could still get to the stalls even if they were late. Anyway you get the idea. I now let everyone choose between covered and uncovered and they can go straight in. I’ve had to turn people away once from the stalls so far but, generally, if the weather is ok it’s only the sun haters that want the covers or people selling creamy cakes that are melting swiftly. 

 

It’s such a trying life we lead at the Car Boot…. Seriously though, Stonham is pretty much argument free and stress free although I did actually have a small argument last week because a customer claimed that they had been overcharged the week before. Now, if it was me taking the money for pitches I am notoriously fair. I know that I could charge van size for people carriers and mini vans but, I always charge them as cars. Now, had the person in question gone about it nicely there wouldn’t have been a conversation at all but, if someone tells you that you made a mistake last week with charging it immediately makes you feel awkward. She started to give me £7 whereby I said it was only £5. She then wouldn’t let me talk and started to become louder and louder. Now, anyone that knows me knows that I can be a pain but, it takes a lot to annoy me. She said to me and I quote…. if you just apologise and accept you made a mistake…. she kept talking and talking….. I asked her why I would charge £7 but, she just kept going. It went from the fact that she is CRB checked and works with the police and doesn’t make mistakes and that we were too small an event to charge £7 a car as we don’t have enough people at the Car Boot and she had told her brother that she had been charged £7 and they thought it was too much etc etc. 

 

Now, I know for a fact that I served her the week before and this was the day that it rained and was a gloomy day and despite the poor weather and poor forecast it was quite a good turnout. Other Car Boots in Suffolk would have certainly struggled with the poor weather. I also know that if I was charging her for a van it would be £7.50 and I only charge that for Transit size vans and not the mini vans. I categorically remember asking for £5 from her and telling her that I didn’t charge for a van as she was a car sized vehicle. At the time I did this I remember also trying to escape as she put her arm round me and started talking and talking and talking and she also thanked me and I swiftly moved on. The only way she would be charged £7.50 would have been if she had a trailer as well. Anyone that reads this, and I know there are at least 3 of you :) , will know that I am really fair at the Car Boot. We gave everyone numbered free passes for the first 3 months at Stonham and have honoured every single free pass that we still receive now. I can 100% say that I know I didn’t charge more than £5. So, if someone starts telling you otherwise and won’t listen long enough to hear the response it’s so difficult keeping my wonderfully calm persona. 

 

It’s probably only the second time that I have felt like telling someone not to come back. The thing is I really like her brother and sister and they are both great fun at the Car Boot. Knowing this women as i do now, I hope that she doesn’t stop the others coming because she couldn’t remember what she did with £2…. 

 

Anyway…. With the VW event this Sunday i’m expecting a good turnout with the Car Boot carrying on longer than normal. See you on Sunday but, make sure you check your change…. just kidding. £5 cars £7.50 vans and £7.50 cars with trailers, £10 blinking large vans. £40 to that women and still £8 for the covered stalls. 

 

 

Another weekend over and I have to say that I’m quite pleased with Sunday considering the weather. When I got up it was bleak. When I arrived at Stonham is was bleak and when we started to put the covers up it was blowing a gale. Hence, we didn’t bother putting the walkways up. Such was the wind that Sergeant Major Stan and assistant had to go and get some sandbags to make sure the Car Boot remained at Stonham. I didn’t really think about how many were coming in or even coming as the weather was quite pants. It rained a few times and to be honest I thought that many would have looked out the windows and decided to roll over rather than come out and start selling but…. we had 54 sellers and the normal regular Car Boot crowd. Yes, there was a lot less buyers than normal but, I have to say that I didn’t hear one moan from any of the sellers. At £5 to sell and even £8 for the covers many had actually sold better than normal. This goes back to my incredibly boring piece about doing better when there are less people selling and less buyers. I know that many people have complained about so many people looking at Car Boots but not buying but, when it’s a bad weather day you really do get the diehards and holiday makers that are determined to enjoy their day. These are the people that come out with money and will spend it irrespective. You do get some great pieces at Stonham though and I’m always shocked to see what people are selling. I mean that, of course, in a nice way. The father and son that came from Cambridge were a prime example. They had a Bronze statue which went instantly for £250 odd. I know that they are coming back again soon as they literally have years of collecting to downsize. These are the people that Car Boots love as they often sell at great prices. The statue wasn’t my thing but, a shrewd buyer will know that it’s probably worth £450. 

 

This is why I love Car Boots. We originally set up with the idea to run the Car Boot properly and to make sure that everyone could have a fun and peaceful day but, I do enjoy it when everyone suddenly spots bargains on offer and descends swiftly on the same stall. You get this meeting of dealers hoping to hear that something is £10 when they know it’s worth hundreds. 

 

Every now and then you do see people peering into the back of cars, which I absolutely hate. I spotted someone doing it on Sunday and I quickly asked the lady if that bothered her. It didn’t but, I just don’t understand why anyone can’t wait a few minutes and see what they put on the table. I may do a table one day and I will get a great deal of pleasure telling people to go away until I have finished getting things out. Quickly followed by a starting price of £40,000 to them. Stonham is exceptionally well behaved. One person peering in isn’t exactly buyer frenzy but, it really isn’t necessary. There is a certain decorum that everyone automatically seems to follow and it’s really rare that anyone acts differently. 

 

Whilst i’m in a good mood I would like to thank everyone at Stonham that attends and especially the one’s that help us out each week. Without these people we really would struggle. These are the people that have to face me and my early morning mood and yet still offer assistance. One person I will single out and that is Stan the Help for Heroes collector. Every week he helps us set up followed by helping us put everything away and that means walking all the stalls back, shifting the table tops, putting the covers on and off etc etc. He does this despite having had a heart attack and also does this with a constant smile on his face followed by hundreds of awful jokes. You can’t help but notice him as he is the one who hands out lollypops to every child that walks past. He is there every Sunday without fail and is often so wrapped up helping us that he almost forgets he is there to collect for charity. Obviously not everyone agrees with war but, anyone injured in any form faces a life of catastrophic proportions and it’s people like Stanley who get up at silly o Clock to sell items to raise money for injured soldiers. I must say that I really admire Stan’s unwavering energy for the cause and you have to understand that he doesn’t make a penny for himself out of it. 

 

Don’t forget to say hello to Stan although i’m sure most people probably know him already. Any contributions will certainly cheer him up. 

 

As mentioned before i’m also starting the Toys R Us Car Boot on June 29th this is still the case. I’m still finalising banners and so forth but, early signs seem to be that it is a good place and day to have the Car Boot and it could possibly be a success. It’s going to kill me doing this Saturday and Stonham Sunday but, it’s all good fun. 

 

It’s all go at the moment as I had someone else ask if I can organise a Car Boot for them too but, i’m running out of days. I think the obvious progression would be to organise a large winter Car Boot that’s indoors. That would mean I could work all year round on Car Boots and not have to commute into town for work… 

 

Anyway enough being nice. I was handed a letter from our good friends at the council stating that one person had complained about the Car Boot signs….. I will probably have to stare at the letter for a few days followed by rewriting the response at least 35 times before I get to something that isn’t nasty. Surely, one person out of god knows how many people that live in our part of Suffolk is pretty good. We have followed what they asked originally and that was to remove the signs on the day of the Car Boot and only to put them up the day before (I don’t finish till gone 12 so that counts). So, our signs are there for two days and gone for 5. Can anyone tell me how many signs have you seen offering Plant Sales lately. All over the place you see signs advertising events in a months time out but, Stonham isn’t allowed to have anything out until a few days before. And that includes major events. 

 

The Council or the Parish Council at Stonham Aspal really do have it in for Stonham Barns. Anyway, i’m sure you can understand why it get’s under my skin. The letter said that the signs cause distractions to the motorists and can interfere with visibility splays. What the hell is that. 

 

I can’t help my sarcasm which is running wild now but, it has been a real difficulty trying to run a Car Boot with the Cars flying over the bushes every ten minutes….. 

 

Visibility Splays – that sounds like someone being interviewed after being caught for drink/driving. Sorry officer but I was distracted by visibility splays. Honest gov. 

 

To be continued 

 

 

Another one done and that’s a few in the row now without rain or snow. I’d have to say that I was a little disappointed with the Car Boot as we had 82 last week and 72 this week. Given that everyone had been pumped full of information all week that it would be a good day I was expecting a lot more buyers there and definitely sellers. This is the pain of forecasts. Such is the shock of warm weather that, the minute everyone has a few days notice everyone zips to the sea. Had the nice weather chap/chappess stated literally the day before that it was going to be good we would have seen a lot more at Stonham. A few days gives everyone the chance to plan…. 

 

I’ve advertised every week in the EADT lately and have the signs out every Friday + update literally 40+ websites with information about the Car Boot. Rather than leave the same one’s running each week I do literally update with any new information on events etc. It makes sense. Having said that if I left the same versions there they would probably stay high in the google lists. I’d like to think that everyone knows about the Car Boot now. 

 

It is quite baffling where everyone goes to. Some weeks we have a huge flow of buyers and others literally half that amount. The same with sellers. We’ve had 99 sellers before and I do expect the numbers to overtake that soon. Whether it’s too many I don’t know. I know that other Car Boots have 300 plus sellers and to me I just don’t understand why you would want to queue to get in and then have so much competition that you struggle to sell. Car Boots are luck. I see some people sell everything they put out and I see some sell very little. The one’s that don’t sell then go off and decide that the Car Boot is rubbish. It’s just a matter of who is at the Car Boot buying and whether you have a good selection of items. My work colleague had a stall at Stonham last Sunday and sold £80’s worth and left at 12 having arrived at 9am. Others arrived at 7.30 and stayed till 1.30 and sold half that amount. To some people £80 is a bad day but, we do get a cross section of sellers. It’s quite strange for me at times because I have one person moaning followed by another full of praise. We have really busy weeks and the first person I talk to says how quiet it is…. what they mean is… they haven’t sold much. I’m getting to the point where I don’t look at what people are selling as it’s sometimes obvious why they aren’t selling. having said that we had someone selling spray paint a few weeks back and I thought he would struggle. I was wrong. 

 

Last Sunday I had a muffin seller that had requested a covered stall and then decided to park next to where the cars drive in. After an hour she wanted to go home. She was upset that the dust from cars was going near her cakes and it was warm and they were melting… I eventually managed to persuade them to stay and helped them move to the covered stalls. I did also point out that at 10am it really picks up at Stonham as the shops open. When I saw them later they had a few cakes left and were suddenly cheerful. I did feel like pointing out the obvious that it served them right for not listening in the first place…. They had cream covered cakes and it was hot….. 

 

Anyway, to cut a long story short. I’ve run this Car Boot for a year now and i’m still no near closer to working out anything. I probably shouldn’t ask people how they are getting on but, for every one grump there are several happy people. Our regulars like the place, the fact it’s calm and the buyers are respectful and accept that if they have a bad day it’s life. It only takes one person to turn your poor day into a good day and most intelligent people understand that. All we can do is provide a venue. Very few Car Boots try as hard as we do to get people in (Buyers and sellers) and we must be the only Car Boot that still has signs out a year after opening. In ten years time I’ll still be putting the signs out every Friday. Hopefully, I’ll be not still having to do it at midnight having worked all day in London though… 

 

Round about this time of the year we do get the once in a blue moon Car Booters and I love these people. They undercharge everything, sell everything and then tell everyone how great Stonham is.. If only everyone had the same attitude. I think this Sunday will probably defy everything because I’ve had a few calls enquiring about the Car Boot but, generally it’s been quite quiet. But, it did this 2 weeks ago and 82 people turned up to sell. I think it will be warm but cloudy which is probably the right weather to stop everyone going to the beach. We will see. 

 

This week, i’m also promoting my new venture which is the Car Boot at Toys R Us in Ipswich. So, come the Monday I’m now updating two lots of information. I’m really positive about the venue and the footfall but, just like Stonham, worried as it is a new Car Boot. Hopefully I will get some support from Buyers and Sellers from Stonham. Surely, the chance to meet Geoffrey the Giraffe is too much to miss. 

 

It’s kind of strange because Stonham now seems to run on it’s own as we seem to always get a good number of sellers and buyers. I must admit that it doesn’t stop me from worrying every Sunday round about 7am to 9am. I tend to moan when people get there early and also moan when people aren’t there early. If my Sunday helpers arrived on time I could probably relax a bit more. I’m intrigued to see if my weather analysis is correct. 

 

So, with Stonham chugging along I can worry about Toys R Us. I was going to say instead but, it’s as well as Stonham. I try and think of another way of advertising Stonham each week and always wonder whether it worked better when I spent £140 a week advertising the Car Boot. If you look in the papers it tends to be the venues that have closed for a period of time and then opened that advertise. Even Ardleigh advertised last Friday and they are generally swamped with too many sellers. 

 

I’m still sticking with the late start advertising method at present. You will notice that quite a few people arrive after 8am which is good. It’s not good for my heart but, there is a rush at 10 to 8. 

 

I’ve also spent a good deal of time trying to work out (as I said earlier) what happens to the missing buyers. Now, we know that we get quite a lot of people that arrive in Suffolk at this time of year for holidays. We also know that quite a few people have weekends in Suffolk. But, for no apparent reason Stonham is swamped one week and not the next. In Winter we had one Sunday where it was hugely busy and probably twice as busy as other weeks. It was great but, the following week it went back to being just busy… Naturally, we know that the events bring in extra and new people and some weeks the Owl Sanctuary or lots of Minis or motorbikes suddenly decide to hold a meeting there. It would be nice if any of the other people at Stonham actually mentioned their events to me… I saw the sign outside the Owl Sanctuary advertising a Medeval Day. I have included it on our next Car Boot page but, corrected the spelling… I didn’t have the heart to tell her that Medaeval was spelt incorrectly. I wonder if it’s still wrong this Sunday? 

 

Back to the Toys R Us Car Boot, i’m trying to organise leaflets and a Car Boot sign to go on top of the building but, i’m not sure how we will get it up there. Geoffrey the Giraffe has promised to go down the High Street handing out Car Boot leaflets. I know he probably has a busy week but, look out for a giraffe driving past! I’m excited by the new Car Boot but, the first thing I thought off (being me) was…. this could be really good at promoting Stonham Barns Car Boot to the people in Ipswich :) 

 

See you on Sunday and remember, if you wake up late you can still turn up at 10am and sell. 

 

 

Some of you may read this and think i’ve lost the plot. Crop circles at Stonham and all that but, as we were coming to the very end of the Car Boot I looked up and couldn’t work out what exactly was going on as the dirttrack was literally shooting dust up into the air. It was coming from the entrance into the Car Boot towards the food trailer. Poor old Ian standing by his white van was suddenly standing in the middle of it with stones being lifted up and dropped down on him and his tables. It carried on, throwing one stall over and shot through me and towards the golf course. As soon as i’d turned round to see where it had gone it had literally disappeared. How bizarre was that. I think only about 15 to 20 people were still there and not all would have seen it but, despite it being a beautiful day with 90% clear skies who would have thought that a whirlwind would have appeared. 

 

That really makes you think about the one in USA. Imagine that, a mile wide, coming over the Car Boot. I’d have my work cut out holding onto the stalls and food trailer….. Obviously, the one we saw was tiny but, it isn’t every day you see one and it went right through us. It was quite the strangest thing i’ve ever seen. It was still strong enough to lift stones and throw tables and stalls over. So, how do you follow that. 

 

Well, I suppose I say thanks to everyone that attended and also say how well I thought it went. The warm weather not only brought out 82 sellers but, it also brought out a good consistent crowd to Stonham. We have had bigger one’s but, we are only just getting into Summer in Suffolk where so many come and stay in the area. So, for May it was pretty good. 

 

To be continued (and I will) 

 

 

I had been looking forward to the Sunday having been told that it would be ok at the start of the week, however, by the end of the week it was going to change and be grim on Saturday. There was a slight hope in that they said it would be warmer than Saturday. Instead of the rain that was predicted on Saturday it was actually fine. Saturday evening it was now going to be horrible on Sunday. Moan, moan, moan. I’m going to end up a really grumpy old man that will probably be killed by a freak weather condition. Tornado in my car or something. Speaking of which look at that blinking thing in America with 200mph winds. Imagine me trying to hold on to the covered stalls with that going on. Last weekend was actually a nightmare all round. The Antique Fair was on Friday and Saturday and because they wanted to avoid clashing with the Car Boot they decided not to open on the Sunday. I can kind of understand it because it’s only £5 to sell at the Car Boot but, last year when we both run on the same day the buyers went to the Car Boot before going to the Antique Fair. We do get a different kind of seller at the Car Boots compared to the Antique Fairs. They then could of taken advantage of the joint crowd. We always love the events at Stonham because it means that the Car Boot goes on longer. perhaps they will open later on the Sunday than the Car Boot. 

 

Anyway, my moan this week is not towards the Antique Fair but, the organiser at Stonham. I go out on a Friday evening and it takes me two hours to put our boards up. As i’m sure everyone knows I do this every Friday and have been for the last year. When I did this on Friday ther was suddenly a lot of yellow signs for the Antique Fair (that miraculously were based upon our signs). Fine, I always put our signs up as we are on the Tourist Route through Suffolk and it’s always good publicity. I kept my signs awayfrom there’s and finished by 9pm (starting earlier this week). When I got home Penny mentioned that she had spoken to the Antique Fair organiser and she had promised not to put them outside Stonham Barns. 

 

Brilliant….. I always like wasting my time. I didn’t actually agree with this as we are there every week and why should we take ours down. Anyway I agreed to remove them from outside reluctantly and went down to Stonham Saturday morning. Well, i’m sure you can guess the next bit. The minute I got to within 2 miles of Stonham our signs were missing. I’d lost 20+ signs. By the time I pulled into Stonham I was ready to shake someone and raced to the Antique Fair.I was duly told that the Stonham events organiser had taken it upon himself to pick up my signs and put them in his car without so much as a phone call or anything. 

 

I can’t tell you how dificult it was not to lose my temper at this point. Any normal person would have called and asked me just to remove a few boards outside. Instead, they had the cheek to touch my boards. At that moment in time it was very tempting to do one of three things. 1) remove every single board advertising an Antique Fair or 2) Pick the person up who had just stolen my boards and stuck every single board down his pants or 3) Point out that my hourly rate is probably about 5 times his and he had wasted my time and therefore owed me a lot of money. I was now in a big predicament. I called Penny and asked if I could inflict a mixture of all three upon the person in question. I was advised to walk away and let her deal with it. 

 

But, this person thought that he had the right to do this. I was attending my daughters medal handout ceremony in Needham and now I had to come back at 3 just to put the boards out again. Yes, I was due to come back to put the stalls out but, it meant that I had to spend an hour doing the boards again. The person that had collected the boards wasn’t the owner at Stonham that had allowed us to run the Car Boot. 

 

Penny has to deal with him regularly so, it was a difficult situation but, we do not report to him and he had no right to remove the boards. As you can imagine this chap has gone higher than the weathermen/women on my not happy with list. You tell me, what would you have done. 

 

Yes, the Antique Fair was on Friday and Saturday but, his signs used all of my positions that we use every single week of the year. Yes, he was the event on that weekend BUT, we also are on on Sunday and we advertise every single week in the same positions in the area so, why should we have to move…… 

 

Anyway, I think you feel my anger. I’m not a nasty person but, he wasted my time and we lost a good day’s advertising with the cars going past Stonham on the Coastal Route through Suffolk. I missed my daughter receiving her second trophy and it meant I was putting stalls out later than expected Saturday evening. I would have preferred that everyone leaving the Antique Fair would have seen us setting up the Car Boot as they left. 

 

Also, whilst i’m angry, Penny handed out leaflets for the Antique Fair in Beccles and we had a poster in the Car Boot field advertising the Fair. Should I have removed that one…….. 

 

I rest my case. It’s still tempting to question the idiot. 

 

Anyway, whilst i’m in a mood. The weather was great despite it supposedly raining. Many wouldn’t have filled their cars up the day before as it was going to rain. Of course it didn’t. We had, again, a lot of sellers. 

 

We had a steady flow of buyers and again many had sold well. It’s still been a little quiet in comparison to other days we have had but, you have to remember that the sight of sun often sends a lot of people off to the beaches and there are always events that many disappear off to. I think you will find that all Car Boots go through this and I know that many are always complaining about the recession affecting everyone’s buying abilities. But, whener I watch the people leaving they nearly all carry something with them. What fascinates me is that one week I saw someone buy so much that he made about 5 journeys back and forth to his car but, I have not seen the same person back again at Stonham. What do they do with their purchases? Are they now saving up for their next spree. Car Boots are definitely full of odd people. We had someone trying to sell tobacco to the buyers last Sunday. I did try and find out who it was but, he had gone by the time I had been notified. that’s probably only the second occasion in a year of running that I have been aware of something even slightly untoward. 

 

This Sunday coming I do believe that we are a year old. To be honest it feels like ten years and also like 10 weeks. We have grown well and I would like to think that we are now considered to be a regular Car Boot that’s there to stay. I do have some news with regard to Car Boots to announce but, I won’t know until the morning. This won’t affect Stonham at all but, will be interesting and could help increase the numbers at Stonham. All will be revealed in the next few days. How exciting is that. 

 

Anyway, getting back to Sunday. It wasn’t as busy as previous weeks but, we are still early into the alleged warmer weather. It’s been very unsure when it has come down to the weather. We are waiting for a week where they tell us by Wednesday that it will be a glorious Saturday and Sunday whereby we know it will be buzzing again at Stonham. We didn’t have our highest numbers at Stonham until gone July/August so, we have plenty of time. Also, I’m hoping that the economy will be lifted at some point…… 

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

I suppose it was asking too much to have good weather three Sundays in a row.. Probably being a bit greedy expecting another. But, it was probably the grim and grey start and the sprinklings of rain that would have put a few people off. I always say the same and moan about weather forecasts but……….. it was supposed to be a sunny start with a worse afternoon. The same as Saturday was supposed to be wet in the morning and better in the afternoon. It was in fact the complete opposite. 

 

I may have to apply for one of those weather reporters jobs. It’s easy. You just mention everything and one will be there at some point. 

 

This computer is definitely annoying me now as I wrote pages on this and I’ve looked for the first time in a week and it says nothing……. I think I have to put it down to the number of robots we get on here. They never quite appreciate me letting them write on here because, they always spoil it for everyone. As fast as I delete them they are back again. A normal person would put one mention in there but, I get hundreds of them… They obviously want me to turn comments off again…. 

 

My biggest moan is that I had written lots on here and it’s gone….. I now have to remember last week and also write this week. What a life I have. 

 

If I can remember a week ago I’m pretty sure it was gloomy and dull and despite that we had a good turnout. I keep thinking that we were busier last year but, last year we didn’t start the first car boot until the end of May so, it wasn’t until June/July/August that it started to really fill up. Considering it’s only May we are doing pretty well. I think the covered stalls have been a success as we know that we should still have a Car Boot even if it does rain. I haven’t had to put the side tarpaulins on as yet and they are a bit restrictive as they stop everyone branching out. I must admit I really do hope each week that we won’t have to put the overheads on as they do take quite a bit of time to put up. Every Saturday we wheel them over followed by placing the overheads all in my car and then attach them followed by the central bar. It takes a good few hours followed by another two hours Sunday morning before everyone arrives. fIf we know it’s going to be nice we just bring the stalls over and use the smaller covers. This only takes 2 hours to do (give or take). 

 

Anyway, despite writing loads last week i’m going to concentrate on this week and have a big moan (again). I know that I was pleasantly surprised that we had so many despite the poor weather andi was optimistically looking forward to the next Sunday and it’s alleged warm weather…. 

 

 

I’m not sure if I dread the Sundays when they predict a nice day more than when they predict a bad day. It was stated that Saturday would be rain in the morning followed by warmth in the afternoon so, when it was the complete opposite it does make you concerned. I managed to take yet another day off on the Friday and along with getting birthday presents we went to Beccles as Penny was running a stall at the market there. As well as this I actually went past Friday Street which, is one of those names you hear mentioned but, never actually go to them or know what they are like. They seem to rum every now and then rather than being regular but, it looked like a good venue. Not too disimilar to our field but without all the facilities. Despite having Friday off with everything going on I still didn’t get to put the signs out till about 9pm but, was impressed with the light as it didn’t start to get dark until about 9.45. I may struggle when I go back to working on a Friday and having to put the signs out after working all day. The signs were all done by 11 and it was almost a relaxing stroll. It is a shame that the pub at Stonham Aspal is closed at the monet (up for sale) as I miss the detour between putting the last signs up. 

 

On Saturday I was expecting rain (as mentioned) but, it was pretty good Saturday morning. We often stroll down to Needham but, I had a list of to do’s to keep me going all day and knew that I had to start putting up the stalls. I had already decided to not use the large overhead covered walkways and therefore knew that it would be a more relaxed Saturday/Sunday. With Penny in Beccles this would mean that I would have to get the covers up quickly in order to get everyone in position Sunday morning. The big decision on Saturday, after pushing the stalls accross Stonham from one side to the field is which layout is best for them. I’ve thought about 4-3-3, 4-4-2 but with 20 of them it’s a matter of how many rows and how wide a gap. You wouldn’t believe how many discussions i’ve have over this. Almost as many as not doing a Car Boot on yesterday’s Bank Holiday Monday. We haven’t missed a Bank Holiday in almost a year but, having had one on the Sunday it always feels a little daft to then have one the next day. Having said that enough people were willing to come Monday as well but, we just needed a break and wanted to spend some time at home with the kids as they do get a bit neglected with a lot of the effort going into running the Car boot and the shop. I must admit, I would probably have opened on Monday as well but, it is hard work getting up at 5 – 6 days a week. I will have a big think about the next one. If there is a day between them it isn’t so bad but, anyway…. too late now. Instead I mowed the lawn, built a fence, had a barbecue, drove here, drove there… 

 

I went with the two rows of 5 each side in the end. I still think we ought to put the stalls along the back by the hard ground but, many of the people in the covered stalls want to be by the food trailer. I suppose the alterntiave would be to have the stalls by the road… As I’ve said we have had so many opinions. I may try a different pattern altogether next week. 

 

We had one seller turning up at 6 and to make it worse he had read this blog and quoted back to me the piece where I was moaning about people not sleeping and turning up too early. In his defence he had come from Harwich and was worried about traffic… We do still get a lot of people coming early and as long as they don’t want to start a heavy coversation they are quite welcome to set up early. BUT, I generally have to put up 20 stalls + covers before the main influx of people at 8. I wish I had the time to welcome everyone and have a chat but, it’s really a race against time. The sellers are turning up earlier and earlier which means that we have to put the stalls up a lot quicker. With some of the stalls you can understand why they arrive at 7 as they have such a lot to get out but, many of them turn up park and then spend the next hour wandering round. I moved the time to 8am as we wanted to get people that could wake up at 7, get ready and then come on down for 8 and set up and enjoy the day. It made sense to start at a civilised time so, that we didn’t force people to queue at 6am to get in. We let people still turn up at 10.30 to sell as Stonham often is a slow starter. Some weeks we are really busy at 8 on others it’s really buzzing at 9. We know that we get another influx towards 10am as the shops open. Either way, to me, an 8am start is a lie in. We never turn people away (as we have acres) so, no matter the time just turn up. No matter how many turn up we will always accommodate. 

 

I wasn’t sure how many would turn up on Sunday but, it was a beautiful morning and it was Bank Holiday weekend. I’m always banging on about warm weather and how good it is at Stonham when it’s warm. But, Bank Holidays are a little different as many decide to go to the beach on the Sunday as they feel that the Bank Holiday Monday will be packed there. The Car Boot was pretty full by 7.30 and because many had arrived early they were wondering whether it was supposed to be as quiet as it was. But, sellers are not supposed to be ther till 8 and buyers 9. The dealers and impatient buyers do turn up from 7am but, the majority of buyers in Stonham do exactly as it says on the can. This, I think, tells the potential sellers what to expect at Stonham. It’s a very Traditional Car Boot with a very friendly but, calm crowd of buyers. The area around Stonham is quite a nice area and you can see it as the car Boot as it really is a civilised affair with polite non haggling buyers. If they want or like something, the majority just pay it. Of course everyone will now do the complete opposite next week but, many people that go to Stonham do say that it really is a friendly Car Boot which is unlike many that they go to as everyone is very calm/friendly/polite and want to chat with them rather than other Car Boots where they are haggling and trying to look in the back of your car and often have to keep an eye on the buyers. We really are not like that at all. It really is a pleasure to be at Stonham (I know i’m a little bias but, I’ve probably had one incident in almost in a year where somone was a little over eager – I went up to the individual and simply asked them to let people set up first rather than trying to open their containers with items in) . You will notice the atmosphere of Stonham within 20 minutes of being there. The people attending the Car Boot enjoy the Car Boot and you can see it on their faces. 

 

Sunday was quite slow to start with but, again most people were buying. Several of the once in a blue moon car booters had almost sold all their items. These are reallt great to have at the Car Boot as they generally underprice everything and really are just looking to sell everything. As the day goes on they drop the price to 30p for everything. As you can imagine I always have a look round at the items on sale and you can generally tell which one’s will do well. Naturally, there are different varieties of sellers at all Car Boots. We have our regulars and these are increasing all the time. I’m getting more and more people wanting to book the covered stalls long term (which is good) and i’m glad the sweet seller becoming a regular plus, a few plant sellers turning up every week (agreement is that they can sell plants as long as they sell a few other items as well and sell from a Car or small van). Something we really could do with is someone selling meat and perhaps a bakery van. I’ve had interest from a few of these but, none have taken it further. We do have a regular crowd so, once everyone knows you are there each week they will come to you each week. 

 

Anyway, I was off again rabbiting on. We had over 70+ sellers and so many were sellers I hadn’t seen before and many said that it was their first Car Boot ever so, it’s nice to see these at Stonham Barns. Especially if they have chosen us before the one’s that have been going for years and years. I was a bit rushed on Sunday so, I would’ve liked to have chatted to them a bit more but, i’m pretty sure they they would have enjoyed the experience. This Sunday coming i’m hoping for an increase with the sellers and buyers now we are back to normal. There is the threat of worse weather but, I have bookings coming in for the stalls already and we will have the covers overhead so, sellers can remain dry if it does turn for the worse. But, i’m not going to be bothered by the weather forecasts as the ground is really dry and a little rain would be ok. Do still come as we have the covered stalls which means that the Car Boot will go ahead irrespective and I think that we are past the poor weather stage now so, it may only be a quick burst if anything at all…. Going by previous weeks they will probably say it will rain and it will be boiling. 

 

As the weather is improving I was thinking about getting Ice Creams at the Car Boot. If anyone would like to apply do contact me otherwise I will have to add another part to the food wagon with a freezer. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED. 

 

 

With the weather leading up to the weekend quite awful along with regular forecasts of doom and gloom I was a little nervous. Especially when it rained on Friday, Saturday quite heavily. 

 

I had Thursday and Friday off from work but, my holidays are never holidays…. I start with plans to do things around the house followed by advertising the Car Boot and getting everything ready but, they are quickly interrupted with jobs to collect furniture, do this and do that. 

 

I put the signs up quite early on Friday (in the rain) and paid quite a few visits to Stonham to check the field and make sure we had keys to collect everything for Sunday. (Because of the Mid & West Suffolk Show we had to move the freezers/fridges to a new location plus move the stalls, covers and tabletops. Wouldn’t it be nice to have somewhere close to the field to store the market stalls instead of having to take them back and forth before and after the Car Boot). 

 

As usual the field was fine despite the downpouring and hale stones. It was quite a nightmare setting everything up Saturday in the Hale though, it’s always nice to finish. One day would also be good if we had no wind there and could put the covers on early rather than having to do it Sunday morning before everyone get’s there. I think I literally finished with the last stalls at 8am on Sunday whereby we were already quite full by then. 

 

Well, despite the doom and gloom plus rain Saturday I was expecting the worst on Sunday and that was despite all the interest and activity on this website. I had loads of people asking about the Car Boot and the covers. On Saturday at Needham I noticed that a lot of people hadn’t gone because they were expecting rain in the morning. How typical that the weather forecast was wrong and many could have had a good day selling. This had me worried for Sunday morning. The good thing is that I have given up looking at forecasts as they disappoint and upset so, I just wake up Sunday and look out the window… 

 

This Sunday I was pleased to see it was clear and still on Sunday morning. Up at 5 and all was looking good. The Car decided to play up a little but, I was there at 5.45 and loading table tops, covers into the car. Put the food trailer in position and ready to start putting the Tarpaulins on the Stalls. First seller arrived at 6am….. don’t these people sleep. 

 

Without boring everyone but, it always tends to be a race against time to get everything in position and everyone helping me has a habit of disappearing off or doing something other than helping. I do get good help from people but, it would be good to employ a couple of young lads to help for 2 hours Sunday morning and maybe Sunday afternoon. This would speed everything up. As I said before, we managed to finish the stalls at about 8am but, by then, we were already packed with sellers. I was pleased with the turnout but, I did expect to have to squeeze everyone in and was surprised when the numbers stopped at the 80 odd mark. It certainly wasn’t a bad turnout but, considering the weather was spot on I was expecting more. We had quite a few faces I recognised from other past Car Boots at Stonham and we had a trio from Sudbury that seemed to like the atmosphere of Stonham. Ardleigh is probably their nearest Car Boot so, it was good to hear a few people saying the same as me which was that Ardleigh was too big, too expensive and just too busy. I have nothing against Ardleigh and to be honest would feel pretty small in comparison but, at £12 a pitch and filled with competitors it must be a nightmare. I really wonder why anyone would go to a Car Boot where it takes 3 hours to get round it. They stated that they never do well there and it’s too busy and as I’ve bored before… who is going to remember what they saw three hours earlier at one stall by the time they have been round. Also, how would you carry all the things you wanted to buy… They also charge buyers to look. It’s everything we aren’t. The thought of organising a Car Boot that size would just about destroy me I think especially if I had to put up loads of stalls etc etc. I may be wrong but, I really don’t understand why you would sell there. Maybe someone will explain to me what it is that attracts them. Yes, they must get a huge crowd visiting but, my head couldn’t take all that in. I like to have a good look at the stalls and analyse and then go back to buy. I would end up lost in the middle wondering where I’d been and where I had to go. Maybe, the variety is great but, if it’s full up with commercial sellers I’d be the first person to whizz through in ten minutes and go home. I really don’t agree with 50p to look. 

 

Anyway, I haven’t been so, it may be unfair to say all this without seeing for myself. Maybe, if they are open, i’ll go and have a look on the coming Bank Holiday (as I need a day off) and will re-write this. One thing for sure I wouldn’t go to any Car Boot that you have to arrive at 5 or 6 in the morning. That just makes me laugh. It’s bad enough getting up at 5 to run one let alone getting up then to sell at one. I’ve always hoped that we get people that don’t want to get up at 5 to do a Car Boot. The Sudbury trio must’ve emerged from beds pretty early to come to ours (of which I’m grateful) however, it wouldn’t have been 5 in the morning. If it was me i’d be driving around all week with everything in the boot from the week before, all ready just in case I woke up in time and it was looking good outside. 

 

I have the upmost respect for all the sellers that do this on a regular basis but, there must come a time when you must dread the next Car Boot. One chap last week seemed very proud that he had been to 8 Car Boots in a week selling. I look at this in two ways. One, mustn’t it be great to make a living out of this and not have to commute to London daily (as I do) and two… what a nightmare getting up to get to a Car Boot for 5 and then selling three items and making £12.75 at a Car Boot and doing the same 8 times in a week. Some of the dealers at Stonham, I note, always seem to have a huge wad of notes on them. If you know exactly what you are looking for I suppose it can be a great way to make a living but, there will surely be times when you make a risk buy and it turns out not quite what it seems. I suppose if we win the lottery we could all wander around Car Boots looking for Rembrandts. Then again, I suppose if you win the lottery you could buy all the bits you really like and then sell them for a bit more. I think that’s how Car Boots work for some… 

 

Anyway, I think I may have wandered off the topic. What I found really pleasing about Sunday was the fact that I heard at least 70% of sellers telling me that they had had a really good day selling. Recently, I’ve heard lots of nice words about Stonham and the atmosphere but, like most Car Boots, at the moment, there tends to be quite a few buyers but so many are just looking. I know that many are just getting rid of unwanted items and they are just happy to do that but, many had genuinely sold well and had half their lot left. I had one chap tell me that he had had a really good day and was packing up as he had sold enough and wanted to have a look round the Show. He reckoned he could stay on and sell the same amount again but, was happy with what he had. I did watch the sellers, as I always do, and most tend to walk off with something but, a few characters were filling their cars with items. I wonder what they do with the items! I wonder if they go off and sell them for a bit more somewhere else? 

 

Of course you will always hear some telling you they have sold very little and they are disappointed. What do you say to these people… Everyone has their own tastes and we all like to think we have good taste….. but, sometimes you can see from the sellers that they are selling out of date items and I don’t mean antiques. I mean people that are selling items that were ugly in the 70’s and are still ugly now. Hopefully I haven’t insulted everyone that reads this but, I think you know what I mean. Some things will just not sell unless of course they find the equivalent of themselves. So maybe I’m wrong altogether and there is a market for everything. Maybe there is someone somewhere that will like the same as you. I suppose this is the definition of how you can have the best sales figures at a Car Boot or the worst dependant upon whether your twin turns up at a Car Boot. Yes, it’s luck really. One week you could turn up at a Car Boot and there I am, having just won the lottery, I see your stall and buy everything. To you that venue would be the best Car Boot you have ever been to whereas someone next to you with two sales would declare that venue as the worst in the world. I think I’m making some sort of a point here…. Sunday was nice because I genuinely had a lot of people selling well. These will now go to their friends and tell them how wonderful it is and their friends will come and naturally, will probably sell nothing. They will tell everyone how rubbish we are and so on…. It’s funny because I have got to know quite a few of the sellers and because they like the venue if they have a bad day they blame their stock or accept that every week can’t be brilliant whereas, anyone going for their first time wants to sell everything or it’s rubbish or quiet or whatever. We were busy on Sunday with a constant flow for hours and yet, some still described it as slow…… we started at 8am and were still going at 2pm. That’s 6 hours with a constant flow of people (yes, we did have a show at Stonham but) I think 6 hours of people still coming in is pretty good really. 

 

I don’t think there are many Car Boots that manage to keep the sellers there for that long…. and you can never please everyone (I do try)… 

 

Naturally, we start all over again on Sunday and I have a few bookings (yes I’m allowing bookings again for the covered stalls) on top of the 4 or 5 that always want a stall. Text or email me if you want a covered stall specifying date and name. I’m expecting a good turnout again this Sunday because there would have been a lot of people that had come to Stonham for the first time last weekend and will have been pleased with the layout and size of the Car Boot. The covered stalls do look good when they are all out. 

 

I’d like to think that anyone that reads this will feel that they know how hard we try and make the Car Boot a good Car Boot so, i’m always open to suggestions from anyone that feels that we need to cater for something. That includes the Sudbury trio. I pass Sudbury on the way home and will gladly listen. 

 

To be continued. 

 

 

Well what can I say… Beautiful morning followed by fog followed by a beautiful day. I’m probably the most critical person in the world which means that it takes a lot to impress me. We had a great number of sellers but, the morning was really slow. There was the usual crowd that turn up early but. I think everyone else was watching the marathon or waiting for the sun to properly come out. It did finally at about 10.15 and Stonham did wake up. But, I think everyone selling at Car Boots is finding it a bit harder than normal. There are plenty of buyers but, it takes a lot to persuade them to part with their money. It seems to be DVDs that are selling well but, most the general items are slow. I sat and watched the buyers on Sunday and despite being in a wealthy area people are being very cautious. Maybe it’s because it’s the last week of the month and everyone has been faced with horrible heating bills. 

 

Having said this though I do watch some of the clever Car Boot sellers. These are the ones that will do a Car Boot every few weeks but, not until they know they have a good new stock. Each week I talk to the regulars that are trying to sell the same thing every week and you really have to be lucky with the buyers if you are going suddenly sell something you have had for months. Naturally I’d love everyone to keep coming to Stonham but, you need to restock every now and then and go to the auctions or get onto the bargain corners on Ebay. Either way, the regular buyers will know if you have the same thing for sale every week. We do it in the shop. If something doesn’t sell in a few weeks it is replaced and brought back again months later. 

 

So many people keep turning up to sell so early at Stonham that by lunchtime they have had enough. We can always move the goalposts and squeeze extra people in later on even if we fill up the whole of Stonham. Sunday will be a bit like that as I’d like to see people try and relax and not get there at 6am. We don’t officially start till 8am but, it isn’t until 10am that Stonham really starts to wake up. Although we know it will be busy on Sunday with the Mid & West Suffolk Show and the Car Boot at the same time but, we will squeeze as many in as we can. 

 

Last week really warmed up in the afternoon and Stonham does come back to life in the afternoon but, if everyone packs up……. 

 

Whilst i’m thinking I think that we will take money at the start as it will be too busy to get around everyone later on. I do expect a really busy day and the parking will be fun as both events will be sharing the Car Parks. 

 

The show is open till 5 so, try and pace yourselves. Make sure you tell me if you want to stay all day as I will genuinely put you all together (the stayers). Hopefully it’s a nice day which will make it worthwhile. 

 

Also, be patient. I’ve had a few strange people that have stayed an hour and then gone and then missed the crowds. I almost know by looking at the items for sale whether they will do well but, it all depends upon who turn up to wander through. People love the old gardening tools and seeing as there are a lot of dealers that are always looking for records, antiques we know that these are sellers. Having said that though some weeks clothes and kids toys go and other weeks they don’t. The people that go to Stonham are a real mixture because you do get a wealthy crowd and people tend to pay the price rather than haggle but, you will always get the odd chancers. Don’t sell things too low as it plays on someone’s mind if they make an offer. They know they want it. 

 

I’ve seen so many of the occasional Car Booters selling things that are worth treble the asking price, this is why everyone selling does the rounds early on. 

 

I’m expecting a really good crowd Sunday as there will be a lot of people at Stonham. Don’t worry if they go to the Show as they will be back. Most won’t be able to not look through the Car Boot. They certainly will when they come out the Show. Anyone going to the show will only stay there for a few hours I’d expect. We get many at the Car Boot that stay that long. 

 

Anyway, last Sunday wasn’t bad as we are being seen by more and more cars going past. Everyone knows about Stonham Barns and it can be flooded with people. It just has odd weeks I suppose when many go to other events or have other plans. Last week was possibly slow as it was suddenly very foggy which would have confused a few. 

 

There is no excuse this weekend though unless of course it snows again… 

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

And i’m not kidding. it was a day of mixed emotions. We had an excellent turnout but, the wind just about ruined the day in the end. We had lots of sellers, buyers and lots of Custom Cars and then we had a tornado sweeping Stonham. Are we destined to have something going wrong… 

 

Friday, I relaminated the signs and put them all out (finished at 1am) got up went to Needham to check my sign… untouched and then had a little wander to say hello to some of our regulars. All was going pretty well, however, in the afternoon the day deteriorated and it soon became clear that we couldn’t put the covers up that evening. The Hot Rod people were already turning up for the show and were starting to camp (rather them than me). It was now raining heavily and the wind was blowing a gale. I sat and watched the field get wetter and wetter. 

 

I was still buzzing though as they had said that it would be the hottest day of the year. Furthermore we had already gone out on Suffolk Radio as being on along with the Hot Rod Show. I went to bed at 11 knowing that I had a lot to do in the morning with the covers all to go on (and be clipped up).. Unfortunately the others that were due to help weren’t. I had to try not to wake up the sleeping Hot Rodders and get all the Covers and Boards plus food and drinks over to the field as swiftly as possible. The field, as usual, was a bit soft but brilliant considering it had been rained on all night. It never ceases to amaze me how it manages to cope with everything thrown at it. It is probably the one part of Stonham with superb drainage which is quite freaky considering the kids playground behind is probably better used as a kids pool 99% of the year. So suddenly, I have all these covers to put on … and at 6am 2 hours before I am expecting to see anyone we have our first seller…. My helpers turned up and we managed to get all the covers up but, by the time I had finished it wasn’t 8 and we had loads there. I could go into my normal moan about people turning up far too early but, I have just amended the booking covered stalls to first come first served so, I expect that will not help matters. Which reminds me. I spoke to someone at Needham on Saturday and I asked this chap if he had thought about Stonham on a Sunday. Despite having never been he said that he had heard bad things about Stonham and no one going there. This obviously stems from us staying open throughout Winter. I pointed out that this was in Winter and the weather had been quite poor. I did also say that we provided somewhere to give anyone who wanted to, the chance to keep selling throughout Winter. He swiftly backtracked. Isn’t it amazing how people come up with an assumption based upon someone going to Stonham when it snowed and was minus 14. One thing I would say, to anyone that says there wasn’t many selling there, is that they should look at themselves as we opened every single Sunday throughout the snow/rain/tornados/blitz etc etc and every week we had sellers. Not always loads but, we were always open. I cleared the snow myself one week in the car park…. Maybe we were wrong to stay open in winter because it appears that the Suffolk people aren’t into Car Boots if the weather is poor. I’ve been to one’s in Essex and London and Kent and they are still packed in Winter. Admittedly, it has been freezing and I have burnt many a coat cuddling the tea pot but we were there because we wanted to draw new people to Stonham and hope that they could see the huge potential that the venue has. As people should find out now the weather is improving, when it’s warm Stonham can completely fill up. 

 

Anyway, I’ve wandered off the topic. There was a good crowd Sunday and many sold well but, the wind was awful at times and this possibly stopped quite a few venturing out. This Sunday coming we don’t have an event at Stonham but, we do have first come first served on the covered stalls and with the Mid and West Suffolk Show coming on the 28th April it is probably a good idea to go this Sunday and try and reserve one for the coming Sunday. I have literally stopped doing it via bookings because it’s such a nightmare to wait for people to fill a space and hold up everyone else waiting to tag onto the end of the Covered stalls. Never fear though, we will have the usual £5 uncovered price to sell at the Car Boot and as I always say anyone going to the show has to park next to the Car Boot. The 28th is going to be packed so, do get there early for the Car Boot. This Sunday, will also be busy seeing as we are going to definitely get a wind free warm day and if it’s warm Stonham will be busy. 

 

Advertising for the Suffolk Show will hot up and there will be lots turning up to see Stonham and see where the show is. If anything, having the Car Boot open during Winter has brought in a lot of people who haven’t been to Stonham before and many have spoken to me and asked about Stonham in Summer and said how much they like the shops at Stonham. Stonham is getting very popular again and following on from the Hot Rod Show and with a warm day the number of people visiting Stonham will increase each week now. 

 

We are advertised in the EADT again and hopefully this week again we will be on Heart and Suffolk Radio. This really brings in people to Stonham. We know that the Mid & West Suffolk Show will be busy but, it’s getting warmer and the Tourist Route goes past us and we are the most advertised Car Boot in Suffolk. Just make sure you get there for 8…. 

 

To be continued. 

 

 

I didn’t finish putting the road signs out till 12 at night and I must say I wasn’t feeling brilliant. The weather had started to get to the point where I was contemplating a sun dance or putting the stalls out naked or anything to get some weather change. To be honest I don’t actually mind putting the boards out and that’s even at 10 o clock having just driven back from work. It’s quite peaceful but, when it’s snowing and minus 20 and/or raining and hailing all at the same time it kind of gets on your nerves. Many occasions I had to mend and restick nearly all the boards, load them in the car and then tread through the mud, in pants conditions watching the rain batter the boards. We did try laminating the signs but, for some strange reason not all the signs sealed properly. So, last Friday I re-stuck all the signs again. Hence, I didn’t finish till 12. Whilst i’m moaning I got up early and went to Needham to have a look around – as I like Needham. Again, they had turned my board around so, it couldn’t be read. I sat and watched one of the pink laddies watching me as I turned it round. Still not sure why we are upsetting them there… 

 

Pretty much all of Saturday was taken up with setting up the stalls. Myself and my young daughter pushed all the stalls round and attached everything, spaced them out and set them out in position. Courtesy of Ian we attached all the overhead covers and finally finished at 7pm Saturday evening. All ready for Sunday morning. 

 

The alarm goes off at 5 and depending on how late I went to bed determines how swiftly I get up. In the back of my head I knew that we still possibly had to put the covers around the stalls, need to get the food trailer, turn the kettle on, get the food, get the wood for the covered stalls, get the food from the freezers etc etc. So, after feeling totally comfortable in bed you have to jump out and get all the things ready to take with you. 

 

Quick look outside the curtain and Sunday was looking good although, a nasty frost could put quite a few off. I normally send at least 10 tweets/facebook statements and tell the world how nice it is outside and then get dressed. 

 

As usual I was the only one ready and left early. The car was full with teas/ladders/steps etc etc and off I went wondering whether anyone would show. 

 

You may laugh but, with the weather the way it has been it starts to make you doubt whether anyone will get up and decide to have a Car Boot. You don’t actually know for sure until around about 7am as you always get someone who turns up saying they thought it started at 7. I can away with it on here because if they hadn’t read anything online about Stonham Barns Car Boot then they must have been living under a stone as we are all over the internet. Our rivals cannot touch us for coverage. So, if they haven’t read about us then they won’t see me saying ‘where the hell have you been.’ 

 

Sundays are always a nervous time for me until I see the first people turn up. Yes, I know they were early but, it also starts to make me think that some will turn up. By 7.30 we already had 15 people in and it wasn’t even 8 which is the time most people turn up. I was really pleased to see a couple of sellers and especially pleased that this was their first Car Boot of the year. A few said that which means that we will grow over the next few weeks if the weather keeps up. 

 

We have obviously stayed open all through Winter and it has been hard. We aren’t in this for the money but, it is tiring when you get up so early and are met with snow and icy winds. I’m going to try and enjoy the warm weather and my aim is to beat the 99 sellers record we still have. One thing I still find hard to believe is the fact that we aren’t even a year old. It seems like we have been going for ten years…. I’d like to think that we are now considered as a genuine Car Boot – we deserve to be. We have picked up quite a lot of new sellers over the colder months and it will be good to welcome them back now it’s getting warmer. Many have rolled in and then moaned about the numbers but, during winter with snow and wind chill i’d like to think that even they would have been surprised that we always met them at the gate ready to open for whoever turned up. We have obviously kept trying to move on and I think that the stalls will be seen as an improvement. The idea is to show the stalls to everyone, get anyone who doesn’t want to bring a table to use them and to try and convince people to use them if the weather is 50:50. At that point maybe we will get the buyers to turn up on bad days too so, that we have a Car Boot even in the rain. In Essex i know that people will have a Car Boot even if it’s freezing whereas Suffolk people tend to look out the window and decide to stay in bed. We are attempting to grab people that want to carry on in bad weather. The stalls will keep the ground dry so… we will see. As an incentive I have dropped the price down to £8 for the stalls for a month. I’n hoping that everyone will look at the amount of room you get with the stalls (in front and either side) and then look at the price and quickly work out that if you have a van it’s 50p more and you get a table plus it’s quicker to set up and pack up and oh yes, it’s covered. 

 

Anyway i’ve wandered off the topic. Sunday was warm there was a good crowd and we had a good number of sellers. It’s the first warm day we have had and anyone driving past saw how good the stalls looked and that the Car Boot was back. We can only grow now. I had a few people asking about the cost of selling at the Car Boot. £5 Cars, £7.50 Vans and £10 Large Vans plus £8 for covered stalls. The stalls can be booked or you can choose one Sunday morning if they haven’t sold out. Anything setting up uncovered can turn up at 8am until about 10 am. This Sunday we have the Hot Rod & Custom Car Show (Spring Break) so, i’m hoping for a few extra people from there. I know that last year’s brought in the added incentive of watching some great cars coming in. 

 

We did have the pleasure of the Council Health & Safety lady coming to check the food van. I’m glad to say that we have passed despite my concerns. We do need to bring in a new cooker so we can cope with extra trade but, we are safe and healthy. I always find it difficult dealing with people like that. We tend to cook everything fresh and therefore have nothing hanging around (as other Car Boots do) but, it’s good to get through these things. 

 

Moving on, I will be setting up the stalls on Saturday so, everyone can drive past and see them. This is always an incentive to do the Car Boot as they do look good as you drive by. If we get good weather i’m expecting an increase in sellers and buyers as everyone recovers from the initial shock of warm weather. I will be back out leafleting and advertising the event so, you will see me annoying people in the area. 

 

I’d like to see everyone getting back into the spirit of things and back into the warmth of the field. Finally, whilst i’m in mid flow, we have a few events in the showground coming up so keep reading these as there are some big events coming up. naturally, the Car Boot will be running in tandem with some of them and I will be advertising the Car Boot at Stonham a lot more. 

 

If you have any questions/doubts/concerns/questions call or text me or facebook or tweet me i’m pretty much everywhere. 07817 539168. 

 

 

We finally received the market stalls on Friday 29th. We made the stalls up and practiced pretty much all day. I must admit I was pretty pleased with the stalls. As mentioned they were market stalls that were attached to another one opposite with a walkway between. The walkways have covers over them as do the market stalls. I was feeling good for the Easter weekend. 

 

We decided to make the stalls up as much as we could and leave the connecting steels off until the morning. It was in my head that we had left ourselves with a lot to do first thing Sunday morning but, I was still in a good mood. We now had to move them to the field (yes, we decided to brave the field), connect them and place covers over them. Easy. The one thing I hadn’t really thought about was the fact that it was still minus 300 and also blowing a gale. On Sunday at 6 we moved the stalls and by eight we had most of them covered and in position. However, because it was eight and everyone had started to appear before 8 we were left running in different directions and didn’t have time to put the covers around the stalls. 

 

Well, the stalls looked good and the fields held out but, again the weather was so poor. Pretty much the same happened on Sunday. We left the stalls on the field but, it still took 2 hours to put covers up, wheel out the tea wagon and try and organise everyone. Again, the weather was so cold that it completely ruined the day. Annoyingly, in the afternoon the sun came out and Stonham filled up. There was even a Collectors Meeting of Minis in the field (which we knew nothing about). These would all have gone to the Car Boot but, by that time everyone had frostbite and had left. 

 

A few points to make that make you smile. I placed 2 signs outside Needham Car Boot advertising our Car Boot on the Sunday and Monday. When I went to collect them they had both been turned round and I expect they had been adjusted before the Car Boot at Needham. We were on Sunday and Monday which is the day after Needham. A lot of our sellers also go to Needham which means that they try and sell the bits that they don’t sell at Needham. Maybe i’m different to some people but, I don’t have a bad word to say about any Car Boots. I always say to people that they should go to all the Car Boots rather than sell at the same one every week. We quite regularly buy at Needham as it’s our local Car Boot. Obviously, we would love everyone to come to ours but, it’s choice and good luck to them wherever they go. This goes back to the people that come up to me and moan because they haven’t sold well… We provide a venue, sometimes it’s packed and people sell well other times it’s empty and people sell more but, it’s not the same for everyone. It’s down to what you are selling and it’s plain luck. You may get three buyers that buy everything you have or you may have hundreds of people asking about your stuff and sell nothing. No one knows how it works but, all we can ask for is that it isn’t cold and if it’s sunny we know that Stonham fills up. 

 

I had a few people coming up to me this weekend moaning because the Car Boot had finished by 2pm. I also had someone moan that we weren’t larger because they had come a long way. Again, I cannot make people come. We know that last Summer we had 60 to 100 sellers and this year we have had more buyers than last year but, if the weather is really poor Suffolk people don’t always come out. It only needs a mild day and Stonham fills up but, I can’t govern what happenss As it is we are the most advertised Car Boot in Suffolk and i’m 99% sure that come the warm weather we will be full. Especially now that we have the covers because this means that we can have a rain proof Car Boot. I’m tempted to change the sellers arrival time to 9am and buyers 10am because, Stonham tend to come to life between 9 and 10. It’s difficult though because, in Summer, the Car Boot is often still running in the afternoon. 

 

Had Eas=ter Weekend been warm everyone would have been glowing about how busy Stonham was and well they had done…. as it was literally a month ago when it was warm one Sunday. I’m not going to be down though as it will soon be warm and the field will be great again in the warm weather. We have the stalls that mean that people can stay out the heat or stay out the rain plus it means that some can set up without having to bring a table. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

I missed a week…. well, what can I say. It was so cold that literally only 3 sellers turned up and I mean cold. No one played golf, even the fishermen didn’t turn up. I did take a picture of it but, I think that failed to materialise as it was so cold…. Well…. as you can imagine I still put the signs out and we still set the food trailer up and between the few that made it we had tea and scones on the veranda. Seriously though, it was so cold that I burnt my jumper hugging the tea urn. I gave up at 11 and collected the signs…. I’n getting a tad fed up with this year so far. 

 

17th March 2013 Not as bad as last week but still flipping cold. Again, we were one of very few that managed to open but, we are still on the hardground and the supposed rainfall cleared by 8am. It started off very mild and slowly but surely reduced in temperature throughout the day. I always say this but, we will always try and open. Even in the awful weather we have still had people willing to sell. This time there were 10 to 15 sellers so, considering the forecasts that were doom and gloom this was quite good. We also had a steady selection of buyers so, overall, it wasn’t terrible. Of course we would love to have 100+ but, that will come when it warms up. I’m excited by the covered stalls although a little worried. We have 20 stalls initially which will be great as word of mouth will soon filter through. The idea is that everyone will start to choose Stonham as they know it will have a Car Boot on. Also, buyers will also head towards us as they know that they will find some sellers at Stonham rather than a damp field with everyone getting fed up and going home. Buyers and sellers will remain dry as the market stalls have covers over the walkway between them. Come and have a look at easter when they open. In the meantime anyone wishing to book the stalls should call or email me ASAP before the 20 stalls book up. The stalls are £10 each but, the normal selling price is still available at £5 a car and upwards. 

 

We will be advertising once we get closer to Easter but, there are only 20 stalls and they will go. People wishing to use these regularly will need to book in advance. 07817 539168 or email: fishface65@hotmail.co.uk The good thing about the stalls is that irrespective of the weather buyers will get used to Stonham being OPEN even if it pours down. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

To say it was a little cold is an understatement. It was so cold that even Help for Heroes stayed at home…. I know that Ardleigh, Vauxhall and Woolpit were closed so, it was only us brave enough to open for the few that braved it. I had quite a few calls from people asking if we were on but, I didn’t have the heart to say anything other than it was sleeting and feeling like minus 20 with a windchill of -40. I have to hold my hands up to people that sell and buy in these conditions. It’s a habit for some and a living for many. Hence, the chance to make a few pounds is still a few pounds. On occasions like these we never charge anything and give sellers the choice to set up. It really was so cold that very few ventured out of their homes. 

 

Suffolk is one of those places where people will not Car Boot if it’s cold. And I mean cold. You get some coming but, there are always extremes in Suffolk. When it warms up I think you will see the other extreme with so many coming to Stonham Barns. As I pointed out on another page we were announced as being on by Radio Suffolk. How typical is that… You wait ages to get a mention and when you do they pick a day when it’s bordering on Alaska. 

 

Not that i’m one to moan but how unlucky have we been with the weather. As fast as we get great numbers turning up we are followed by 2 to 3 Sundays of rubbish weather. Despite all this we soldier on and just get ready to see what we will be rewarded with on a Sunday. I haven’t looked at the weather pencilled in for Sunday but, judging by the week so far maybe a tornado or too for Stonham. However, I do have some good news and this week I have finally agreed on the covered stalls at Stonham. This is where I need everyone to start talking about this as it isn’t your everyday market stalls. These are attached to the stall opposite with a 16 foot covered gangway between which means that the lucky 20 stallholders will be dry and the sellers will also be able to shop out of the rain as well. Naturally, I will be happy to wheel them out in warm weather for Easter but, the thing is, if the weather isn’t good we will still have a Car Boot. This is what I need everyone to start talking about. I also will be taking bookings on the covered stalls so, you will need to act sharply to get a place. Because we will have the covered stalls this will also attract sellers that have their own covers or don’t mind setting up in wet or windy weather. So, Stonham will quickly be the place to sell at if there is any inkling of poor weather. I’m hoping that everyone will see the covered stalls on a warm day and quickly work out that STONHAM BARNS Covered Car Boot will be the place to buy at where you can be guaranteed a Car boot on a poor day as well. The covered stalls are £10 each and these are priced irrespective of what vehicle you turn up in as they only have a set area. Yes, you can place items in front of the stalls or by the sides or you can hire two of the stalls (opposite each other). 

 

Hence, i’m excited again about the Car Boot. having the covers should draw in a guaranteed extra crowd of buyers because they know we will be open. As pointed out, the normal selling rate at Stonham is also increasing but, this is only a small increase to £5 for cars, £7.50 vans and £10 large vans (Cars with trailers). So, we are still the cheapest Car Boot that I know in Suffolk. 

 

I apologise for the rise but, we need to at least cover costs. This will guarantee Stonham Barns Car Boot for years. 

 

 

Well it wasn’t warm and it wasn’t freezing so, it was a huge improvement on the recent weather. It was good to see 50 odd sellers (yes I know it’s not the 99 we have had, but, we are still at the end of winter). We have had more buyers before but, there was a good flow and as usual the atmosphere was good. I’m always pleased with the way that everyone is at the Car Boot as we all have to spend a few hours with strange people on a Sunday but, pretty much everyone that comes to Stonham settles into the adopted calm that I expect at the Car Boot. Out of everyone I am probably the only stressed person but, I try to cover it as well as possible. It is stressing as you never know how many will turn up. I know that we do have the regulars but, what if everyone decided to lay in bed…… 

 

Exactly. Everytime we get a few turning up I can safely say that the following Sunday the weather is poor. I’m off again today and complete with a new laminator will have new slightly shiny road signs. In theory, they will last a bit longer as I have to replace most each week after the road and mud gets washed all over them. Anyway, the early forecasts have mentioned snow and rain this weekend….. how typical is that. Also, the numerous people that I expected to want the business for neatening up the food trailer haven’t given me quotes as yet. I might as well just do it myself. 

 

The weather forecasts definitely affect the Car Boot. At present we have been getting 1000 visitors a day to this website but, following the poorer weather statements it has dropped down to less than that. I expect to be out and about putting the signs up at 3pm ish. I would have liked to do it earlier but, too many other things to do. 

 

Either way though, can I have a wave or bib if you see me and irrespective of the weather do come on down to Stonham Barns as we will set up as normal. As I always say have a look out on Sunday morning and judge for yourselves what the weather is doing. You are welcome to call me Sunday morning 07817 539168 as I will tell me exactly what’s occurring. See you Sunday. 

 

 

Talk about completely different to the week before… I had been buzzing all week and was hoping for a day of Sun with everyone descending upon Stonham. I suppose I should have noticed the lack of calls all week as everyone had seen the forecast.. I do keep getting calls asking whether we are undercover and the answer is simply not at the moment. Also, when it comes to being undercover it will be covered stalls with a covered walkway between. The image to the left is a rough drawing of how it will look. If you imagine that the stalls will be covered all around them with access to load from the rear when the cars park behind. The walkway is 16 foot between one stall and the other enabling buyers to ”Simonkeep dry as well. The idea is to have 10 of these which will be positioned next to each other (probably a 5 to 10 foot gap between them). At present the idea isn’t to attach them all up but, we will see whether it makes sense to do that when rain falls. We will have a slightly higher price to use the dry stalls. 

 

I have looked at a million ways of having overhead covers and this is the best way I can achieve this without literally building a covered Barn although Stonham have put plans in to build a structure of some sort. I’d like the field to remain as open as possible as the car boot works well on the field but, we will see the plans and see how spectacular they are. The only other option we had was to buy marquees but, these again are very expensive. 

 

However, we will see how the stalls work and take it from there. 

 

The week before last I took the Friday off and had the boards out and ready for the public all day. This may have added to the numbers at Stonham (although weather is obviously the main reason). This Friday i’m off and again the week after. Fingers crossed for a decent day this Sunday. Do give me a bib if you see me in the Land Rover putting the boards out. It takes 2 hours to do this and my only company is normally car drivers wondering what the hell i’m doing. Also, if you are local and don’t mind a sign outside yours or in your garden – do let me know as I can give you your very own baby sign to take home. I go out and check mine regularly and have become very attached to them. I must put some up around Debenham way and the other end of Stonham rather than just Stowmarket way. Presently, I only have enough time to put a certain number up as the council insist I take them down after the Car Boot. 

 

From past experience it’s very difficult putting up signs in new areas as I get enough complaints wherever I put them up. 

 

 

How good was that. What an amazing place Stonham is. I have been waffling on about how everyone emerges when the sun pops out and it’s been so long that I was genuinely worried that everyone had moved. When, suddenly everyone decides to pop to Stonham Barns. It was shockingly busy and to the extent that it genuinely felt like one of the big events was taking place at Stonham. We now really need another warm Sunday so, we can kick on. I would expect everyone that did sell at Stonham on Sunday will be glowing with feedback for other sellers when they go to other Car Boots throughout the week (although there isn’t many up and running at the moment). It’s occasions like Sunday that really get us where we thought we would be this year. We knew that Stonham had great potential and after a year of rubbish weather we were confident that warm weather would really lift the Car Boot. 

 

I know i’ve talked about the covered Car Boot for quite a while now and you may read in many places that we would be running in January but, we are very close to finalising our covered Car Boot and it’s things like the crowd on Sunday that makes me decide that it’s a necessity. To me, it makes sense to launch the covers when the weather improves so, our many buyers/sellers will see that there is no reason to stop coming to Stonham even if it does rain. It’s still a big outlay and we do need to see more sellers at Stonham although I know they are just around the corner waiting for Spring to appear. 

 

Something that I do need to let everyone know, and it’s nothing to do with having a good Sunday, is the fact that we will be increasing the Car Boot cost from £3.50 to £5 for cars, £5 to £7.50 for vans and £7.50 to £10 for large vans. I’ve tried to keep costs as low as possible and I hope that everyone appreciated the lowness of prices however, we cannot operate at £3.50 a car. £5 a car is still lower than our rivals but, it means that we can at least break even and afford to cover the costs. We will be increasing the price in March and wanted to make sure everyone was aware. I will place the cost increase accross all websites (eventually) and will let everyone know at the car boot over the coming weeks. I hope that everyone will understand that we are going into the next phase of Stonham and to be able to afford advertising and coverage I have to make a small increase in the pitch fees. When the covered stalls arrive these will also have a different price as these guarantee dryness and also guarantee that you will have venue even in the rain. One thing I can guarantee and that is that we will never charge buyers to come to look round Stonham Barns. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

I refuse to be downhearted… I was up till midnight putting the signs out and despite being a little weary of the pending rubbish weather this weekend I kept thinking that the forecasts of cloud only could be right after all. I think the strangest event on Friday evening was finding snow at Stonham Barns when there wasn’t snow anywhere else. How typical was that. I had quite a few calls, mainly from people that hadn’t been before. Many seem to think that we are undercover already others have no idea what time it starts etc etc. 

 

When I arrived at Stonham, 6am Sunday morning, it was raining already and looked like it had all night. Yet, waiting by the gate was someone who hadn’t been before. I explained that they were a bit early and if the weather continued like this it wouldn’t be worth selling there. I can only imagine that Woolpit must be feeling the same way we do with all this bad weather we both get on a Sunday. I feel a bit sorry for them as they are literally a field and they must really struggle in this weather. We do have the advantage of being on hardground but, when it rains it rains. Not until we have the covers can we offer a car Boot irrespective of weather. I think the idea is to have a few days with warm weather where we can introduce the coered stalls. This way everyone will see that these will be there when it rains. 

 

Anyway, going back to Sunday, even the golfers were missing. The fishermen were there in their numbers (they love the rain) but, the sensible people were in bed still. The rain did stop and about 5 persevered but, by the time the rain had stopped it was 11am and the buyers had generally been and gone. They managed to sell a few bits but,it wasn’t a great day for Car boot. I’m thinking of employing a resident witch to try and pass a spell on Stonham but, knowing our luck it wouldprobably just rain there when it was warm everywhere else. 

 

This week, we have had Valentines Day and even I took a few days off. The boards are all up and i’m home by 6pm ready to flood the market with Tweets and messages. I do hope the weather holds for Sunday…… 

 

 

Sunday was probably the coldest day we have had at Stonham Barns. Again, I was amazed that we still had sellers because I know that Woolpit was empty and the Saturday Car Boots had only a few brave sellers. We managed 10 sellers (which obviously looks quite flimsy) but, we had a lot of buyers drifting around. In the weather we have had there is no surprise that so few people want to get up for 8am on a Sunday when it really is freezing. With the signs all over the area we are still picking up lots of new buyers (weekly) but, as stated before, despite the signs all saying 8am start you still get people driving in, cussing at 4pm, wondering why it isn’t still in full flow. I really can’t waste more time with a response. Equally, some look at me with anger as they have come a long way for a Car Boot. The answer to that is that generally there are very few Car Boots at this time of year and that is because most people do not want to set up in icy winds for the benefit of the one’s that just suddenly feel like going to a Car Boot. We have been there non-stop through Xmas and New Year and these people weren’t coming then as they had other things to do. But, when they suddenly appear they are angry that we don’t have 100’s of sellers every week even in the cold and even at all hours to suit them… grr grr. It’s probably because i’m fed up with the poor weather we get at the moment. We had one decent before Xmas and we had 50 sellers. 

 

Well, Sunday was pretty good as it was pleasing to see a steady crowd coming to Stonham. I was obviously miffed at my Chair purchasing episode but, you live and learn. I agreed to meet someone’s asking price for a chair but, stupidly allowed them to leave it on show (in my view to let her keep things on it to sell). Anyway, I went to pay for it and at that particular moment someone had appeared offered more and she accepted the increase. She did initially say that if she was offered more she would take it but that was why I went up to her asking price. What a situation. The seller had taken the cash and the buyer was coming to collect the chair. The new buyer wasn’t going to budge so, I was left with just the plates and lamp that I purchased (which she did place in her car)…. What do I do. The new buyer pointed out that I should have got her to move them out of site… suddenly it was my fault. Call me old fashioned but, when I buy something surely, it’s an agreement. If she was going to sell it for more why didn’t she come up to me to discuss it at that point when the new buyers haggled with her. I would have gone up in price if she was that desperate to get a few pounds more… She should have not divulged what I had offered or even discussed it with them as the item was sold. What would you have done in that situation? 

 

Anyway, not that i’m sulking still but, I am sulking still. The new buyers said they were going to use it in their house therefore it was much better than me buying it for my partner’s shop. So, as well as losing out on the chair I was also a bad person for buying to make a profit. We better close the Car Boot in that case seeing as i’m sure that everyone sells to make some kind of profit (if you know what I mean). Anyway, despite my day of sulking and walking around moaning about certain sellers I did enjoy the day and it was more sellers we have had on a cold day for a while. It really is promising for when the weather is good.. 

 

I’m now trying not to mention chairs. I’ve been a bit slack lately and put the boards up on Saturday mornings/afternoons. I will put them up this Friday as I would like to catch the Needham Crowd next Saturday as i’m hoping for a decent days weather. I will hopefully get the chance to have a look round Needham’s too to see who I recognise. 

 

To Be continued 

 

 

Another infuriating week. I can just about remember the last time the weather was good for us at Stonham. I had a look at Stonham Barns on Saturday to see if it the salt and grit had worked. Unfortunately, none had been used and the Car Park was still covered. It really does make you feel like banging your head against the wall. I had been told that salt/grit was available on-site and being a public Car Park I was under the impression that it would be put down to avoid people slipping over. I know there is a doubt over whether you are covered better against this by leaving it alone or whether it is better to clear. Well, to me, it makes sense to clear the snow thuis avoiding slippery areas. Also, how do you prove the blame on these cases. Anyway, having taken a good 3 to 4 hours with my daughter plus a shovel and broom we cleared two sections. I was determined to be the only Car Boot open on Sunday. This was after putting the boards out. 

 

That evening, naturally, it chucked it down clearing snow from absolutely everywhere. In fact, the only place I could snow was in the Stonham Barns Car Park where I had placed it in lumps in the middle. I had a few calls on Sunday morning, as i’d also had on Saturday, where we discussed the weather forecast and supposed day of rain on Sunday. I did what I normally do and that is ask everyone to call me on Sunday Morning from 6.30am. When we got there on Sunday it was raining and the clouds looked like they were there for the day. The forecast I had seen said that it was going to be awful all day. But, we had a few sellers turning up stating the complete opposite. I had spoken to a few telling them to call back or wait and see but, I did say that it looked ominously poor. 

 

I checked the forecast again and it said that it would clear up by 9.30. At that point the rain stopped and a few sellers appeared and the calls started again. Many had tried other Car Boots and we were the only one persevering still. A few decided to come back the following week but, despite the horrible wind, we had 6 sellers willing to set up. I know it’s not, to people turning up expecting a Car Boot, the biggest advertisemnt for your Car Boot. But, when you have seen the weather we have had, snow/rain/sun/wind it’s a miracle we had anyone turning up. I’ve said this before but, the look on buyers faces when they see only a few stalls still almost angers me. I’ve had people say to me, “Is this it.” or “I’ve come a long way for this.” These people must sleep through all the bad weather, see a sign advertising a Car Boot starting at 8am and at 10 with the sun out wonder where everyone is. Maybe they have a point but, the sellers aren’t just travelling around randomly with a car load of goods (yes, i know some are). It’s massively upsetting for me that we don’t get hundreds turning up in the snow or bitter cold but, for christ’s sake what do you expect…. We have built up quite a bit of PR with the fact that we have really tried to hold Car Boots in antarctic conditions but, being a worrier, I do my upmost to make sure buyers realise that it does get really busy when the weather is good. 

 

There have been a few occasions when we have had lots of sellers and less buyers and the next week less sellers and absolutely loads of buyers. I know there are other events and plans that get in the way but, sometimes it doesn’t make any sense. 

 

I have finished moaning. I’ve been trying to find the time to update everyone on the market stalls but I haven’t any better news. I decided to try a local stall maker and have been sent on a merry path. I’m not Suffolk born and bred but, that doesn’t mean that because I have lived on the edges of London or come from London that i’m instantly loaded or daft. I’ve had this a lot when it comes to trying to get anything done at my house or anything involving building/repairs etc. I know that there always seems to be an urgency in London for everything but, there has to be people that want to give a start and finish date and reasonable quote and stick to all three. Anyway, I have waited 2 weeks for the quote and it is 3 x more expensive than the others. The others are also prepared to deliver to me for nothing. I really feel like I have wasted time with this. The market stalls are not conventional versions and are a little bit different but, it’s steel welded together with wheels on… 

 

I now have to go back to the other makers and renegotiate until I get a better price. Anyone know anyone willing to make a design I have please let me know. Admittedly, the weather has been so poor that I would like to set them up when the weather was better but, the idea is to get accross that we will run even in bad weather once they are in. 

 

 

What can I say…. All week we have heard that the snow would come and yet it didn’t really hammer it down. I got home on Friday and thought about putting the signs out. There was some snow but, again the warning of 900 foot coming was there. I decided to have a look at Stonham Barns and decide on Saturday. Once again, I feel that I have been let down. Now, I can’t really complain about Stonham Barns because they have been exceptional and they have really stood behind the Car Boot all the way. But, I was under the impression that they were salting Stonham Daily and the snow would have been clear. Instead, the main road in was fine but, our Car park was snow filled. 

 

I understand that they did grit and salt the area but, each day there had been a bit more snow and in the end they had too many other things to remedy so, it’s probably myself that I blame for not getting out there and scooping it all away with a spoon. 

 

I will be doing that next Saturday if there is any chance of the snow disappearing. On Saturday I received a few calls and even on Sunday morning the same about whether we were opening. Wen I arrived at Stonham early Sunday morning there was one seller waiting there. I warned him that I didn’t think it was worthwhile as the buyers wouldn’t come out in the bitter cold. I had a few more callers asking the same and then two sellers turned up. I decided to remove the cancelled sign outside Stonham and let them set up. Miraculously, can you believe that despite the weather (and it was freezing), we had a few buyers turning up as well. These people are mad. We had a couple that had driven from Bungay thinking it was a covered Car Boot but, were interested in the venue anyway as they wanted to do an Upholstery Course at fishface. Yes, we will be covered. It takes time to organise…. it really does. 

 

Another interesting person to turn up at Stonham Barns Car Boot was Rex Garrod. This is our second personality to appear at Stonham in the last few weeks. We had a TV presenter here a few weeks ago but, at present, we haven’t put a name to the face but, we will. I was like a kid at Xmas as in the back of Rex’s Car he only had Brum plus Cassius – which was his model that lost in the final of Robot Wars. It was absolutely freezing but, it was really nice to listen to Rex talking about his work at Universities teaching them how to build robots and his life as an inventor. It was shocking enough that he drives around with Brum in the back of his car but, as he pointed out, he uses it at the universities and it takes two to lift out. The car was superb. 

 

Maybe next week Mary Poppins may pop in. I’m easily impressed. It made my day anyway. I wonder how much he would have sold it for… 

 

Within 5 minutes of being there one of the sellers had made 10 pounds. They did have some nice stock though. It never stops surprising me the power of a Car Boot. As you imagine I didn’t charge the sellers anything and I hope they managed to cover costs of getting there. 

 

I’m trying hard to gather the momentum to really sell Stonham Barns in the next few months. As i’ve said it’s hard to when the whole of Britain is minus 10 and covered in snow. But, the one thing that really fuels me is the amazing Car Booters that defy all logic by appearing from the icy roads looking for bargains or with a car laden with goods. I understand that, for some, a Car Boot is their living but, most people are caught up in the obsession. We are all guilty in some way of being a little obsessed. I now purposely try not to look at the items for sale as I know I will be drawn to something that I had when I was 7 or collected when I was 16. It doesn’t help that i’m a terrible hoarder of things either. Many come purely for enjoyment and a day out and I think that Stonham has many of these types. We also attract a lot of people that are doing one off Car boots to clear a space. Again, these are ideal people. But, having been to auctions there are a lot of people that make a good living out of Car Boots. 

 

 

I really can’t be disappointed with Sunday. I know that Woolpit opened and they had 6 stalls or so. We had a lot more than that and we even had quite a few buyers. The pleasing thing was that we had buyers coming from Newmarket and further afield. The weather forecast again killed the event and it was certainly chilly but, the whole build up to Sunday was filled with doom and gloom. As it turned out we did have a few sprinklings of snow but, we managed to still have a Car Boot and we are still pushing on and gaining new friends. 

 

Something that made me smile was the story i wasn’t aware of last week and that was the road closures. I was obviously aware of them but, the radio had announced that anyone going to Stonham Barns Car Boot will be affected by the roads. How cool was that. Even more surprising was the number of people at Stonham that week. I wonder how many we would have got if the road was open… 

 

The depressing thing this week and the week coming is that it looks gloomy, cold and snowy. 

 

I know it’s winter but, we are really due some good weather and i’m hoping that Summer will be great. It will be nice to have a run of 4 weeks in a row where we can really grow. The customers are waiting patiently (and we know they are there) plus we are gaining more and more followers each week so, roll on Summer. In the meantime, the slightest glimpse of warmth has been met by a decent turnout. As usual, I’m always optimistic. Which is particularly difficult especially when I look out the window and see snow. 

 

Have patience, we are there waiting for the warmth. 

 

 

I must say I really enjoyed Sunday’s Car Boot. It really felt busy again and until the deep fog Stonham was buzzing with people. I wasn’t sure what would happen but, I was pleasantly surprised with the calls and appearance of so many that wanted to find a car boot to sell at. Following on from last week I was determined to do something the jumpstart the Car Boot. I’d left the signs out last weekend (with New Years Day following the Sunday Car Boot) and I when I collected the signs they were really bedraggled and tired. I knew that i’d have to put new signs on all of them as they still had New Years Day on a lot of them and they were really dirty. 

 

The more I looked at them the more I thought that it amazed me that I still get calls asking me if the Car Boot was on. Yes, it’s difficult not to break into sarcasm and point out that I put the signs out just for fun. But, how many people actually notice them. One of the Car Boot chaps had pointed out to Penny that we didn’t have enough outside Stonham Barns which again made me wonder whether anyone looked. Up until the water board decided to turn that side of the road into the Somme I had about 6 signs pointing at Stonham Barns. Well, to cut a long story short, I decided to change the signs Yellow to see if they stood out more. Now, i’m not sure if it was down to the signs that Stonham came to life last Sunday or whether it was helped by the road closures or whether it was just that it was a nice morning and Xmas was out the way. I don’t know but, the yellow did make the signs stand out more than they have for a while. Maybe I should change them every few months. 

 

I was offered the chance to put permanent signs in a few fields locally. I haven’t had the time or money to get the signs made but, this is definitely a wasted opportunity. With warm weather and Car Boots starting to fly in the coming months it is a definite opportunity for Stonham Barns. 

 

Many of you that take the trouble of reading my ramblings and even new Car Boot searchers should have seen the efforts we go to to make sure that Stonham Barns is advertised will know that pretty much everything I talk about does happen and that we do put a lot of effort into the Car Boot. I think that, despite my often grumpy face and worries visibly showing on my face, our regulars know that we are definitely proactive. It’s not that we get up on a Sunday morning and wait and see what happens. I pretty much spend any spare time promoting. Speaking of which I must get some leaflets into as many Sweet shops and pinboards throughout Suffolk again. We did this quite a lot last year so, I’ll promise the kids a nice trip to the seaside and then stop off every 30 feet sticking Car Boot signs everywhere. 

 

Suffolk is quite a nightmare to drop leaflets through letterboxes seeing as the houses are so far from each other (villages) and the letterboxes all seem to have been glued shut or manned by a savage beast (and I mean the animal variety). Once we get the pending cold snap out the way I think it’s time for a trip around Suffolk. 

 

Anyway to cut a long story short I think the yellow signs look a bit more interesting. One thing I think I should bring up a few more times is the bad weather and how the public seem to panic based upon the weather forecast. This weekend we have heard that snow is coming and it’s coming Saturday or Sunday and the whole of Britain will be thrown into Stone Age. What this probably means is – it may snow a little and no one will be affected in the slightest. Naturally, i’m always a little more positive than the average person but, how many times have we sat at Stonham Barns and i’ve taken 30 calls from people asking me if it’s actually raining here as it’s fine everywhere else. Of course it’s fine it just means that the Weather Forecast is a mile out and you should have just looked out in the morning and decided to drive to us. We open even if there’s Volcanic eruptions in Stonham Aspal. Plus we stay there waiting to see if the weather will improve if it is raining. The covers will mean that everyone can descend upon us even if there is rain/snow/fog or volcanos. I’ve said it before but, we are up by 5.15 and at Stonham by 6ish so just call me 07817 539168 and i’ll tell you how it is. 

 

There may well be snow this weekend but, if it’s good enough to drive in then we will have salted the hardground and the Car Boot will go ahead. 

 

 

My main memory of this weekend and the follow up to NEW YEARS DAY was me driving out on the 31st stopping at every sign and sticking a strip of paper that said NEW YEARS DAY over the top of the signs where it said Friday. First of all it was raining and I mean seriously raining and secondly this is the type of moment where you start to think through your lifestyle and achievements and try not to make rude signals at all the cars that look at you as if you are from Mars as you stand in the rain with strips of paper. I also look at the people driving past in expensive cars and wonder what they do for a living… I suppose I have the same feeling for these people as I do when people drive into the Car Boot at 3pm asking where the Car Boot is. I’m sure it’s the same people that arrive at the same time every week with that look of upset/anger towards me. They have driven past 50 signs all saying from 8am and yet they expect everyone to wait for them…. 

 

Anyway, that’s my anger out the way. I was lazy this weekend as it was raining Friday evening and I decided that I would go out on Saturday morning and set them up. So, that’s what I did although I did have to mend quite a few first and also created a few extra signs to put outside Stonham Barns. Again, I feel a moan coming on, this was because I was told that there weren’t enough signs outside…………….. 

 

In a perfect world I could reach into my hugely deep pocket and purchase signs that are laminated that tie in with the huge advertising campaign, radio maybe with the odd fly by sign selling Stonham Barns to the world. I could write for days on this but, I can honestly say that we are the first site you will come accross online and when it comes to advertising we are in more papers than any of our rivals…. The crux of the matter is the fact that we have had such poor weather since we started in May (Can you believe we have only been going since May). That’s quite amazing really. 

 

I’m starting to sound like a broken record but, we really have gone so far so quickly in such a short period of time. We went from 17 sellers on the first day up to 99 sellers and have dropped down for Winter and are now ready to launch and fill up two fields in Summer. We have made a lot of friends already and I feel that many of the Car Boot world will appreciate all the efforts we have made to try and keep the Car Boot OPEN for Winter. Christmas was possibly the wrong time to be open but, you live and learn. Having started in May we decided to try and win friends by trying to keep going in Winter. I think the next few Car Boots will tell us whether it was appreciated by everyone. We have certainly picked up a lot more regulars and if we can see a decent day on the horizon we will be back buzzing again. 

 

We should get all the regulars back this Sunday as many had said that they couldn’t make New Years Day so, we should have a good crowd. I’m hoping to see the buyers start to return as there really are no Car Boot running at the moment. The people that came on New Years Day managed to sell so, it’s a chance to make some money especially as we are still the cheapest Car Boot in Suffolk at £3.50 a car.