The Ultimate Carboot Sale Guide | Selling
Part 1 of my carboot sale guide is perfect if you've ever worried about what to charge, what time to get there, whether to label your stuff, or all those dealers swarming on your shiz.
Happy Sunday my beauts - how are you? Before I deep dive into carboot season, I have a favour. Typing away on my own is really tricky to know what’s tickling your pickle over here on Substack - are you only here for the writing? Are you enjoying preloved chats? Do you enjoy notes? Is there something you’d like to see more/less of? If you have a sec, let me know in the comments below. Cos’ if you don’t tell me/reply/leave a like etc, it can be like typing into the abyss; and as a perpetual people pleaser, I wanna make sure you’re content…
Right, on with why you’re really here…
I received the magical text yesterday afternoon, from ‘Carboot Jess’ letting me know they’re opening our local and largest carboot sale on the 23rd of this month and would Hugo like to work the carpark for the 4th year running?!
Not only is it ace to have insider intel thanks to my teenager’s weekend job, but it’s bloody beautiful that my neurodivergent teen is invited back - summer after summer -to a job he loves, pays well (plus he gets a free burger thrown in!) and boosts his confidence. Essentially, no one can get cars in straighter lines than Hugo!
While a few ‘boot fairs keep going in the winter, it’s slim pickings, in god-awful weather and football usually takes priority for us. So, the announcement that our fave will be opening its fields is exciting. It also means this series, which I’ve been contemplating since November needs to be written ASAP!
Coming in the next few weeks will also be my top tips for bagging the best bits and my best ever carboot buys.
In the mid-80s my mum would bundle me up in my buggy, to push me around the now defunct Brighton Station carboot every Sunday - often with a torch as it was so bloody early and dark.
In the early 2000s I’d get in from clubbing in the early hours, not sleep, and go with my mum to the carboot sale to hunt for vintage/unique clothes and shoes no one else would have.
Now, having bought baby clothes, kids toys and shopped for every other phase of my life at a carboot sale, I consider myself a little bit of an expert.
I’ve also sold at quite a few, and get a complete rush at gathering, sorting and selling our no-longer wanted stuff. The cleanse of your home is fantastic; the rehoming of stuff that you no longer need is epic; the cash in your pocket is rather lovely; and, it’s usually a day out in the sunshine, getting to chat to a vast array of people. Are you sold on the idea yet? If you are, but don’t know where to start, read on…
