After a disappointing weekend last week with the double-header at Norwich and Doncaster not quite going according to plan, it was good to be back to winning ways at one of our favourites, Spalding Toyfair.
Perhaps we should actually thank Captain James Tiberius Kirk and his comrades as the Trekkies were out in force. Barely had the USS Voyager and Kazon fighter warped into Time Was... as they warped straight back out again, quickly followed by the Klingons and Kirk in his USS Enterprise.
There was also a good sprinkling of fairy dust on the good folks of Spalding as these too fluttered gently into their shopping bags.
The Toyfair was as usual well organised by JJ Webb and well supported at the Springfield Centre by both traders and buyers.
Next stop one of the big-ones!! Memorabilia at the NEC in a fortnight.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Monday, 26 October 2009
Lincoln Toyfair
The 25th saw us back at the Lincoln showground at last, after the previous fair there was cancelled. Now that we are in the main hall after the demolition of the side rooms it all seems so cramped and hectic.
We now know why we preferred the side rooms!! Still even though the customers struggled to get by one another we did have a reasonable day. Even managed to pick up some bargains along the way.
Between Time Was... and PJ Gifts the tables had a distinct halloween theme with regards to the fairies and fantasy figures that were on show, even some Hammer House Horror cufflinks that PJ Gifts displayed. There was an abundance of witches, vampires, skulls, gothic figures and fairies.
Pity then after all the effort to set the theme that it was the toys that had the most success. You couldn't guess what lengths we went to to get some pot halloween pumpkins!!! Still we have them for next year. Well you can't win them all.
Next Sunday it's a double-header, somehow Time Was... is splitting in two, with a toyfair at Doncaster, one of our favourites, and then there is the return of the Star Wars Day in Norwich. Should be a gud'un.
We now know why we preferred the side rooms!! Still even though the customers struggled to get by one another we did have a reasonable day. Even managed to pick up some bargains along the way.
Between Time Was... and PJ Gifts the tables had a distinct halloween theme with regards to the fairies and fantasy figures that were on show, even some Hammer House Horror cufflinks that PJ Gifts displayed. There was an abundance of witches, vampires, skulls, gothic figures and fairies.
Pity then after all the effort to set the theme that it was the toys that had the most success. You couldn't guess what lengths we went to to get some pot halloween pumpkins!!! Still we have them for next year. Well you can't win them all.
Next Sunday it's a double-header, somehow Time Was... is splitting in two, with a toyfair at Doncaster, one of our favourites, and then there is the return of the Star Wars Day in Norwich. Should be a gud'un.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Technology how did we use to cope?
Sunday the 11th saw Time Was... at one of our favourite haunts, the Wood Green Animal Shelter at Huntingdon for a JJ Webb Toyfair. This time we were on our own, since PJ Gifts were strutting their stuff at Arnold Hill School Craft Fair. It was a good job as we seemed to be more tightly packed in behind the tables than usual. But on the down-side we couldn't go and have our usual wander around the Shelter. Didn't stop the wandering within the hall though.
Despite this we started off well and the Fairies seemed to wing their way out of the hall quickly, but then Technology let us down. The Credit Card machine decided it couldn't find that satellite up in the sky and our biggest sale of the day was in jeopardy. Many attempts were made to find that satellite, even going outside didn't help. Maybe climbing to the top of the wind turbine would have got us closer to the staelitte. But then someone had a master stroke, why not do the processing later at home. So details were taken and phone numbers exchanged. But ooops the phone number was wrong, then Sherlock came to the rescue and noticed one too many 7's. It was a close run thing technology had conspired against us but after a quick phone call it all turned out ok in the end.
Just as well since unfortunately it looked like there were less folks about and even less willing to part with their hard earned cash. At the end of the day we had broken even, which was nice and came as a pleasant surprise.
Let's hope the run up to Christmas is better.
Despite this we started off well and the Fairies seemed to wing their way out of the hall quickly, but then Technology let us down. The Credit Card machine decided it couldn't find that satellite up in the sky and our biggest sale of the day was in jeopardy. Many attempts were made to find that satellite, even going outside didn't help. Maybe climbing to the top of the wind turbine would have got us closer to the staelitte. But then someone had a master stroke, why not do the processing later at home. So details were taken and phone numbers exchanged. But ooops the phone number was wrong, then Sherlock came to the rescue and noticed one too many 7's. It was a close run thing technology had conspired against us but after a quick phone call it all turned out ok in the end.
Just as well since unfortunately it looked like there were less folks about and even less willing to part with their hard earned cash. At the end of the day we had broken even, which was nice and came as a pleasant surprise.
Let's hope the run up to Christmas is better.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Old Glory World Wargames 2009
The weekend of the 3rd and 4th saw Time Was... at the Old Glory World Wargames event held at Derby University. Just a hop down the Brian Clough Way between Nottingham and Derby.
It was a very successful two-day event. There were plenty of demonstration games, participation games as well as the competition games. From medieval to WWI and WWII, not too mention the Napoleonic to the film orientated games such as Ghostbusters-UK. But it wasn't just about the games there were also plenty of traders to take care of all these different types of wargamer.
The event was very well managed by Derby Wargames Associates. From our vantage point in the Atrium building we could look down on many of the games, especially the Raid on St. Nazaire hosted by the Leeds Wargmes Club. A very impressive layout, though not much gaming but plenty of talking by the folks from Leeds.
Luckily no other traders seemed to stock some of the items we had and so over the two days we were kept busy by a steady stream of buyers.
If you get the chance to go to next years event then make a dash for Time Was... as hopefully again we'll have the 'unique' stock.
It was a very successful two-day event. There were plenty of demonstration games, participation games as well as the competition games. From medieval to WWI and WWII, not too mention the Napoleonic to the film orientated games such as Ghostbusters-UK. But it wasn't just about the games there were also plenty of traders to take care of all these different types of wargamer.
The event was very well managed by Derby Wargames Associates. From our vantage point in the Atrium building we could look down on many of the games, especially the Raid on St. Nazaire hosted by the Leeds Wargmes Club. A very impressive layout, though not much gaming but plenty of talking by the folks from Leeds.
Luckily no other traders seemed to stock some of the items we had and so over the two days we were kept busy by a steady stream of buyers.
If you get the chance to go to next years event then make a dash for Time Was... as hopefully again we'll have the 'unique' stock.
Sunday, 20 September 2009
A new one
Yesterday, 20th, saw Time Was... venture into the darkest depths of Northamptonshire to the town of Kettering. Though the journey down, once we had turned off the A1 and onto the A43, was quite picturesque. Passing through villages with thatched covered cottages and gardens ablaze with colour. Was this a good omen, together with clear blue skies, that we were onto something good?? But then we hit Kettering itself which was just like any other town only a wee bit grimmer. A group of men were stood on the first street corner looking slightly menacing even at 8 o'clock in the morning, but they were only queuing for the hole in the wall.
Still we found the Arena quite easily thanks to some almost excellent signposting by Barry Potter Fairs. The only sign which was difficult to spot was the one on the lampost, behind some branches, just at the entrance of the leisure centre. But then I think the building itself gave it away and the hive of activity from the various White Van Men told us we had arrived.
The hall was a very spacious setting, with plenty of room to display our wares and store our boxes, gave for a very relaxed day. Though the carpet must have been laid by Bogit Carpets.
This was the first time we had been to Kettering and it was encouraging. We didn't set the fair alight but we did break-even, which seemed to be better than most. One poor chap sold just one item for £12 all day! We also picked up a couple of bargains that we can sell on.
We hopefully will have some folks return to us on November 29th when we venture into the not so darkest depths of Northamptonshire again.
Still we found the Arena quite easily thanks to some almost excellent signposting by Barry Potter Fairs. The only sign which was difficult to spot was the one on the lampost, behind some branches, just at the entrance of the leisure centre. But then I think the building itself gave it away and the hive of activity from the various White Van Men told us we had arrived.
The hall was a very spacious setting, with plenty of room to display our wares and store our boxes, gave for a very relaxed day. Though the carpet must have been laid by Bogit Carpets.
This was the first time we had been to Kettering and it was encouraging. We didn't set the fair alight but we did break-even, which seemed to be better than most. One poor chap sold just one item for £12 all day! We also picked up a couple of bargains that we can sell on.
We hopefully will have some folks return to us on November 29th when we venture into the not so darkest depths of Northamptonshire again.
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Where have all the traders gone?
It was a bit like the Marie Celeste today as there seemed to be quite a few traders who have jumped ship. Spalding toyfair was a bit low on traders, big aisles, plenty of empty tables with names on them. So many of them had booked but hadn't turned up. David and Stephen did their usual calm, well organised day. The cafe was busy and the aromas that drifted our way made us hungry, but that wasn't a problem as we had packed ourselves out well.
Our colleagues, well those who turned up, were all on good form. Peter had finally ended his two-year sale and with a new colour scheme had gone all gold. Wasn't sure if that was his tan or his stall!! Pity he still hasn't sold his Hogwarts Express, there must be a Harry Potter somewhere for him. Mike was usual jovial self, 'working' every minute as usual, though when I was there his wife seemed to be doing all the work whilst he played on a laptop, so no change there really.
Our regulars turned up and all had a good chat, some a wee bit longer than others, and they bought a few things.
Ohh and there were a few other customers but it was difficult persuading them to part with their money. Even the couple who only wanted to spend £10.00 even though everything they wanted was priced at more than twice that.
Still it passed a few minutes of the day.
Our colleagues, well those who turned up, were all on good form. Peter had finally ended his two-year sale and with a new colour scheme had gone all gold. Wasn't sure if that was his tan or his stall!! Pity he still hasn't sold his Hogwarts Express, there must be a Harry Potter somewhere for him. Mike was usual jovial self, 'working' every minute as usual, though when I was there his wife seemed to be doing all the work whilst he played on a laptop, so no change there really.
Our regulars turned up and all had a good chat, some a wee bit longer than others, and they bought a few things.
Ohh and there were a few other customers but it was difficult persuading them to part with their money. Even the couple who only wanted to spend £10.00 even though everything they wanted was priced at more than twice that.
Still it passed a few minutes of the day.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Peterborough Toy Fair - Ohh Dear
Another Sunday, another Toyfair. This time it was back to the Cresset Centre in Peterborough for what is usually a fair fair. Unfortunately today, for some reason quite a few traders were missing, many of whom are regulars and also more importantly quite a lot of buyers. So needless to say not a very good day. It did at least keep dry and there was free coffee and biccies, even choccy ones, for all!!
But apart from that it was a very quiet day, in fact we were packed up and out of there before it was officially supposed to finish, and that was as one of the last ones to leave.
Still there is the return match on December 13th, the run up to Christmas, so it should be much, much better.
But apart from that it was a very quiet day, in fact we were packed up and out of there before it was officially supposed to finish, and that was as one of the last ones to leave.
Still there is the return match on December 13th, the run up to Christmas, so it should be much, much better.
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