Maybe it was the weather, a nice sunny day!! Maybe it was the end of the Easter Holidays and folks are still away!! Maybe it was too many toyfairs too close together, both date wise and geographically!! But today, the 19th, was very poor. To put it another way, we took very little money and actually made a loss on the day. Not what we were hoping for.
It sounded like a common theme from other sellers today. Not only for today but in recent weeks as well. We are all hoping that things pick up soon, but are not expecting it. It's getting harder by the toyfair.
To top it all by the time we got back home, at a very early time, since most folks had packed up and gone way before official closing, we had sold one Postman Pat figure on Amazon for a mind blowing £3.50 less Amazon's fees. This time next year Rodders we'll be........ How does that finish???
Due to the early finish we did manage to grab some time in the sun in the back garden, but alas no G & T, just coffee and biscuits, and strange goings on by the cat and a shrub.
Still onwards and upwards, let's be positive. You need to check out the website, www.timewasshop.co.uk if case you'd forgotten, it's going through a gentle makeover. Not a Susannah and Trinny one, much more subtle than that. It's all to do with appearance, as that pair would say.
Look out next month for new products coming to Time Was... in the shop, online and at toyfairs.
See you in Spalding next week.
Sunday, 19 April 2009
Monday, 13 April 2009
The Great British Bank Holiday
Today saw Time Was at Huntingdon Toyfair at the Wood Green Animal Rescue Centre just outside of would you believe Huntingdon.
A nice sunny day for an Easter Bank Holiday Monday and the sunshine did bring in the customers, but the bright skies didn't encourage them to spend. It is still a struggle to get folks to part with their hard-earned cash in these credit crunching times.
We did our best with a vast choice and array of the finest collectables this side of the road. Well ok it wasn't vast!! but the choice was there from Doctor Who, Scooby Doo and Ben 10 to fairies and dragons. It was a good job that there we had the fairies as they kept our head above water.
We were definitely below average for Huntingdon but by the sounds of it we were lucky not to do the Newark Toyfair yesterday, Easter Sunday. A stroll along the river at Boston was so much better, even if it was in the rain.
A nice sunny day for an Easter Bank Holiday Monday and the sunshine did bring in the customers, but the bright skies didn't encourage them to spend. It is still a struggle to get folks to part with their hard-earned cash in these credit crunching times.
We did our best with a vast choice and array of the finest collectables this side of the road. Well ok it wasn't vast!! but the choice was there from Doctor Who, Scooby Doo and Ben 10 to fairies and dragons. It was a good job that there we had the fairies as they kept our head above water.
We were definitely below average for Huntingdon but by the sounds of it we were lucky not to do the Newark Toyfair yesterday, Easter Sunday. A stroll along the river at Boston was so much better, even if it was in the rain.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Au Revoir Donnington
It's not goodbye just au revoir!! We were at the last toyfair for some time at Donnington Park today. Things are a changing there because something called Formula 1 is coming to town.
It was a nice sunny day today and the start of the Easter break for many people, but not for us. We were up at the crack of dawn, (well it felt like it!!), and set off for Donnington. The toyfair was well supported by dealers, though there was the odd empty table, and everyone had set up in plenty of time. There was a good turnout of folks through the door, though as has been the case at recent toyfairs, they were more picky in what they would spend their hard earned cash on.
Thankfully they seemed to like the reissued Product Enterprise die-casts from the world of Gerry Anderson. Overall and luckily for us they went for the more expensive items and not the cheap n cheerfuls, so although we didn't sell alot of things we did a bit and made a profit, which was nice.
Didn't find any bargains for ourselves though and not for the want of trying, but better luck next time. Which will be Huntingdon on Bank Holiday Monday.
It was a nice sunny day today and the start of the Easter break for many people, but not for us. We were up at the crack of dawn, (well it felt like it!!), and set off for Donnington. The toyfair was well supported by dealers, though there was the odd empty table, and everyone had set up in plenty of time. There was a good turnout of folks through the door, though as has been the case at recent toyfairs, they were more picky in what they would spend their hard earned cash on.
Thankfully they seemed to like the reissued Product Enterprise die-casts from the world of Gerry Anderson. Overall and luckily for us they went for the more expensive items and not the cheap n cheerfuls, so although we didn't sell alot of things we did a bit and made a profit, which was nice.
Didn't find any bargains for ourselves though and not for the want of trying, but better luck next time. Which will be Huntingdon on Bank Holiday Monday.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Memorabilia - Spring 2009
Memorabilia 28 and 29th March.
Well to quote an old football cliche, 'it was a tale of two halves'!
After a somewhat hectic journey to the NEC to try to get there before 8:30 on the Saturday we just managed it by 8:20, and despite the NEC's stupid traffic control system we were in the hall and set up, but still pricing when the doors opened at 9:00.
We got off to a good start and with fits and starts throughout the day we thought we had had a gud'un, and were hoping for somewhat similar on the Sunday. Oh dear!!! It wasn't even half as good compared to what we did on the Saturday so overall, what with the table rent, petrol, and not to mention the lack of sleep because of course the clocks went forward, we actually didn't cover costs. A big surprise after what we thought was an excellent Saturday.
Anyhows that's the whinging over. We did manage to grab some bargains which will turn into profit to compensate, though that will take time.
Away from the selling Anne tucked her head in on the Red Dwarf chat, in which Craig Charles apparantley did a good turn. I sat in on the Gerry Anderson one with Francis Matthews, maybe a bit short but still interesting, and he didn't mention Morecambe & Wise once.
Also there signing away, just across the aisle from us was Richard Kiel, Jaws from James Bond, Melvyn Hayes of It Ain't 'Alf Hot Mum, and other folks from the James Bond films. Over the other side of the hall was Robert Vaughn, and depending on your age as to who he is, he'll always be Napoleon Solo to us. Doctor Who folks were there, and amongst the others some Carry On faces as well. But the biggest queue I saw was for Stephanie Beechem, Emmerdale has something to answer for, or thats what I thought until put right by Anne who said its Coronation Street and young Ken would be jealous of all her attention!!
So all-in-all a disappointing weekend after a promising start.
Well to quote an old football cliche, 'it was a tale of two halves'!
After a somewhat hectic journey to the NEC to try to get there before 8:30 on the Saturday we just managed it by 8:20, and despite the NEC's stupid traffic control system we were in the hall and set up, but still pricing when the doors opened at 9:00.
We got off to a good start and with fits and starts throughout the day we thought we had had a gud'un, and were hoping for somewhat similar on the Sunday. Oh dear!!! It wasn't even half as good compared to what we did on the Saturday so overall, what with the table rent, petrol, and not to mention the lack of sleep because of course the clocks went forward, we actually didn't cover costs. A big surprise after what we thought was an excellent Saturday.
Anyhows that's the whinging over. We did manage to grab some bargains which will turn into profit to compensate, though that will take time.
Away from the selling Anne tucked her head in on the Red Dwarf chat, in which Craig Charles apparantley did a good turn. I sat in on the Gerry Anderson one with Francis Matthews, maybe a bit short but still interesting, and he didn't mention Morecambe & Wise once.
Also there signing away, just across the aisle from us was Richard Kiel, Jaws from James Bond, Melvyn Hayes of It Ain't 'Alf Hot Mum, and other folks from the James Bond films. Over the other side of the hall was Robert Vaughn, and depending on your age as to who he is, he'll always be Napoleon Solo to us. Doctor Who folks were there, and amongst the others some Carry On faces as well. But the biggest queue I saw was for Stephanie Beechem, Emmerdale has something to answer for, or thats what I thought until put right by Anne who said its Coronation Street and young Ken would be jealous of all her attention!!
So all-in-all a disappointing weekend after a promising start.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
World Of Warcraft
Ever played the online original game but found it too long and too awkward to keep playing?? Then try the WOW, that's World of Warcraft to the uniniated, miniatures game that's now in stock at Time Was and www.timewasshop.co.uk
Upper Deck has decided to make a tabletop version of World of Warcraft, where you play with miniature figures.
It will be the first time Upper Deck - which makes the trading card game - has entered the tabletop fantasy wargaming market, which has been dominated by Games Workshop for so long.
You can get the Starter Set and Booster Sets. Characters that can be collected range from orc boss Thrall to community favourite Leeroy Jenkins, and each will be created by industry veteran Studio McVey.
The rules are just like its virtual counterpart, too - you tackle dungeons in groups of five and fill action bars with skills and abilities.
So try the game and you'll be more than impressed!!
Upper Deck has decided to make a tabletop version of World of Warcraft, where you play with miniature figures.
It will be the first time Upper Deck - which makes the trading card game - has entered the tabletop fantasy wargaming market, which has been dominated by Games Workshop for so long.
You can get the Starter Set and Booster Sets. Characters that can be collected range from orc boss Thrall to community favourite Leeroy Jenkins, and each will be created by industry veteran Studio McVey.
The rules are just like its virtual counterpart, too - you tackle dungeons in groups of five and fill action bars with skills and abilities.
So try the game and you'll be more than impressed!!
Monday, 9 March 2009
Doncaster Toyfair
Doncaster again, back at the Races! Doncaster Racecourse, Sunday 8th March. Well it was a nice sunny start to the morning and the going was good to firm at set-up time, but as the day progressed the wind and the rain and the snow lashed down and the going became soft as the punters went upstairs for their lunches.
Were'nt we glad that we were indoors. Well we were as trade was good, especially in the fairy department and the witch department which can be seen on the website at www.timewasshop.co.uk/Fairies.htm and also www.timewasshop.co.uk/Witches.htm sounds more like Grace Brothers. Downstairs in the lingerie department, I mean the toy department there was a nice run on Clix. Clix is a gaming system that brings together Aliens & Predators with Batman, Superman and Co. These can be seen at www.timewasshop.co.uk/Clix.htm
All in all not a bad day, some folks had one, but at Time Was we had another great day at the Races. Just as well the bookies were shut!!
Were'nt we glad that we were indoors. Well we were as trade was good, especially in the fairy department and the witch department which can be seen on the website at www.timewasshop.co.uk/Fairies.htm and also www.timewasshop.co.uk/Witches.htm sounds more like Grace Brothers. Downstairs in the lingerie department, I mean the toy department there was a nice run on Clix. Clix is a gaming system that brings together Aliens & Predators with Batman, Superman and Co. These can be seen at www.timewasshop.co.uk/Clix.htm
All in all not a bad day, some folks had one, but at Time Was we had another great day at the Races. Just as well the bookies were shut!!
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Toyfair - Peterborough
Basil!!!
Yesterday the 22nd saw Time Was at the Cresset Centre in Peterborough, not the shopping centre but the 'social centre' of Peterborough.
It was a busy affair for about the first hour but then became steady for about the next half-hour and then a trickle for the rest of the time, 3:30 seemed a long way off. However we did OK compared to some of our colleagues, we didn't make a fortune but we didn't lose money which was the main thing.
But I did have the opportunity to see some rare Fawlty Towers cars. These were made by Corgi and were titled after the opening credits of the episodes. Only 24 of each 'title' were produced. They were on sale, four of them, for £1000.00, the most expensive items at the Cresset. By the end of the day they remained unsold, which wasn't a surprise given the trickle of punters.
But at timewasshop.co.uk we have one of the models for a knock-down price of just £75 plus postage, what a saving!!! After all Basil is hitting it with a branch!
Just go to www.timewasshop.co.uk/OtherTV&Film and have a look, and you don't have to go to Barcelona.
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