Woke up on Sunday the 25th to a miserable morning, even Aled Jones couldn't quite lift the gloom, that's Radio 2 for you young uns. Driving the short distance to Lincoln through grey clouds and heavy drizzle didn't bode well for the Lincoln Toyfair as organised by JJ Webb.
It's not been the same since the showground folks decided to redevelop the site and we lost the side room we used to be in. But despite this we did ok managing to sell a mixture of items. Though the money that we got in, not exactly a fortune, was soon redistributed between our fellow traders. Sounds a bit like good old Robin Hood, though we didn't quite have the Lincoln Green tights on!!
So in glorious sunshine, which we missed the most of, we returned to our humble abode amidst the green wood of Lincolnshire with not so much more money but loads of Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica ready for our next two fairs, the Stars in our Time at Weston Super Mare on Saturday May 1st and May The Third Be With You at Burnley FC on May 3 surprisingly enough. Not quite the ring to it as May The Fourth Be With You, but as you can guess it is a Star Wars event, let's hope as good as last years and that Burnley's relegation doesn't put a dampner on it.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
A busy weekend for Time Was
Last weekend, the 18th & 19th saw Time Was... at the Sheffiled Triples 2010 event in of all places Sheffield, and also on the 19th at Huntingdon Toyfair.
On the Saturday we made our way to the English Institute of Sport, more importantly the Netball Court. A well organised wargaming event had us set-up in no time and soon after the doors opened we had our first sale. Even though it was to go on till 6 pm, the event appeared to be a success and Saturday was a long but very good day for Time Was... This was a big show, plenty of traders and demonstration games as well tournament games, and we may have been a little fish in a big pond but we were doing very well.
Sunday though was not so good, for a couple of events. One of which was the Sheffield Football derby between United and Wednesday. This seems to be the cause of the low turnout on Sunday and because of that we did very little trade, which due to other reasons perhaps wasn't too bad as our minds were not completely on the ball.
At Huntingdon toyfair we fared a lot better. Sales were up although all we had were the fairies and fantasy figures due to room space in the car. But due to events we were very gratefully supported by Paul and Peter, who managed to keep spirits up, and more importantly get through to Sheffield. Many thanks go to those two!!!
All-in-all not too bad a weekend trade wise, but a weekend we'd rather not have had.
Perhaps a bit cryptic but then some folks will know why.
On the Saturday we made our way to the English Institute of Sport, more importantly the Netball Court. A well organised wargaming event had us set-up in no time and soon after the doors opened we had our first sale. Even though it was to go on till 6 pm, the event appeared to be a success and Saturday was a long but very good day for Time Was... This was a big show, plenty of traders and demonstration games as well tournament games, and we may have been a little fish in a big pond but we were doing very well.
Sunday though was not so good, for a couple of events. One of which was the Sheffield Football derby between United and Wednesday. This seems to be the cause of the low turnout on Sunday and because of that we did very little trade, which due to other reasons perhaps wasn't too bad as our minds were not completely on the ball.
At Huntingdon toyfair we fared a lot better. Sales were up although all we had were the fairies and fantasy figures due to room space in the car. But due to events we were very gratefully supported by Paul and Peter, who managed to keep spirits up, and more importantly get through to Sheffield. Many thanks go to those two!!!
All-in-all not too bad a weekend trade wise, but a weekend we'd rather not have had.
Perhaps a bit cryptic but then some folks will know why.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Beverley Toyfair
Time Was... joined many other traders for the inaugral Toyfair in Beverley, Yorkshire organised by Mike Bishop of MB Toyfairs.
Up at the crack of dawn and a first ever crossing over the Humber Bridge, impressive structure with a £2.70 toll either way, no wonder folks moan if they do the journey two or three times a week. But the journey to the Leisure Centre in Beverley, which is under the watchful gaze of the impressive Minster, was straightforward and we arrived in plenty of time. Clear blue skies, a beautiful spring morning and the traders had a spring of anticipation in their step.
We were set up with time to spare, time to get some bargains, and we did manage to snap up a few. Sadly when it came to opening time the customers were not very forthcoming with their money. Either that or they didn't like our fayre. It was a disappointing few hours and we returned with less money than we started with!! Oh dear.
But it was the first one. Also Mike got the people through the door, as usual, actually 50% more than he hoped for, which is all we can ask Mike to do. It's up to the traders to bring along the right stuff.
Next time we'll take different lines and hope for better things. It's early days for Beverley, let's hope other traders feel the same way.
Up at the crack of dawn and a first ever crossing over the Humber Bridge, impressive structure with a £2.70 toll either way, no wonder folks moan if they do the journey two or three times a week. But the journey to the Leisure Centre in Beverley, which is under the watchful gaze of the impressive Minster, was straightforward and we arrived in plenty of time. Clear blue skies, a beautiful spring morning and the traders had a spring of anticipation in their step.
We were set up with time to spare, time to get some bargains, and we did manage to snap up a few. Sadly when it came to opening time the customers were not very forthcoming with their money. Either that or they didn't like our fayre. It was a disappointing few hours and we returned with less money than we started with!! Oh dear.
But it was the first one. Also Mike got the people through the door, as usual, actually 50% more than he hoped for, which is all we can ask Mike to do. It's up to the traders to bring along the right stuff.
Next time we'll take different lines and hope for better things. It's early days for Beverley, let's hope other traders feel the same way.
Monday, 22 March 2010
And they're off!
Time Was... was back at one of our 7 to 4 odds on favourite toyfairs yesterday at Doncaster Racecourse, which is in Doncaster would you believe. Trained by Mike of MB Toyfairs. Unfortunately despite a great turn out by traders, there were more there than ever before, it was the day of the Sport Relief Mile. Maybe that had some bearing on the turnout of customers, as they were certainly a wee bit lacking and those that did turn out struggled to put too much money on the table.
It was a slow day all round, not just for Time Was... but also for everyone else. We did though pick up a couple of bargains, see we were also helping other traders make a few pounds. Hopefully these bargains will get turned around fairly quickly at Memorabilia at the NEC next weekend, the 27th and 28th of March.
At the end of the day despite a lack of actual sales we did manage to turn a profit, which was nice. No matter how small it was.
Hopefully the next Doncaster Toy Fair on the 30th of May will be back to normal.
So to summarise yesterday, the going was heavy, with just a few jumps throughout the day until the very flat final furlong. Oh and drinks in the winners enclosure when we got back home.
It was a slow day all round, not just for Time Was... but also for everyone else. We did though pick up a couple of bargains, see we were also helping other traders make a few pounds. Hopefully these bargains will get turned around fairly quickly at Memorabilia at the NEC next weekend, the 27th and 28th of March.
At the end of the day despite a lack of actual sales we did manage to turn a profit, which was nice. No matter how small it was.
Hopefully the next Doncaster Toy Fair on the 30th of May will be back to normal.
So to summarise yesterday, the going was heavy, with just a few jumps throughout the day until the very flat final furlong. Oh and drinks in the winners enclosure when we got back home.
Friday, 19 March 2010
We've moved
Time Was got into the TARDIS yesterday and rematerialised into our new shop. We've moved a long, long, long way through time and space. Well actually all the way from upstairs to downstairs in the Buttermarket Shopping Centre in Newark. It makes us a bit further away from the coffee and the bagels, but a trek upstairs isn't going to stop the cuppas.
Hopefully the change will do us good, it doesn't seem to have hurt The Doctor going from the 10th to the 11th incarnation. This is just our second incarnation so we're pretty new at this.
Hopefully the change will do us good, it doesn't seem to have hurt The Doctor going from the 10th to the 11th incarnation. This is just our second incarnation so we're pretty new at this.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Bakewell Tarts
Yesterday the 7th March saw the return of the Bakewell Toyfair organised by Mike Bishop of MB Toyfairs. As it was a new one to Time Was... we weren't sure of how long it would take to get there through all the winding roads of the Derbyshire Dales, so we were on the road for 6. A very, very cold but bright start to the day. It didn't take as long as anticipated to get there and a well organised Mike guided us in and so we were ready for the off way before opening time.
The venue, the Agricultural Centre, had the benefit of being the stop-off point for the walkers, ramblers and general tourists arriving by coach, so there was a steady stream of customers through the door. Many hadn't even thought of going to a Toyfair so they weren't ready to part with that hard earned cash, but we'll get 'em next time!
The fair was just 70 tables, but the atmosphere was good, the venue excellent, even though we didn't sample the Bakewell Tarts, just the Banoffee and Chocolate cakes. The Tarts must have been elsewhere!!!
The journey back took considerably longer as the usual bottleneck in Matlock occurred despite the new road round it.
All-in-all not a bad first fair, didn't break any records, just one witch, but it's something to build on. And we did bag a few bargains ourselves. Though 6 o'clock starts are not on the cards.
The venue, the Agricultural Centre, had the benefit of being the stop-off point for the walkers, ramblers and general tourists arriving by coach, so there was a steady stream of customers through the door. Many hadn't even thought of going to a Toyfair so they weren't ready to part with that hard earned cash, but we'll get 'em next time!
The fair was just 70 tables, but the atmosphere was good, the venue excellent, even though we didn't sample the Bakewell Tarts, just the Banoffee and Chocolate cakes. The Tarts must have been elsewhere!!!
The journey back took considerably longer as the usual bottleneck in Matlock occurred despite the new road round it.
All-in-all not a bad first fair, didn't break any records, just one witch, but it's something to build on. And we did bag a few bargains ourselves. Though 6 o'clock starts are not on the cards.
Monday, 1 March 2010
It's been a while
After a holiday in North Wales, wet & windy as it was it was still good to get away. But it was back to the rounds of Toyfairs and the like. Having missed out on one of our favourite toyfairs at Spalding as we travelled to the land of the Daffodils, Time Was... last Sunday went down to East Anglia and one of Nicholas Parsons' well known haunts, Norwich. It was just like being in Wales, wet & windy, the weather must have been following us around!! Though it was only our second time there, we did have some folks who came back and bought from us again, which was nice. In fact it turned out to be a very good day and well organised as usual by JJ Webb Toyfairs.
The new Doctor Who End of Time figures, featuring the regeneration of 10th to 11th Doctor and the Master and Narrator from the excellent Christmas Episodes were dematerializing at a very fatst rate. Also the new Star Wars figures felt the force of peoples pounds.
Together with the fairy and fantasy figures it was a very good if long day.
Next stop Bakewell.
The new Doctor Who End of Time figures, featuring the regeneration of 10th to 11th Doctor and the Master and Narrator from the excellent Christmas Episodes were dematerializing at a very fatst rate. Also the new Star Wars figures felt the force of peoples pounds.
Together with the fairy and fantasy figures it was a very good if long day.
Next stop Bakewell.
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