It's been a hectic time recently for Time Was... the run up to the festivities and we've been all over the place. Huntingdon - through the ice & snow last Sunday for what was a not so good toyfair, not many traders made it through the bleak mid-winter, and even less buyers. Birmingham before that for a wargame fair, and unfortunately a long way to go for again a not so good a time.
But we have been kept busy with new stock coming in. The Back to the Future Light up Delorean is well worth a look, as to the rest of the Deloreans. Also the new Star Wars and Dungeons & Dragons figures.
But what has really kept us busy is the internet. The remote control R2-D2 is a winner, seems to be the must have toy for Christmas. We've certainly struggled to keep pace with demand for it.
The shop has been busy in this last week before the big day. The Fairies and Fantasy figures seem to be the gift that folks want to give, and a good choice too, though maybe the odd Dalek here and there wouldn't go amiss.
Shame about all the snow as it meant that for one day Time Was... was snowed in at home and there is naff all on daytime TV to keep you interested, but then there were all those little R2-D2s to send. The chap at the Post Office must have thought it was Christmas!!! with all the parcels we gave him the following day.
Anyway it's now time to wind down, just one last shopping day before Santa arrives, provided the council has gritted the roads for Rudolph.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Monday, 30 November 2009
F A Cup
Last Sunday saw Kettering FC take on the mighty Leeds United at home in the FA Cup 2nd round and if that wasn't enough it was live on TV, so if you couldn't get to the ground then it was available from the comfort of your warm, dry armchair. I take it a lot of folks did, as we had the misfortune to be at Kettering Toyfair that day, which although it was populated by a large number of dealers, the same couldn't be said for collectors. It was unfortunately a very wet set up and break down, whatever happened in between I couldn't say as there were no windows. It was also very cold in the Arena Sports Hall. All-in-all it was a very bad miserable day for Time Was...
Luckily though we were also at the Sleaford Christmas Market which proved to be a much better place and only three miles up the road. A steady trade in gifts and fantasy figures helped make a healthy profit. It may not have been as good as last years, something called a recession might have something to do with that, but it was far better than Kettering Toyfair.
Luckily though we were also at the Sleaford Christmas Market which proved to be a much better place and only three miles up the road. A steady trade in gifts and fantasy figures helped make a healthy profit. It may not have been as good as last years, something called a recession might have something to do with that, but it was far better than Kettering Toyfair.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Memorabilia - A tale of two halves
Last weekend Time Was... was at the Autumn Memorabilia show at the NEC. A somewhat damp affair since the NEC leaked a bit, must be its creaking age, a few drops onto our stall, more onto the stall next to us but a downpour on the one next to that. So much so that they just picked up their stall and moved lock, stock and barrel elsewhere in the hall.
Apart from that Saturday was an excellent day, one of the best that we have had there. Definitely a day for the collectors, a day that saw us sell some of our older, harder to find, stock. It was so busy that there wasn't time to wander.
But even by the end of the day we were a bit tired of the 'film promotions' just opposite ourselves, a continual loop of five film trailers. Though Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief did look good.
Sunday was different altogether, it is though traditionally family day. So loads of kiddies about but not much buying. Maybe due to the cost of getting a family of four in, parking at £8 plus travelling expenses, it's not a cheap day out to start with, and then we expect them to buy collectables.
Anyway we did a fair bit, nothing compared to Saturday. The highlight of the day was an argument with the film folks as some inconsiderate young boss decided she was going to turn the volume up to full blast. This meant we couldn't hear our customers. After a request to turn it down was made by ourselves, our neighbour also went for it like a bull to a red rag.
Ohh and we did manage to wander and see some of the celebrities doing their signing bit. They are getting a bit ancient, maybe Memorabilia need to get a younger set. There is only so many times the same Bond girls can turn up. But there was Tom Felton, 'Draco Malfoy' from the Harry Potter films, to bring the average age down and he was a bit of a pull.
All in all though not a bad weekend, and for once a successful pack up and load of the car despite the NEC traffic management meant we were out of there by 5:30.
Apart from that Saturday was an excellent day, one of the best that we have had there. Definitely a day for the collectors, a day that saw us sell some of our older, harder to find, stock. It was so busy that there wasn't time to wander.
But even by the end of the day we were a bit tired of the 'film promotions' just opposite ourselves, a continual loop of five film trailers. Though Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief did look good.
Sunday was different altogether, it is though traditionally family day. So loads of kiddies about but not much buying. Maybe due to the cost of getting a family of four in, parking at £8 plus travelling expenses, it's not a cheap day out to start with, and then we expect them to buy collectables.
Anyway we did a fair bit, nothing compared to Saturday. The highlight of the day was an argument with the film folks as some inconsiderate young boss decided she was going to turn the volume up to full blast. This meant we couldn't hear our customers. After a request to turn it down was made by ourselves, our neighbour also went for it like a bull to a red rag.
Ohh and we did manage to wander and see some of the celebrities doing their signing bit. They are getting a bit ancient, maybe Memorabilia need to get a younger set. There is only so many times the same Bond girls can turn up. But there was Tom Felton, 'Draco Malfoy' from the Harry Potter films, to bring the average age down and he was a bit of a pull.
All in all though not a bad weekend, and for once a successful pack up and load of the car despite the NEC traffic management meant we were out of there by 5:30.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Spalding Toyfair
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.
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.
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.
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