The organisation is a prime mover in attracting the once-elusive young dealer into the cut and thrust of the antiques business.
Its success has also inspired others to offer newcomers a chance to get started.
Last year Philip and Claire Crosthwaite, of Cloverleaf Interiors in south Norfolk, took over the 18-year-old antique and collectors’ fairs held monthly in the market town of Hingham, mid-Norfolk. Since that time they have acquired five ‘young guns’ of their own, all of whom are based in the county.
Step forward Tom Christman, 31, and his partner Sophie Stott, 27 (see profile below), who sell antique and vintage lighting, while Andy Cox, 29, focuses on silver.
Younger still are Tolly Isgrove, 24, who works at Greenfinch Antiques, West Runton in Norfolk, with silver and art, and Tom Boynton, 23, selling decorative pieces. None are members of AYG currently.
Now the Crosthwaites are looking to attract even younger faces by offering eight places at the next two fairs on Sunday, July 30, and Sunday, August 20. Four places at each are available to anyone aged between 14-20 (anyone under 16 would need to be accompanied by an adult) to “come and experience the nuts and bolts of a fair”, said Philip.
He added: “Payment for each of the selected stallholders will be £45 and will involve setting up the fair with the organisers at 7am. The chosen new young standholders, to be allocated on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis for the July or August fairs, will be mentored by four of the long-term standholders.”
Contact Philip Crosthwaite on 01953 483691/07919 040909 or email to pacrosthwaite@btinternet.com
Cox deals under Jeff Simms on
Shedding a youthful light on dealing
Norfolk dealers Sophie Stott and Tom Christman.
Sophie Stott, 27 and Tom Christman, 31, pictured above with some of their stock, live in the market town of Attleborough, near Thetford. Both work in social services and stand at Hingham antiques and collectors’ fairs.
Christman said the couple got into dealing by seeing the selling potential in what they were buying for themselves.
“We sell antique and vintage lighting and have started to buy small pieces of Bakelite as I believe this is one of the next big trends. I have always had an eye for style and enjoy hunting for vintage clothing and this is where my passion started.
“Sophie and I started to do some online shopping for industrial lighting for our new home and this is when I decided to buy more lighting and got into the fairs.
“Now our little business is mostly buying lighting that needs renovation and our main platform is online selling, but we also enjoy selling at local fairs.
“What pleases us the most is knowing that people who buy our pieces will love them for years to come and that’s why I would invite any young guns to start collecting and selling.”
Stott and Christman are at mid_century_luminosity on Instagram.
