As a teenager, my Sunday mornings consisted of 6 am alarms ringing via my radio clock, a quick rummage through my wardrobe to pull "the look of the day," and a hop, skip, and a jump into my Mum's Fiat Panda. That's how I bounced out of the house due to my utter excitement at the thought of heading to a magical shopping land called Short Hill Car Boot sale.
Imagine a warm summer's morning in the English countryside, doughnut aroma wafting through the air and the buzz of punters as they gather around cars unloading treasures, presenting their goods ready for the day of trade ahead. This was the original "buying and selling" of goods before everything went online.
To my surprise, a traditional car boot doesn't transcend well across the pond, so my 15 years of living in America meant I was a little deprived of my car boot buzz... until now!
That's right, last week I went out with force and headed to Chorlton Car boot, in Cheshire, And you have my word, the tricks, and tips my mother (the original thrifter) taught me still work today. So here they are- for your eyes only, otherwise, you will miss out on the next bargain if you share with too many others- so let's agree to keep these tips between us SHSUK Stylers only.
Tips For Sourcing Car Boot Treasures
Early Secondhand Sourcer Gets The Worm
It's no lie, that you have to get to any car boot early if you want to make it worth your time. So set your alarm, fuel up on coffee, and don't forget to take a bottle of water, as bargain hunting is thirsty work.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask.
A lot of the time, sellers haven't managed to put prices on the goods, so you have to strike up the conversation to find out what they think something is worth. But this is where the beauty lies- in the story. It's a little more than you were expecting; they normally can guess that and will follow up with a tale about the origin, uniqueness, and background of the piece. This is when things get interesting because a lot of the time it's the story that can increase the value. So take your time and see if you resonate with the story behind the piece and consider if it's an intentional buy for you.
Never Judge A Seller Before You get The Rummage.
Don't be a Judgey Judy! Just because you see a seller who doesn't look like or appear to have the same interests as you, don't judge before you rummage. Try to give every stand a chance, as you never know what they may be selling. With time, you can skim and scan quickly and know which areas to focus on first. For example; I always look towards any box of jewellery first, as you will find that car boots are notorious for family clearouts- a member has been tasked with clearing out tons of storage and by the time they get to the chest of drawers, typically housing the costume jewellery, they want to pile it in a box and be done with. Meaning you get treasures for bargain prices!
Stick To a Path
This tip is simple. Go up and down each row, and remember to do rummage on both sides. Car boots can be overwhelming in size, so you always need a game plan.
Remember To Take Cash
Car boots are old school. No one does apple pay, or is cashless. It's a cash-filled world and that's the beauty of a car boot. You are limited to the cash you take, so it urges you only to make intentional purchases.
Arrive With No Expectations
As with charity shopping, the rule still applies. Arrive with no expectations and always be pleasantly surprised. You never not what treasure you are looking for when you start the pre-loved hunt. That's the beauty about car boot sales- it's full of endless surprises, like this beautiful vintage cuff I sourced for just £4 from Chorlton car boot.
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