Philip Carrol Antiques was established in 1983, and traded at the numerous Sunday antiques Fairs that were held in hotels throughout Yorkshire in the 1980s – it was with great excitement that I made my first £10 profit on a pair of Crown Derby vases at the Bankfield Hotel near Bingley.
This was probably followed by several small loss deals, but as all antiques dealers know, we quickly brush over those – so very little has changed! My greatest learning curve came a couple of years later, when I began trading from Rogers Arcade, later at Lipkas in the Portobello Road, and Park Hall at Charnock Richard on a Sunday.
The early 1990s saw the growth of the Showground Fairs, and despite their gradual decline, these events are still an invaluable source of supply.
The opportunity to buy fresh to market stock, that has not yet had internet exposure is of great benefit.
At all these venues, you were coming into contact with established, hardened, dealers, with great knowledge of their subjects, and knew every trick in the book when it came to negotiating a deal.
It was an invaluable experience, and I am very grateful to all the dealers & collectors who have taught me so much, not only about antiques, but also about business.
Thank you.
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