Island Life Magazine Ltd December/January 2017 | Page 40

Interview the shop with desirable stock and to do this he travelled widely , including Germany , France and Belgium . Driving his trusty Ford Luton , he saved money by sleeping in the van most nights , and during the day would visit small antique dealers and local flea markets . “ The farmers would turn up with trailers full of stuff , and I ’ d be the first to rummage for bargains ” he says . Peter had one disadvantage in that he only spoke English , so communicating with the locals wasn ’ t easy , but pound notes seemed to be the common language . It was hard to find bargains as they knew that the crazy English was crying out for these oddities , so they would not haggle on prices . These days he says he manages to achieve better results by visiting UK markets such as Ardingly , Newark , Shepton Mallet and Kempton , and paying the same price or less . These markets now are huge with over 65,000 people a day visiting , rummaging around 3,500 stalls with people travelling from all over Europe to grab a bargain . There ’ s one trader who turns up from Holland in a articulated lorry with trailer attached , full of just industrial lighting from all over Europe . All sorts of people go , including interior designers and TV prop management companies , as well as antique dealers and serious collectors . “ The way I think I ’ m different is that I will travel to get things , whereas most Island antique dealers don ’ t bother ” says Peter . “ It ’ s good for me , because that ’ s how I have the edge ”. Though he ’ s now relishing having his own shop in Shanklin , Peter doesn ’ t intend to stand still . He ’ s just rented some extra space at Rectory Mansion , the old Brading Waxworks , for his quirky old garden stoneware , and says ” My plan is to expand across the Island ”. Watch this space !

Chest of Drawers £ 650 Old Tins £ 10 each
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