A family day out – and a bargain to boot
MORE than a third of the population will visit at least one car boot sale this year, according to a survey.
Car company Chevrolet commissioned the poll in a bid to associate its brand with grabbing a bargain.
More than 1,000 people were questioned, of whom 41 per cent said they will visit several car boot fairs this summer, which would equate to 19 million people if the sample is representative.
To emphasise the value-for-money theme of Chevrolet’s Epica model the company has produced a Guide to Car Booty as an e-book on the web.
Co-written with Eric Knowles of Antiques Roadshow fame it includes hints on how to spot the best value for money items.
Its researchers found that almost half of us say that hunting for a bargain is one of their favourite weekend pastimes. The majority admit that the current financial climate means they are more likely to go to a car boot sale, which almost half believing that boot sales are the best place to find a real bargain.
Results show the number of car boot sellers has increased significantly this year with an estimated 1.1 million additional traders capitalising on growing attendance figures. More than a third of UK adults are planning to take part this summer, with average takings being £142.
Mr Knowles says: ‘Boot sales are a fabulous way to stumble across some amazing finds for next to nothing. Trust me, there are some great value goodies still waiting to be discovered in the nation’s car boots and could even come across a hidden treasure worth tens of thousands of pounds. One person’s trash is another’s treasure!’
The Welsh are more likely to attend a car boot sale than anyone else in the UK, with 79 per cent planning to visit at least one this year. Bargain hunters in the South West come second.
Boot sales are now more popular than ever with the younger generation. This year attendance by the under 25s is expected to be up by 15 per cent.
The top ten best boot sale finds
1. A letter from Abraham Lincoln was bought for one pound and is estimated to be worth £500,000.
2. An 18th century Belgian painting of cats by artist Henrietta Ronner which cost 50 pence, sold at auction for £22,000.
3. Four enamelled glass tumblers bought for 25 pence each sold at auction for £21,600.
4. An 18th century porcelain jug was found for 50 pence and sold for £9,200 at auction.
5. An autographed Rolling Stones album bought for two pounds sold at auction for £4,000.
6. A 20th Century Scottish artist Stanley Cursiter painting was bought for one pound and sold for £3,200.
7. A certificate awarded to an officer who rescued Titanic survivors in 1912 was bought for ten pounds and is worth £3,000.
8. A FabergÌ© vodka cup bought for 20 pence sold at auction for £2,000.
9. A signed Broons annual was bought for five pence and sold for £1,350.
10. A 1937 Rupert Bear annual was purchased for 10p and is worth £400.
Percentage of UK adults who intend to visit at least one boot sale this year
1. Wales – 79 per cent
2. South West – 78 per cent
3. East Anglia – 73 per cent
4. = South East – 72 per cent
4. = North West – 72 per cent
5. Scotland – 71 per cent
6. North East – 69 per cent
7. London – 68 per cent
8. Midlands – 65 per cent
The top ten things to purchase at a car boot sale
1. Plants – 38 per cent
2. Ornaments – 36 per cent
3. LPs, Records, Singles – 33 per cent
4. Toys – 32 per cent
5. Tools – 28 per cent
6. Children’s clothes – 22 per cent
7. Vintage clothes – 21 per cent
8. Antique furniture – 19 per cent
9. Kitchenware – 18 per cent
10. Household items – 13 per cent
Average takings for car boot sales
1. North East – £158
2. London – £158
3. Scotland – £157
4. South East – £155
5. North West – £137
6. East Anglia – £132
7. Wales – £132
8. Midlands – £131
9. South West – £107
Categorised as: EPICA