A LIFE in the day

we vintage dealers revel in what was and is unique – typical just does not sell anymore, we hope! We all have our idiosyncratic traits that form the basis of our customer service in the hope of developing a loyal following and ensuring survival in what is becoming an increasingly ‘in Vogue’ profession.

We “traders” sell from different theatres: some spend cold mornings standing behind make-shifts stalls; others choose archways hidden behind railways; and some, like us, populate the market halls that were once the traditional homes of retail, and are now London attractions in their own right. It is a passion for quality and design that brings us all together.

The day inevitably begins with the inaugural raising of the shutters, which exposes straightaway what it is you are punting. Those young professionals, locals and tourists that walk the arcade during the day wait for no man; indeed it is not uncommon to have a shop full of people whilst I am still struggling to wheel-out our mid-century filing cabinet, or endeavoring to arrange a 1960s ‘flower power’ sofa that we know will cause a stir on the weekend.

From thereon in until close it is a sales game punctuated by conversations with sincere observers who tell you they can remember when they used to wear this “stuff” like it was yesterday. Occasionally the other vintage dealers will pop by and spice up the day by talking about something outside of vintage. All this takes place in front of the incumbent traders who have been selling their meat or fish since before I was born and who once took bets on how long we would last, but now consider us friends and part of the scenery.

“a sales game punctuated by conversations with sincere observers

At some point during the day my business partner and our buyer, Rich, will arrive with treasures just acquired from one of his contacts far from Brixton. It all started around five years go as his hobby, developed into business talk and matured into a pop-up shop just off Carnaby Street; he has for now settled on a shop in Brixton, with a view of repeated success in the future.

As the evening draws in we do not retire; instead our staff, and friends, change the guard and we stay open till 11pm (Thurs – Sat) to catch the eye of the foodies that frequent the market for some ‘independent’ grub. At home, Rich and I search the internet for more knowledge about things forgotten: dreaming, as all dealers do, that tomorrow we will discover something that will allow us to retire gracefully.

Visit Dom and Rich at:

The Tique Booty
38 Market Row
Brixton
SW9 8LD
w: www.tiquebooty.com

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