Fairs aren't faring well

The crowds are thinning at antiques and collectibles fairs. Andrea Jutson looks at the reasons
Bargain-hunters are still out in force, but these days more seem to be after cheap petrol than vintage toy trains. Numbers at antiques and collectibles fairs throughout Auckland are down, and some fair operators fear their days are numbered. Some have already folded their trestle tables, including the once-popular Alexandra Park fair. Most people in the trade are talking about how these places are dwindling," says antique dealer Raewyn Robinson, of Ritzy Bits in Remuera. On a recent visit to Paeroa, sometimes styled as the antiques capital of New Zealand, Raewyn found scarcely a knick-knack in town. The same went for Huntly and Tirau, with just one antique shop left apiece. Some blame TradeMe. As Ms Robinson puts it: "Why have a store with all the overheads when you can just sit at home and sell things?" Fair organiser Graeme Humphrey blames busy lifestyles: "Quite often fairs clash with other things or people are really busy during the week and have to catch up on weekends." For 20 years he has run what he calls the largest model fair in New Zealand, held at the YMCA hall in Northcote every six months. While attendance by stallholders has dropped as petrol prices have risen, he still gets 500 to 600 visitors every time. Mark Rule, of South Auckland Model Railway Club, says TradeMemight have novelty value, but true collectors "want to see things in person, and quite often things are even cheaper than on the internet". However, he says numbers at his March fair in Papatoetoe were well down and if the September show isn't up to expectations, it may be the last. A swap-meet run by colleagues at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall was woeful, he says. "In November, you could have let off a shotgun in there and not hit anyone." Mr Humphrey uses diversification to survive, allowing regular antiques in alongside the traditional models and toys. He plans to approach regular antique shows about selling military books. And there is light on the horizon - central Auckland now has a regular show again, at the Mt Eden hall. Operator Brian Mossong says the first show in March was so popular that he plans to run four fairs in Mt Eden each year. He started it after the demise of the Remuera fair, making sure central Aucklanders still had a venue. Mr Mossong says about 500 people attended the March fair, and he's lined up another one for June. He says that the reason for its success is that he spent $500 on newspaper advertising and $800 on billboards. He also printed and delivered 2000 leaflets and posted flyers in shops and community centers weeks in advance. "I don't think we even made money out of it," he says, "but the response from the public was: 'Wow, that was great. When's the next one?"'
- Blockhouse Bay Antiques & Collectibles: Blockhouse Bay Community Centre, 524 Blockhouse Bay Rd. May 18, 9.30am-2pm. Cost $2. Ph 445 1227. - Pukekohe Antique and Collectibles: Indian Community Centre Hall, Ward St. May 17-18, Sat 9am-4.30pm, Sun 10am-3pm. Entry $5, children free. Ph (03) 547 9833, email roadshow.antiques@xtra.co.nz. - Model X Hobby Extravaganza: WestWave, Alderman Drive, Henderson. May 31-Jun 2. Adults $5, seniors/children $2, under 5 free. - Mt Eden Antiques & Collectibles: Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, 489 Dominion Rd. June 21-22, 9am-5pm. Brian Mossong, ph 021 433 588.
For a complete list, see www.huntly.net.nz/antique.html