I had a skype call with my mother in-law in France last night and she was showing me some of her brocante finds from the last couple of weeks and oh how it got me dreaming! It’s the springtime there so the market season is in full flight and right now I’d love nothing more than to hop on a plane and spend the next month travelling through the countryside of France visiting friends and family and scouring all of flea markets, brocantes and vide greniers along the way. I’d fill a truck or perhaps even a container and finally open that shop that I’ve been dreaming about.
To me, walking around a market would have to be one of the most enjoyable experiences. I might not necessarily purchase something every time but I love people watching and seeing the purchases they have under their arms and imagine what they might do with it. Market finds are the things that make a décor really interesting don’t you think?
You might be wondering the difference between the three markets I mentioned. Here’s a little explanation:
Vide Grenier – The translation is ‘empty the attic” and it’s like one massive garage or car boot sale. There’s a lot of junk, broken toys and old games but there’s also loads of treasures to be found.
Brocante – A market full of small storeowners or collectors selling vintage wares.
Flea Market – Professional and casual store holders of clothing and bric-a-brac. You do also get brocante storeowners at flea markets
If you’re ever visiting France, you can find all of the markets of regions listed here. Note that there’s an English button down the bottom.
Before I leave you today, I’d like your opinion. I really would love to one day open a shop but I’ve seen many friends with their own shops and like most small businesses, they’re slaves to it. I’ve heard about bloggers in Europe and Scandinavia opening their stores just once a week. What do you think about that? Would that put you off or perhaps it makes it all the more appealing? I do wonder how it works financially but I think that the shops are in their homes and/or studios so it wouldn’t make such a difference.
Enjoy the rest of your day everyone and see you Wednesday!
Mel x
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Hi Mel,
Love your blog. You have great taste and a good eye. I am an Aussie in Hong Kong. I shipped my first container of antiques from UK, France and Belgium this year and have a shop open Sundays, and otherwise by appointment. You can make it work for you. My pieces are bigger investments but the interior designers are my market so I want to make an appointment and also have time to entertain here, travel and meet with media to do PR without customers wandering through. Thanks to you I stock some of Sophie’s vintage linens. The napkins did very well although everyone is terrrified to wash them fearing the colours will run or fade. Table cloths not so popular yet but I need to add homewares to attract a range of customers. Anyway, you won’t know unless you try it. I started with a Pop-up and got plenty of confidence and encouragement. You are passionate and it will win over the end users for sure. The only thing I would say is that NZ has so many quirky, cool retail businesses, just market yourself heavilly in advance – start marketing now… build up some hype so that you are flat-out the day you Pop-up or Open. Pop-ups give you necessary feedback to take the next step. And definitely you can combine it with your transient lifestyle. Building hype inbetween. Go for it!
Hi Kate! Oh so lovely to hear from you and to know that you stock Sophie’s linens – you made my day:) You’ve got some great advice for the store – pop ups are definitely the way to go. Thanks for visiting:) Mel x
Hi Mel: I’m visiting, and have seen your name several times, from FB and the Decor 8 Group… This post really struck a chord with me. Yes, I adore the markets in France. I’m in the U.S. but go over at least once a year…and am going again on May 31. I’ll be buying from the Porte de Vanves market in Paris that Sunday,t hen down to Aix to do more!. Love love love it all. My business partner, who is American, lives in Aix.
I’ll be back… and like your blog very much. Please come visit me!
Libby
Thank you so much for stopping by and your lovely comments Libby! I just popped by your blog and got lost in France… most enjoyable:) Mel
Don’t tempt me , Mel. France is pretty close to Barcelona, you know… I have recently read an article in an interiors magazine where this couple would go once a year and literally furnish their barn with stuff/finds from the market, restore everything, keep some objects, sell others and wait for the next market the upcoming year. A way of renewing every 12month :-)
Now that would be a nice hobby Gudy! Yes only 3 hours to Toulouse…
Wonderful blog Mel, how funny that we wrote a similar post, Well I love flea markets, I lived in Italy for 10 years and know many of them they have even a fair of flea markets In Arezzo where most of the vendors go there and expose their best items. Every time that I visit Italy I want to buy everything but now is difficult to carrie on the airplane :)
Thanks Cintia! Oh how wonderful it would be to have lived there for 10 years… Getting the stuff home is always a challenge but some of the top ones in Paris have an area for logistics, I wonder if they’d have the same in Italy. M x
ooohhh!!! I share your dreams… I have a room full of brocantes finds still waiting for me in France, it’s the load from last summer… I knew we had no space left at home but I could not help it once I was there!
I have got many friends in France who have opened a little shop in a part of their house. They are only open a couple of days a week, more often through Christmas but also take month long breaks over summer. It works really well for all of them, they usually have very regular customers who like the homely atmosphere and the baking the shop owner usually provides! I love shopping there it’s always full of new exciting things, we get to catch up and chat, there is no stress, it is a completely different experience!
I am sure New Zealand is not far from starting that kind of shop set up, it’s ideal for the owner both in terms of time and finance. Pop up shops are great too! We did one with some friends over a night at cafe in Hamilton, people absolutely loved it, they were sitting catching up with their friends, shopping, eating,… it was brilliant!
Anyway! Sorry for this super long comment, I am quite passionate about these small business ventures and how genuine they are!
Good luck in your projets Mel!!
Audrey don’t apologise about your long comment, I loved reading it! I visited some of those shops the last time I was there and purchased some beautiful linen pillowcases… I agree, NZ will soon follow this trend. I would have loved to come visit you when you did that pop up – how cool and I hope that you do something, I know you’ll do a great job! For me I’m trying to figure out how I can do it with our transient life… Mel x