FINALLY after ringing several numbers yesterday,I got through to a young woman who rang me back and told me the provisional date for theBroadcast of the episode of THE BBC2 ANTIQUES ROAD TRIP that was filmed in Megarrys Blackmore in August 2011, is to be 7th FEBRUARY 2012 .
That was a disappointment I was originally told it would be in December….( Just in time for the Christmas trade I thought)
Once I get confirmation I’ll post another blog
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Tagged Antiques road trip, BBC2, Blackmore, Megarrys Antiques Blackmore
Well they’ve done it …. the BBC Antiques road trip crew arrived at 10 .30 this morning, three of them , two girl researchers and Bob the cameraman/ director, with Margie Cooper who had been dropped off by Mark Stacey on his way to Ingatestone Hall. It was fascinating watching the amount of work the team put in to getting exactly the right shot…. sometimes four or five takes of the same shot till Bob was satisfied with the picture and sound! I’m afraid my pictures are a lot less professional!
Well no excuses you know how I feel about classic cars!
Margie came in said hello and looked around , and then told me she was looking for Militaria, and automobilia…. difficult ……….I rarely sell either, but luckily had a pair of ARP 2nd world war cycle lamps and Peter found her an old Shell petrol can in his Garage! She bought both , and then looked round for other things
, finally settling on an Edwardian brass counter bell, and a pony hoof table Snuff box.
They will be going into the collectors sale at ReemanDansie Auction in Colchester in a couple of weeks,when the two dealers Margie and Mark will be competing to see who can make the most profit ,or lose the least in the auction.Any profits will go to Children in Need, so it’s a good cause, which is why I did the best deal possible. Not easy as I sell on commission and have to get permission from my customers before I can reduce their prices.
That is something the general public don’t realise.. we as a trade DON’T have huge profits to play with, and this type of programme often gives a false impression of our profit margins! Hope the publicity in December when the programme comes out makes it all worth while!!!!!
Anyway……Good Luck Margie, hope you do well at Reemans !!!!!!!
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Tagged Antiques road trip, BBC, Discounts, Margie Cooper, Megarrys Antiques Blackmore
What have I done????…. I refused three times to agree to let the ‘Antiques Road Trip BBC film ‘here. To be honest I don’t like being filmed even though 
‘House Gift’ and ‘It’s a gift’ were both filmed here. I hid away as far as poss, but I’m not sure how I’ll manage it this time… might get a stand in!
There is another aspect that really worries me. This programme depends on the Dealers buying as cheaply as possible, so that they can make as big a profit for charity as possible. Whilst I am in favour of helping charities, I am in a difficult position. I sell on commission for members of the public a small commission usually, so there isn’t much leeway for giving discounts,unless the item chosen is from my own stock. Even then contrary to popular opinion on Antique dealers I don’t put big mark
ups on the prices. My profit margins are small.
This is why I was reluctant to allow the BBC to film here, as in the past some of the discounts demanded by some of the dealers have been exorbitant, and this 
gives a totally false idea of the profit margins of most genuine honest antique dealers. I have been assured that the next series of this programme will have a less aggressive approach to ‘haggling’ I don’t mind helping Charities, but since my prices are already reasonable, and margins small there wont be as much room for manoeuvre as has been demanded previously…… should be interesting !!!!!! I’d appreciate other opinions so do please comment!!!! Might make a good starting point for a forum.
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Tagged Antiques road trip, Commissions, Discounts, Megarrys Antiques Blackmore
