The Seaham Saturday Car Boot Sale is located on the Seaham coast, in the North East. This car boot runs every Saturday, from March to October. Seaham has 2 car boot sales, both on different sites, with 1 running on Saturday and the other Sunday. The second Seaham Sunday Car Boot Sale can be found here.
History. It has been said that Father Harry Clarke, a Catholic priest from Stockport, introduced the car boot sale to the UK as a charity fundraiser, after seeing a similar event or trunk fair in Canada, while on holiday there in the early 1970s.
Clothes are a top seller at car boots. Children's and designer clothes sell well, but do expect to get haggled on the prices. Presentation: Iron them and if possible put them on a clothes rail. Always check your clothes for tears or damage before displaying.
Fire Arms, Knives, Tobacco, Alcohol and Controlled Substances, Unless fully licensed to do so, with permission from National Car Boot sale organisers, it is strictly forbidden to sell any of the above items and any items that may fall into the above categories.
On the other hand, if somebody regularly attends car boot sales (for instance every month) with a view to making profits, HMRC will deem them to be trading and they would need to be registered as self-employed for tax and National Insurance purposes.
If you don't have a rail, a tarpaulin can be a great way to display more items without having to make people rummage through a large pile. With your items more spread out, people passing by can easily see what you have on offer and something may catch their eye.
When to arrive – Some car boot 'experts' suggest that you should visit a car boot sale both at opening time, to view the best items before they are snapped up, and then again at the end, to offer cash that sellers can't refuse if they want to avoid taking everything home.
You will need a table and ground sheets to display your wares – pack these in the car last so you can get them out first. Take plenty of change, some carrier bags and weather-appropriate clothing.
NO COUNTERFEIT OR STOLEN GOODS – This is illegal and unwelcome on our site. NO WEAPONS OR DANGEROUS ITEMS – We will remove them and give to the police. NO LIVE ANIMALS – Under any circumstances at all. NO NEW GOODS – This is a car boot not a market.
You can sell food which is not to be consumed on the premises at our sales (such as homemade cakes and jams etc). However we believe that you would then definitely be considered a TRADER and be governed by the rules set out below.
How much do you sell clothes for at a car boot sale?
Most people suggest a price of between 10%-15% of the original value is a good guideline when it comes to pricing an item. But it might be easier to look at something and imagine what you would be prepared to pay for it now. It's usually a good indicator. If something is worth a lot of money, don't undervalue it.
It is an offence to hold a temporary market, or permit your land to be used for a temporary market, without giving notice. If you do so, you can be fined up to £2,500.
You will probably need a health and Hygiene certificate so contact your council and find out. Also contact who owns the car boot site, and see if they are allowing any more traders selling sweets. It is not just a case of buying, rebagging and selling on.
While Americans hold garage sales and the French have flea markets, the English have a distinctly British activity in which to sell one's personal second hand goods.
The word "boot"(which is commonly used by the English), goes back to 18th century horse-drawn carriages where the coachman sat on a chest, which was used to store, among other things, his boots. This storage space came to be termed as the "boot locker", which soon became the "boot".
Are you allowed to sell new goods? It is fine if you bring along unwanted gifts that are deemed new. However, we are not a market and do not wish to have market stalls within our Car Boot Sales.
