Friday 13 December 2013

Kinky Hits The High Street



I'm not much a fan of the Great British High Street, the same old chains, mass-produced, questionably-made products, the hard sell, racks and racks of uninspiring stuff, nothing that deviates from the norm....but that was until I visited Blighty Bazaar.


An emporium of the finest of true vintage and quality crafts from over 90 independent retailers, situated in the heart of the beautiful Georgian town of Leamington Spa. 


Each business has its own space, decorated and stocked in a style to reflect their business.


Everywhere you look there's treasure, plaster poodles, 1950s kitchen units, vintage toys, pottery, china, glassware, exquisite vintage clothing, suitcases, retro furnishings, handmade cards and gifts...


There's even a tea room complete with piano and the most genius re-purposing of Tate & Lyle tins into sugar bowls.


and a mini salon specialising in hairstyles with a vintage vibe.

1970s Ronald Joyce maxi (birthday present from my dear friend Claire) worn with rainbow wooden beads (handmade by the gorgeous Tania)
And I'm delighted to announce that Kinky Melon are now part of Blighty Bazaar!


We have a 4 x 4 square metre pitch, conveniently situated right next to the salon, crammed with everything from vintage menswear, 


vintage womenswear, 


accessories, homewares and furniture.



We set up shop early on Tuesday morning, managing to sell a few bits as soon as the shop opened.


and popped back today to tweak our display and buy a birthday present (how cool to get everything from the card, the wrapping and the gifts all under one roof whilst supporting three small businesses!)


Talking of high-end crafts, look at the pendant Em made me for my birthday. Isn't it gorgeous? My Christian friends in Goa will think I've gone over to their side.

1970s polka dot maxi (£1, Cancer UK), denim waistcoat ( lovely Lucy), pendant & earrings (the fabulous Em)
At the start of the week I had a list as long as my arm to get sorted and all that's left is to go out and celebrate my birthday in style (a week late) without the need to get up at the crack of dawn to set my pitch up - its already up and doing the work for me!


Have a bosting weekend.

PS We'll be trading at fairs and festivals again in Spring 2014, hopefully Blighty should provide us with an income over the lean winter months. The bazaar is staffed so we'll just be popping in with fresh stock and to tweak our displays every week or so.

67 comments:

  1. Will you be there every day ? It looks like another Aladdins cave which is quite apt as you are Princess Jasmine :-)

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  2. OMG!!! We go to Leamington loads and I never knew this place existed. Must pay it a visit

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  3. wouuau, that's a pretty interesting space to show your business!, everything looks so appealing than it would take me ages to watch all that amazing stuff!!, that's my kind of shop!
    And your little spot looks delightfully full of amazing clothes, and you're such a cool couple, you rock!!
    besos

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  4. Wow! Such a lovely place. Have you stopped doing fairs altogether now?

    Lovely outfits and the pendant is perfect!

    Enjoy your belated birthday celebrations xx

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  5. Omg !! wanna come over and shop!
    Would love to get my hair done in that pink saloon.
    xxx

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  6. I really really want that blue and red floral tea set! If I lived closer I'd be there like a shot xx

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  7. Reminds me of Snooper's Paradise down in Brighton :)

    Hope it all goes well!

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  8. How exciting! Good luck with your new venture. The tea room looks divine. I'm sure your stuff will do really well there. xxx

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  9. Fabularse news, the Blighty Bazaar looks like my kind of heaven, shame it's so far away. Now you have a permanent pitch hopefully income will be steadier. I love how you have dressed it with the period pictures on the ladies and gents clothes rails. Are you required to man the shop on a rota or is it managed for you? Exciting times. Love Em's necklace and your Ronald Joyce maxi. Enjoy your belated birthday celebrations and the lie-in. xxxxxx

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  10. Congrats Vix! That must be nice to have it set up all the time. We used to have something similar here but it shut down much to everyone's protest. Now the smaller boutiques have tiny "spots" to rent which has improved their small business!

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  11. Now that's MY idea of a shopping mall- I would be in heaven! And your space looks great- so much good things packed into that space- and you two are vixen-angels. How handsome Jon looks and how gorgeous are you.

    Hope you're enjoying your Bday! Lots of love from Seattle.

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  12. Bloody Blogger just ate my comment... I'll start again!
    As always, you and Jon have the knack of creating great displays and an inviting pitch - your unit looks wonderful, packed to the rafters with treasures for the discerning vintage lover! The whole place looks fab - I do love a vintage/antiques/craft emporium, all those small traders under one roof and so much to see. Perfect idea to see you though the winter and keep the pennies rolling in, even when you're lying on a beach in Goa! Good luck with it, hope you sell loads.
    Your birthday maxi is a beauty, Em's pendant is brilliant (as we know. she's a staunch Christian lady herself...) and of course Jon is ever the dapper dude!
    Now get yourself all tarted up and get out on the town, there's celebrating to be done! Have a fabulous night, love yooooou! xxxxxx

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  13. How wonderfully awesome this is. Congratulations. The lovely Celia has stalls in a similar type of place here in Australia. You're right it's wonderful to head along and get lost in the many stalls, get everything you need or want, have a bit to eat and even watch an old movie. You and Jon have certainly crammed it full and now I'd love to take a first hand look. Um sure there is no doubt it will be a very profitable venture for you both. X

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  14. My oh my, Blighty Bazaar looks like my dream come true in a shopping locale, made more-so by the introduction of Kinky Melon. Good for you. This sound absolutely perfect for you two.

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  15. OMG OMG OH MY GOD!!!!! Look at that place look at your stall! It's friggin fab Vix! I love that this place serves tea and has a hair salon, let me just make a day out of shopping! I bet you sell loads while you are in India. That necklace from Em looks as good in these pictures as it did on you yesterday. Have fun with the gang tonight! Hugs from me!
    LoveyouXXXXXOOOOOOO

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  16. Looks Brilliant! Belfast needs a shop like this! Happy belated birthday xx

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  17. How fabulous! I'm so glad Amy has got her dream of a shop and a dream shop it is too. I feel a get together in Leamington Spa coming on.
    Glad that Kinky is a part of it too and looking brilliant. You'll knock 'em bandy.
    Have a fab weekend.
    Loves ya.
    xxxxxxxx

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  18. Congratulations - your little shop looks fantastic! You've both worked so hard so you deserve every success with this now. I'd LOVE to go, googling map now...xx

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  19. Huzzah for Amy and for your little corner of her Bazaar. x

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  20. The Blighty Bazaar looks like a perfect place for Kinky Melon, amongst all those cool stalls. I would love to go shopping there (another place to add to the list of must go-to's for when I get over there).

    Even the signs you have for your booth are ridiculously cool!

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  21. How cool! I hope it is a roaring success for you.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  22. Wow! You guys are maximizing your little space. Hope it supports you well during your winter fling :)

    Sure wish an ocean didn't stand between me and that fab place!

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  23. Congrats on the new shop space! The whole place pretty much looks like heaven. The pics of the tearoom have made me rather drooly tho' :P

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  24. The shop looks so awesome!!! I wish I could pop in and shop around!!!

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  25. What a gem of a resource for the locals& visitors alillke!

    X

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  26. Enjoy your night out! Blighty Bazaar looks fab! I'm chuffed you have a stall there, I would love to go, its always good to have refreshing tea and cake available, there is no way you could whip in and out, good luck with your new venture! x x x

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  27. Congratulations - looks like just the right place. Wish I lived nearer! Hope everything goes well.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  28. It all looks fabulous. It sounds like my type of business ... the kind where you only go in now and then ... but the money still rolls in. What a great idea. Wishing you both every success with it.
    xx

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  29. Que bonito el tocador rosa!!
    Besos

    http://judithbysucre.blogspot.com.es

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  30. Ooh, our friend lives in Leamington!!!! Must go and visit her AND visit you!!x

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  31. What an amazing looking place - and now you're the icing on that delicious vintage cake!

    Gah need to get my backside over to your neck of the woods soon - fingers crossed for 2014! :D xxx

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  32. That last comment was from me - not sure what happened with the google id! x

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  33. Congratulations, Vix! This looks like a spot with great spirit, and being next to the hair salon would be my favorite place. I wager you'll be happier than ever selling from here. Hope I can visit soon. xox

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  34. Well that's pretty bloody awesome and exciting! A whole new world of kinky Melon!! Feck I'd love to come and dribble over your wares, in more ways than one!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  35. Blighty is mighty lucky to have you on board. Oh I'd love to have a rummage around your boutique.

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  36. Oh, the shop looks so lovely, cute and cozy. And even on the photos one can see it has many beautiful things for vintage lovers. Kinky Melon has found a nice spot for its collection.

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  37. The bazaar looks fantastic. Love it when there is so much vintage goodness under one roof.

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  38. How exciting to have another shop pop up....your stall looks amazing. I'm sure you'll sell heaps. That Ronald Joyce maxi is gorgeous, & my heart always skips a beat at that polka-dot maxi. I hope you have a fabularse late birthday celebration. Xx

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  39. How exciting for you both! If I lived nearer I'd be over there like a shot x

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  40. OMG! I feel like I've died and gone to heaven! Will definitely need to get my arse in gear and head to Leamington Spa! Will need to go to the fairs too! So much Vintage to do, so little time lol.
    Congrats on the 4x4 (space, thank goodness not those hideous vehicles!) and I bet your counting down the days to the wonderful Goa! Don't blame you, the pics you put up the other day are gorgeous - like you, no wonder you fit in to the place so well :-) x

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  41. So cool! I love one stop vintage shopping like that.

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  42. Congratulations on your new venture! I hope it brings in a ton o' dosh for you during the "off" season when there aren't any fairs to do. I do hope I wished you a happy birthday on FB, I was so stupid sick I don't remember... so if not HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my fellow Sagittarius and glam friend. May you have the best of the year to come! XXX

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  43. Your display looks so beautiful, Dear Vix! I love those black boots sitting on the floor in one of the pictures. I wish I could somehow magically transport myself there, try them on, they will fit and buy them!
    Happy belated Birthday!!!!! I hope you have had splendid time!!

    Love, love, love,
    Masha

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  44. Was fab to see you both yesterday, the stall looks amazeballs, as did both of you, see you both for lunch soon
    xxxx

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  45. congrats on your regular shop spot. this is so exciting! ... this bazaar sounds great. i'd love to come by and meet you there ...

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  46. Looks like a good place to set up shop. You're making me miss my flea market selling days!

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  47. Blighty Bazaar looks like vintage heaven. I'm sure your stuff will sell like hotcakes there. I love the Our Lady pendant. I have quite a collection of catholic pendants and pictures even though I'm a dirty heathen.

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  48. Over a week belatedly, Happy Birthday!!!. The Kinky Mellon pitch in Blighty Bazaar on Great British High Street looks fabulous. Best of luck throughout the winter there!

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  49. Hi there!! Happy belated birthday wishes and best wishes for Blightys Bazaar, your stall looks amazing! xxx

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  50. "Kinky hits the high streets". Maybe a title of a song from Helga and her band?

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  51. Congrats Vix! Happy for you,that was the next logical step for you! Hope it works well for you!
    Happy birthday celebration!

    Hugs

    Arianexo

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  52. That red maxi dress is the perfect winter dress oh you look a dream on your birthday my dear! How exciting that you're now a part of Blighty Bazaar - hope it goes really well for you guys.

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  53. What great news! I wanna go to this Blighty Bazaar!

    PS: Love the nail polish shade!

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  54. What a clever idea! My DH was in Leamington today meeting a friend, he needs to go right back now and browse your menswear! Great that you can sell things whilst sunning yourself on a beach :-) xx

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  55. Yay Vix and Jon......this is fantastic.......your wee shop looks amazing.......oh oh I so want to go!!!!!!!!!
    I think your vintage treasures will fly out the door.......it all looks so so so so good.
    Sending much love from one busy vintage seller to another........love v

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  56. Congrats on your shop Vix! I really want to visit and buy pretty things and get my hair done at that salon. It looks so lovely xoxo

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  57. HURRAY!!!! Sounds fabulous, and a wonderful branching out of your business while still keeping your personal flexibility. I love places like that. There are several not too far from where I live and I adore them. I always seek them out when I'm traveling, too. Judith (The S.C.) and I went to one in Denver when I was there. Totally amazing. Just like you, too . :-)

    XXXOOO

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  58. I'm utterly delighted you've managed to score a spot in the Bazaar and near the hair salon too, bonus!! The bazaar sounds like Kitty's pitch at the WAC here in Brisbane, which looks very similar with yummy teas to boot. It'll be lovely to have your business working hard for you while you're out treasure-hunting or ... having a life and birthdays!! xoxo

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  59. congrats to the new selling point!!! :-)
    the shop sound like one i would visit weekly to browse for little treasures!
    and have tea and sweets - hmmm.

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  60. Blighty Bazaar looks wonderful. I hope your new venture will be a big success.xxx PS fab pendant!

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  61. ooh i love a good bazaar! theres are really good one in Melbourne called the Church street bazaar. The only thing stopping me from buying as much as i could from there was the fact that i had to return back to Sydney on the plane - so 20 silk scarves it was!! Good luck with your new venture!

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  62. How cool for you and, of course, all who come to vintage shop. Not to mention have tea and primp. Love the all pink hair salon. Sounds like a nice addition to the summer fairs. Countdown India.

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  63. This looks so amazing. I have wanted to go to Leamington for a while now - a colleague from work went a while ago and raved about it. Now I see your stuff all set out and looking beautiful I might have to take myself over there to check it out!

    I love the idea that your stuff is doing the work for you. Two sales in five minutes. It sure does bode well. You can go off to India, have a fab time and hopefully come back to loads of money! Perfect. xxxxxxxx

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  64. We need more Blighty Bazaars on the high street.

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  65. Best of luck with your new venture, Vix, do hope it goes well for you. Looks like a fabulous place full of treasure! x

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  66. This is brilliant that you can keep selling during your trip. And never mind about being on the high street, it's a great emporium wherever it happens to be. I love that there is a tea room there too.

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Lots of love, Vix