Tuesday 4 September 2018

The Grand Finale - End Of The Road Festival, 2018


  
Sixteen hours after arriving home from the Towersey Festival we were back on the road, on our way to Dorset for our last festival of the season, End Of The Road. After the four hour drive down south we set up our pitch and collapsed into bed just before 9pm. 

Photo booth fun

The following morning, after adding a few finishing touches to our pitch, we had a wander around the site before the public arrived. Just like last year, End of the Road had sold out and we didn't know if we'd get another opportunity to explore.


We were excited to spot an elusive peacock like us, also making the most of having Larmer Tree Gardens almost to himself.




The festival gates were due to open at 5pm so we changed and rolled up the shop front. 
Wearing: 1970s Levi's Panatella jacket (bought at last month's Classic Car Boot Sale), 1960s Aertex tee (found by a friend), skinny jeans and tooled leather belt (charity shop finds)

 Last year we didn't get many visitors until 8pm, after the first band had played their set. This time we were were inundated almost immediately, selling a handful of vintage dresses within minutes. 


After being so miserably cold at Towersey I'd had the foresight to packed my more Autumnal clothing. These super funky devore bellbottoms were a present from the fabulous Suzanne Carillo and got loads of compliments. The 1960s Jeff Banks W1 blouse was 50p from a car boot sale over a decade ago and my Gohil's exotic snakeskin boots were bought by my favourite teacher back in 1966 (the year I was born!) and donated to me a couple of years ago.


The sales continued.....the sheepskin hat (a virtual twin to my favourite festival hat) went to this lovely German lady. Just like last year we were the last shop still open after the main stage closed and the rest of the non-food traders had gone to bed. Our pitch fee had increased significantly since last year and we were a bit worried about covering our costs but when we counted up the takings before bed we were massively relieved to discover that we were already in the black...phew! 


Trade was pretty much relentless from opening at 10am the following morning. I'd decided that if this amazing Tricel maxi hadn't sold by the end of the festival I'd keep it but this lady fell in love so I settled with a photo of its psychedelic beauty instead - she was so thrilled with it that she asked me to bag up what she was wearing and left wearing it (which happens a lot!)

Wearing: 1960s lilac dinner shirt (nicked from the stockroom), vintage Hardy Amies waistcoat, black skinny jeans (charity shop finds), Doc Martens (present from me!)

We were that busy we didn't take a daily outfit post till early evening! 

Wearing a handmade green paisley maxi I bought (with much encouragement from my pals Retro Bambi) from April's Classic Car Boot Sale

Business continued to be brisk, we didn't even manage to eat until after 10pm - not that I'm complaining. After doing a quick add up we realised that we'd had the best festival trading day ever!


Wearing: 1970s dagger collar USA-made shirt (nicked from the stockroom) with black skinnies & vintage waistcoat.

As we rolled the shop front up on Saturday Jon and I decided that today would be much quieter. Surely everyone who wanted to buy our vintage had been in by now? 


I'm wearing a 1960s Hilary Floyd maxi our friends Nikki & Kirk found for me recently at a car boot sale. I love it!



We met Alan and Kim at End of the Road a couple of years ago when Alan bought a coat off us. Kim & I stay in touch via IG. It was so good to see them again.


The two Jens! Jen with the pink hair is a regular visitor to our stall at Indietracks, Jen with the heart shaped sunnies bought this amazing cherry blossom maxi from us at End of the Road last year and still loves it to bits.


Saturday quiet? Would you believe we'd smashed yesterday's total? We decided that the weekend couldn't be all work, work, work and so at 10.15 pm we shut the shop, caught the second half of the Oh Sees set on the Garden Stage and marvelled at the amount of people in the crowd wearing stuff they'd bought from us. We then headed over to the disco in the heart of the forest for a late night dance. 


Despite the late-ish night we were up at 7.30am the following morning - the shop was looking seriously empty and we needed to do some serious reshuffling of the stock so that it still looked inviting. Four rails were disassembled and tucked away under the van and we rolled up the shop front for the final festival trading day of the season.


This 1970s-loving lady fell for this gorgeous Dollyrockers maxi and left wearing it!


Another return customer! This maxi was bought from our pitch last year and remains this lady's favourite frock.


Business continued to tick over but without the intensity of the previous three days. I managed a walk around the site and said hello to some trading mates I hadn't managed to see all weekend.


I even saw a bit of music.


As is now a tradition on End of the Road Sunday I chose a couple of pairs of fabulous earrings from our neighbours, Shilpa Silver (find their website HERE). I also treated myself to an amazing dress from Luna Spirit, a fellow vintage trader.









 I managed to spot another peacock - as well as a polar bear!


I got back to discover Jon inundated with customers...again! A couple of ladies who we met on the first night popped in to say hello and told us that our shop was the emptiest of every pitch they'd visited, Bloody hell, you've nearly sold out!  And they weren't wrong, when we packed up on Sunday night we realised we'd sold over two-thirds of our stock.

Wearing; African waxed cotton shirt, burgundy skinny cords (both charity shopped)

What a weekend! A brilliant end to a fantastic, record-breaking festival season. Roll on Summer 2019!

Wearing: 1970s Lady Lichfield maxi (gift from Helga years ago)

That really was the End of the Road for us! There's just over a week to do some serious vintage stock hunting before we head off to Greece for some much needed rest and recuperation.

Blogging pals - please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of commenting. I promise to catch up with you all in the next few days.

36 comments:

  1. Sounds like your festival season ended on a high :) Enjoy some much needed time off xx

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  2. Yay, so glad you got an amazing final weekend with $ under your belt for your relaxing vacay to Greece. Take lots of pics there please - I am having Greece withdrawal

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  3. Well, I can't wait to see what you find to restock for next year!

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  4. How fab that you ended the season on such a high. Really looking forward to seeing what treasures you find to replace all you sold.
    Hugs-x-

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  5. Kudos to you on the End of the Road! Now that's the way to go out. I do believe you're going to need an assistant or two at the next one just to keep up. Maybe be open 24 hours?!

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  6. I bet your looking for a break and there plenty of work for your nest season. I like the drawing. did you do them?
    Coffee is on

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  7. Wow, that's so fantastic that you cleared 2/3 of your stock! You must have been run off your feet! [I worked in retail for 17 years - I KNOW how busy that is!] Happy hunting on your restock, and OH, to be relaxing in Greece? Fabulous, Vix - you and Jon so deserve the break!

    We have peacocks here - you can hear them at night, echoing across the city from the park where they live. Love your groovy bellbottoms, and your lovely dresses. The first picture totally reminds me of one of your dollhouse rooms - I had to look closely to see if it was real or miniature!

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  8. Love it!! Here's to big trading weekends, looking fab, and having fun!!!!!!

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  9. OMG!!! I'm so happy it was such a HUGE success! Amazing! You guys work so hard it is great when you are well rewarded.

    I cannot believe you sold 2/3s of your inventory! Wow! Sure must have made packing up a cinch. Coming home from a show like that I'm sure you're on a high for days.

    I'm delighted to see that those groovy trousers fit you. They looked even better than I imagined.

    Congratulations on your massive success. I'm glad you're getting some time to put your feet up in Greece soon.

    I also thought that first photo was one of your doll houses. Ha!

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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  10. What a fantastic way to close out the festival season-congratulations!
    Promise you will never sell that brown maxi dress you're modelling-it is Sooooo you!!

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  11. la grande finale!!!
    wonderful!!
    jon in a real life sized dollhouse - of cause you had to make this photo. very cool outfit of purple blouse and lace-y bellbottoms!
    take you time and relax..... xxxxx

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  12. You went out with a bang! So pleased that you sold so well after all your very hard work over the summer season. Roll on Greece eh? Xxx

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  13. woww, glad that you sold so well and had lots of happy customers! everybody looks fabulous! And the atmosphere looks really lively and cool!
    Obviously, you totally rock in your maxi dresses, with all those amazing sleeves and fabulous prints! You are Gorgeous! And the bell bottoms and snakeskin boots make a perfect couple!
    Glad that you're going to have some relax and holidays! Greece looks like a great idea!
    besos

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  14. Really happy for you , Its great that you had such busy trading , Hope you have a fantastic holiday , You deserve it xxx

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  15. Wow, what a successful finish to your festival season! How exciting that you have a holiday to look forward to. Xxx

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  17. What a wonderful end to the season, well deserved.

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  18. I love you in the lacy bell bottoms. A fab look.
    Congrats on the amazing end of season, the crowd there are obviously on the same wavelength.
    Have a lovely holiday. xxx

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  19. I always like the look of this festival! Have a lovely, relaxing holiday x

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  20. go home empty is a wonderful thing! Rest up and enjoy Greece!

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  21. I think I would go bed and sleep for the week, but not you! Out hunting again. I'm happy for your success and for your well earned break.

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  22. what a fun place, I think the best of the venues you have sold at this year, not least because of the sales figures! I love the fur hats- am looking out for one for myself. My brother was at the festival,I mentioned you but guess it's a big place and he didn't get to find you - shame as he would have found some great clobber.

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  23. What a grand finale to your summer, Vix, and what a splendid start to your well-earned season of rest! Nothing being in the black to lift the blues!

    The timeless grace of a maxi -- on you and your customers -- makes one wonder why any woman would choose to slop about in cargo pants and grubby tees. And as you've pointed out, maxi's are great cover-ups for all sorts of weather-beating undies!

    Should add that Jon more than did his job as a male model for vintage style on this trip! Sleek!

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  24. Well, my goodness, the fabulousness just kept on coming! What totally wonderful frocks both you and your customers were wearing. And you've shifted shed loads of stock...more chazza shopping is needed, I think!

    Jon looks so dapper and smart, too. You're both such good advertisements for your own shop and what a compliment it is that people can't wait to buy what they've bought and walk away wearing it...

    You must be completely shattered - I hope you get a good rest. I bet you've been missing your doll's house adventures....

    xxxxxx

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  25. Wonderful! So glad you did so well & had a great time. Never been to EOTR though my brother goes every year & everyone local loves it. Have a lovely time in Greece, and hopefully a real rest - you deserve it!

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  26. I'm so happy for your success! And just on time for a holiday in Greece, perfection!!
    You look absolutely smashing in all of your outfits, but I especially loved the green maxi!
    How sweet is that little girl in the sparkly rainbow skirt!
    I'm a bit off with comments myself, but no worries, we'll get there!!
    Lots of love!

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  27. Lucky you going to Greece! You certainly have worked for it though. Hope we get treated to lots of pics. From there.

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  28. AARRGGHH..just been told that the car ive been storing stuff in has been sold and "your not bringing that crap in the house " bleedin men , dozens of pairs of vintage curtains I was given ...Busy Sunday

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  31. So pleased to hear you did so well and that it was in fact a grand finale in every sense of the word. What a fabulous festival End of the Road seems to be! I couldn't take my eyes off that amazing 1960s Hilary Floyd maxi! You have truly deserved your holiday in Greece. Do go and have the most fabulous time! xxx

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  32. So pleased your festival season finished with such a flourish. Your customers obviously connect with your quality stock and presentation and of course both of you.
    No go and enjoy your well earned Greek holiday. xx

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  33. That looks like such a lovely festival, full of quirky little things to see and do. I'm glad trading went so well for you too. You've really earned that break in Greece.

    And that green paisley maxi is lush!

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  34. WOW! Congratulations on a tremendously successful last blast of summer. Now you can go off to Greece and get some R & R.

    I love all the fun art installations at this festival - so much cool stuff to look at. Your outfits are effing gorgeous, including the marvelous flares from Suzanne. The little girl and her Mom are adorable!

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  35. Have a fabulous time in Greece you have earned it!

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  36. Congrats on excellent trading glad it went well and looks like u had fun. X

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Lots of love, Vix