If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like working behind the counter in an antique centre then sit down with a nice cup of mellow birds, tuck your slippers under your bottom on that dralon sofa and open that packet of malted milk. For here’s how it kind of goes.
Imagine a bit of Are You Being Served, a dash of Fawlty Towers and a large sprinkling of Acorn Antiques. We’ve a core team who do 2-3 days a week each to cover the seven days we’re open and all are passionate about our business, the building, our dealers and customers.
We arrive early to put a selection of items outside to tempt passers-by. It’s amazing how many people come in and tell us they were just driving past and saw a particular table, chair, antique bit of railing and just had to whizz round the corner, park up and buy it. Whoever’s on duty has a quick look around to see what’s new in – if we don’t do this we can’t answer the ‘Do you have any…’ questions – which are sometimes ‘I know it’s a long shot but I’ve been looking for a….’ and it’s always lovely when we can take the customer and show them what they’re after. We also post photos of a huge amount of our stock on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter which is like our virtual shop window. When our customers see these they can get in touch and ask us to reserve items. We take calls each day from people looking for a certain something.
And of course we have our regulars who are in each week to treat themselves to a new penknife, banknote, bit of vintage kitchenalia or 1970s clothing. We also get visits from people who style pubs, or work in the Sheffield theatres or TV are looking for a wish list of props and paraphernalia. If we don’t have what they’re looking for we recommend other dealers in the Quarter who we think can help.
So the doors are open and our customers start coming in – in fact sometimes they’re waiting outside for us to open up. And as they start mooching around our dealers’ units, we pop the kettle on and see who’s brought in the most exciting cake.
We stick on Radio 2 and listen to Pop Quiz which sets us up nicely for the day. We’ve also got a record player and a CD player so we can have a vintage moment with Glenn Miller or Glen Campbell when we have the urge. Or the rhinestones.
Around three or four times a day we get someone coming in to sell us something. Some days it’s a lovely surprise, decent pieces of furniture or retro items which we know we can sell to our customers and so we pay a fair price, spruce the items up a bit and put them out for sale again. We try and work with each of our dealers to make sure that they get the opportunity to choose from what’s on offer if it’s suitable for their units. Other days our heart sinks as the person opens the well worn plastic bag and we have to smile politely and say it’s not for us.
Like any antique centre we’re wise enough to recognise those with stolen goods whose ‘Nan didn’t just die’ and we send them on their way. Then there are those who are a little worse for wear, as our mothers would say “They’ve been sniffing the Barmaid’s apron!” Again, we encourage them to leave as quickly as possible.
We also have to deal with shoplifters but we have cc tv cameras covering all the areas and both sides of our building outside where we put stock, so our staff are well practised in dealing with these sorts too. If someone does try to steal something, we take a photo on our phones and post it to other dealers in the Antiques Quarter to let them know who’s on the prowl. That all sounds rather negative and it is only a very small part of our otherwise enjoyable days.
We love it when our dealers and regular customers pop in. Some even bring their lunch and we make cups and cups and cups of tea and hand round the day’s cake and put the world to rights whilst discussing the latest amazing item on Antiques Roadshow or Flog It.
Most days are pretty busy, weekends are always mad. It’s been fabulous over the last four years to see our customer base expand to younger couples, individuals and students who’ve started buying vintage to do up their rooms and new homes.
We have four dealers who sell vintage clothing now from the 1950s to 1980s and this is really popular with our younger clients. They now ask us to keep an eye out for certain things and get in touch with them.
Tuesdays are the days most of our dealers drop by to bring in new stock. It doesn’t make sense for them to come in on a busy weekend when the units are full of customers or there’s a queue on the staircase. It takes time to merchandise the new items and make displays that tempt buyers.
We’ve also got our Corner Gallery which exhibits works of art, craft and greetings cards made by local artists. It’s a gift shop so our customers can buy these original pieces and also support the local makers, artists and craftspeople.
Some days you’ll find owner Paul up ‘the large ladder’ rearranging the art when we sell a couple of paintings and need to fill the gaps!
We don’t take commission on any items in the centre – all our artists and dealers just rent space for a monthly amount and then the sales go directly to them. It’s become a large, happy family over the years and it’s a beautiful building to work in.
We look after all the units for our dealers and make sure they’re looking their best at all times.
We’re a Grade II listed building and have retained as many original features as we can. Many people tell us their memories of coming in years ago when it was still a bank. Some were customers, others worked here. We invite them to look in the old bank manager’s office, in the vault with its heavy door and up the back stairs to the room with the old fireplace where the bank clerks ate their lunch. We even have some of the old ledgers which we show them.
If we get a quiet half hour we whizz round with the hoover, do our social media or rearrange the furniture to create new displays. Rearranging furniture is so therapeutic! We end the day switching off all the lights, bringing the stock back inside, locking all the doors and looking forward to another day.
Heeley Bank Antiques Centre 