If loving markets and car boot sales was a person, Northmead resident Vicki Oelofse takes the sale hands down.
She is a familiar face at both the City Times car boot sale at the Bunny Park (last Saturday of the month) and the Boksburg Advertiser car boot sale at the Bokkie Park (first Saturday of the month).
Attending markets, expos and car boot sales from a tender age, Vicki recalled helping her grandparents at their various stalls for years before her grandmother opened a shop called Flowers of the Field in Brakpan.
When her grandparents moved to Durban, Vicki stopped attending markets and for years she focused solely on her career, until she ran into financial trouble.
“I am a collector of DVDs and books. I I have over 4 000 DVDs!” she said.
She then took what she had and began selling it online and with positive feedback and word-of-mouth, she started attending markets again.
The market and car boot sale lifestyle
“My first market was at Uncle Tim’s; I have since been a vendor at several markets in Benoni.
“People are always amazed at how many items I am able to fit in my car – I owe that to my grandfather who taught me to pack like a pro.”
Vicki returned to the market lifestyle full-time on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays.
“It is hard work, but worth it, I used to sell items for other people as well,” she explained.
“I have slowed down on selling from Friday to Sunday but I work very hard to ensure the items I sell at the markets and car boot sales are valuable.”
The Northmead resident said the markets and car boot sales have become not only a lifestyle but also a passion.
“I have picked myself up financially, but I will never stop being a vendor and customer at these markets and car boot sales,” she explained.
“I have made lifelong friends with fellow vendors and customers over the years.
“When I have a stall, I still take a walk around to support other vendors. It is important to really look closely at the items for sale because most items have priceless value attached to it, so I don’t just skim the tables.”
Profits are not only for self-gain
Vicki also explained she was blessed years ago by someone in the community who did it again at the recent BCT car boot sale.
“I don’t think she realised what an impact her kindness has,” she explained.
Because she understands receiving help during difficult times, Vicki privately donates to others in need.
“I buy from charity shops because I look carefully at the value of the items. I then sell them at the craft markets and boot sales to make a profit,” she said.
Using the profit, she keeps some for herself, saves some in a donations fund and uses the rest to buy more items from a charity shop to sell again.
“I put money in the donations fund and every month end I find somewhere or someone less fortunate to donate it to,” she explained. “Hard times taught me the value of items.”
Reminiscing on how blessed she is, Vicki recalled being given 2 000 books which she sold and used the proceeds to pay for four dogs and one cat to be sterilised.
Advice for vendors
• Price your items affordably – it is about the value that the item holds.
• Support other vendors.
• Interact with your customers, smile, be approachable and engage as much as possible.
• Hard work will always result in rewards.
• If you are not a vendor, give it a try, you may really enjoy it – look through your homes and find what you need.
• Try to sell your items at car boot sales – times are hard and not everyone has recovered as yet and it benefits both the vendor and customer.
Vicky is a vendor at the BCT car boot sale, Bokkie Park car boot sale and Uncle Tim’s.
“I still sell DVDs, but only online,” she explained when reminiscing about where she started.
“I now have my own Facebook page called Victoria’s Needful Things, which I started in September 2020.
“There is something for everyone, but I enjoy selling DVDs, books and vintage items.”
She added that while she will never give up the lifestyle of being a vendor, she hopes to retire having her own store with all pre-loved items for sale.
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