A Bank Holiday, 33°C Heat & Some Wonderful New Finds
One of the things we've learned over the years is that no two sourcing trips are ever the same. Some trips result in a van packed from floor to ceiling. Others involve hours of searching, plenty of miles on the road, and a much more selective approach to buying.
Our latest buying trip definitely fell into the second category. This time, there was an added challenge too. Usually, when we're sourcing stock, there are two pairs of eyes looking for hidden treasures. Two people spotting opportunities. Two people covering twice the ground. But on this trip, it was just Amy. With the shop remaining open over the Bank Holiday, Shaun stayed behind to look after customers while Amy headed off in search of new stock.
As anyone who buys antiques and interiors will know, having one less person searching makes a huge difference. Not only are there fewer eyes scanning the stalls, but every buying decision, every negotiation, every item inspection and every loading trip back to the van falls to one person.
Still, that's all part of the adventure.
A Fairly Early Start
The day began at 5:30 AM. While most people were enjoying a lie-in on Bank holiday Sunday, Amy was already on the road, heading towards the market of the day with a plenty of water in hand and high hopes for what might be waiting.
One of the things we love about sourcing is the anticipation. You can do all the research in the world, but until you actually arrive, you never really know what you'll find. Some days are incredible. Some days are hard work. Most are somewhere in between.
Buying Begins at 7 AM
By 7 AM, buying was already underway. The weather was warm from the outset, sitting at around 25°C before Amy had even started her day. At first, it felt ideal - Blue skies, sunshine and rows of antiques waiting to be explored. But as the morning progressed, temperatures continued to climb, and climb, and climb. By the time midday arrived, the van was reading 33°C. Lovely weather if you're sitting in a garden with a cold drink - Slightly less enjoyable when you're lifting furniture, pulling a trolley with stock and repeatedly walking back and forth across the fair.
Quality Over Quantity
One thing we've always believed at Relish is that there's no point buying stock simply to fill a van. Of course, everyone loves the idea of returning home with every available inch packed full of amazing finds, but we've never bought that way. This particular trip was an expensive one, and while there were certainly plenty of items available, there wasn't a huge amount of quality furniture that really stood out.
Rather than compromise, Amy did exactly what we've always tried to do - Buy the pieces we genuinely love, The pieces we would happily have in our own home, The pieces that feel special.
Would it have been nice to fill the van completely? Absolutely. But we'd much rather return with a carefully chosen collection than buy things simply for the sake of it. That's always been the Relish approach, and it's something we don't intend to change.
The Finds That Made the Trip Worthwhile
Despite the challenges, there were still some fantastic discoveries throughout the day.
Among the highlights were a wonderful collection of French bobbin stools, packed with the character and charm that makes French furniture so popular.
There were also some beautiful enamelware pieces, each with the sort of timeless appeal that works just as well in a modern interior as it does in a traditional country home.
And then there was the pottery! Some truly unique hand-thrown pottery pieces immediately stood out. The kind of pieces that stop you in your tracks and remind you why sourcing trips are worth the effort.
Those are often the pieces we love most & the ones that don’t hang about for long
Loading the Van in 33°C
By midday, it was time to start loading. Unfortunately, that also happened to be the hottest part of the day. With temperatures sitting at 33°C, every trip back to the van felt that little bit harder. Furniture, pottery, enamelware all had to be carefully packed and secured for the journey home.
And once everything was loaded, there was still one final challenge waiting - The drive back to Devon.
Four and a Half Hours Home
Waiting outside was an almost black van, with no air conditioning, and a 4.5-hour drive ahead. Safe to say, it wasn't the most comfortable journey.
By the time Amy finally arrived back in Devon, she was tired, hot and more than ready for a cold drink. But despite the heat, the long day and the miles covered, there was still that familiar excitement that comes with unpacking a new collection. Seeing the pieces together, Imagining where they might end up, and preparing them to be photographed and shared - That's always the reward.
New Stock Arriving This Sunday
We're excited to share this latest collection with you very soon.
From French bobbin stools and enamelware to unique hand-thrown pottery and carefully selected decorative finds, there are some wonderful pieces joining the website.
Our latest stock drop will be going live on Sunday at 8 PM on our website.
If you'd like an early preview, make sure you're following us on Instagram where we'll be sharing the new arrivals on our Stories from 5 PM.
As always, many of these pieces are one-offs and once they're gone, they're gone.
We can't wait to show you what Amy found.
