A deaf antiques dealer

A deaf antiques dealer?

I am a self employed antique dealer, who happens to be deaf. Ok so what does it take to become one? The only answer I have today is energy, commitment, bags of confidence and being slightly mad helps.

Previously I worked in the deaf field for many years, finally becoming a Chief Executive officer. Looking back I was sitting in an ivory-tower in Utopia, there was little job satisfaction, too much politics, and people who didn’t even understand being deaf, dictating how deaf people should live.

After I left I worked briefly for a disability organisation which collapsed in 2012 – a victim of board incompetence. By then I was getting pretty fed up and when I found how difficult it was in the recession to find another job, I sat down and thought long and hard about setting up my own business. Ok…but WHAT business? The market was already saturated with consultants, trainers and tutors so I would have to step outside my usual skills zone.

I had always been passionate about history and antiques, so I became a volunteer for Leicester Museums and on a local archeological dig. I still do now in my free time, I work at the new Richard III Centre in Leicester as a volunteer, giving tours to people with a hearing loss when required, when not… I am usually on graveside duty at the grave site of where he was found. However these don’t make money. I sat down with my husband who was a long time experienced dealer on eBay and with Railwayana (as well as holding down a full time job) so I decided to try the big world of Antiques.

First of all I set up “Lesley’s Loft”, created a website and a Facebook page. My son in law designed my logo. I visited many antique centres with the view of renting space there, and then set up my business plan (yawn).

The “loft” on Facebook took off nicely and I found places to rent. Over the years I have learnt a HUGE amount, it has been incredible. It has been dreadfully painful, frightening, hugely expensive and cut throat, with more jealousy and rivalry then I have ever experienced before.

On the upside it has been hilarious, exciting, uplifting, motivating and inspiring. I have met the most weird and wonderful people, many of who have become friends. I am finally “accepted” into the closed community of antique dealers as a “trusted” member (a bit like joining the mafia I guess).

Peterborough 2013

I have learnt to become savvy, careful and cautious. I have learnt to put up marquees in howling gales, sleep in a camper van without a heater in sub zero temperatures, eat pot noodles (ugh) and boil a kettle under the stall.
I have learnt how to cope walking around with wet socks all day, packing everything to get ready to go to a antique fair (if you thought packing to move go on holiday was hard, this is like moving house every week). I have learnt how to do accounts (I hate maths) and bid on on-line auctions as well as on live auctions. Usually for a fair it goes like this;

5.30am Get up
6.00am Grab a cuppa, argue with Tony and then set off, argue with the Sat Nav and calm down by listening to Snow Patrol (Oh I just Love them)
7.00am Arrive at destination, find our pitch and start setting up – about 20 arguments later, numerous cups of tea, tons of bubble wrap and boxes we finally after 3 hours can admire our handiwork ready for opening.
Pitches outside can cost around £30 plus, inside £60 plus – depending on many things. The bigger the fair, the more expensive. Big fairs like the NEC, to buy a pitch inside can cost thousands. That is per event, not per year.

Amazing times

Once at Peterborough we witnessed an incredible event. In the area we were in, there were around 12 long hanger-like barns side by side, each had about 40-plus traders selling various antiques, collectables, retro and so on.<
On this day it was a lovely day, lots of people around. Suddenly there was almost a rippling wind come down the barn we were in (like when you are waiting for a tube in the London underground) and suddenly through the big doors marched a small army of Japanese people. In the front were 5 people who seemed to be marching along pointing out items, behind them was a retinue of about 8 people with bags of red sticky labels which they were putting on all the items pointed out, behind them were a group of people carrying noteboards and pens, then followed by 4 security guards in uniform.
They came down the barn almost like a Tsunami, quite fast, leaving a trail of red stickers. One landed on an expensive lamp I had on my stall after being pointed out by an intense-looking Japanese gentleman. I was then confronted by a business-like lady with a noteboard who wanted to know the price, make, age and my name. After having the cash placed in my hands, I was then instructed to pack it well for collection in a few hours to go into a shipping container.
They vanished to the next barn, leaving all us traders gobsmacked looking at each other as if to make sure we were not dreaming.
The woman opposite me was in a state as they had bought every single thing on her stall which was retro furniture and was in a tizzy as she was having to call her husband to bring more furniture.

Bargain hunt – with deaf customers!

We see them all the time at most antique fairs and tend to ignore them. However, Grimsthorpe Castle Antiques Fair this summer, the first team on the Saturday came to our marquee, so I beat a hasty retreat and hid myself in the camper van leaving my other half to deal with them. Feeling smug I had avoided the cameras, the next day I was sitting outside when two people came up to me, one started signing using British Sign Language. Thinking nothing of it I went to greet them, only to find out it was reps from Bargain Hunt and See Hear. Apparently there were going to be two deaf people on Bargain Hunt that day (Sunday) and you guessed the rest. I couldn’t hide this time as I knew the couple well and as I had already been earmarked for assault so I went with the flow. I must say I found the Scottish lady Anita, absolutely adorable, she was really a nice genuine person and had learnt a bit of sign language. They bought two things off us, and the show was aired in November this year. They won!

Episode: Bargain Hunt Series 39:20

Well that’s me for now, I am about to prepare for yet another Antique Fair, this one is at Peterborough East of England showground (another famous Bargain Hunt stomping ground). I wonder if the Japanese will turn up again too?

On an end note….ok its been hard work, having a hearing loss is very difficult in this area of work – but I can do it. Challenges are not for everyone, but my mantra has been never to allow my hearing loss to get the better of me – don’t let it get the better of you!

Lesley | Facebook | Lesley’s Loft | Tel: 01933 651377 | lesley@lesleysloft.co.uk

If you’d like to be a role model for younger deaf and hard of hearing people, all you have to do is write up to 500 words on how you got to where you are today. You’re welcome to email us at bookings@121captions.com for direction or contact us on Twitter or Facebook.