THERE’S no denying that Brits love to bag a good bargain, so it’s little surprise car boot sales are becoming increasingly popular.
And if there’s anyone that knows a thing or two about nabbing the best deals and making a tidy profit, it’s childhood best friends James Taroni and Andrew Walsh, who are dubbed the ‘Car Boot Kings’ – and for good reason.
The Birmingham business partners, who are owners of Eboot Markets & Car Boots, have been renting out fields across the West Midlands to people wishing to sell goods from the backs of their vehicles for 34 years.
They charge £10 for a pitch and £1 per car for visitors midweek and £2 for weekend and bank hols – leaving them with a pretty impressive profit.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, the pals, both 50, from Sutton Coldfield, who star in their own Channel Four fly-on-the-wall documentary, have shared their top tips for both sellers and buyers.
Amongst their biggest success stories include a punter named Terry Herbert, who bought a metal detector for just £2.50 and went on to find the £3.3 million Roman Staffordshire Hoard.
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They’ve also had eagle-eyed buyers sniff out gold and Rolex watches, while one couple who snapped up a £2 Chinese teapot went on to flog it for £78,000 – not bad for a few hours spent mooching around an open field.
James recalls: “It was a lovely couple from the Tamworth area and they were mooching through a box that had previously been looked through by earlier customers.
“They found this little Chinese teapot with two rabbits on the lid and they paid £2 for it.
“It went to an auction house in London in July 2005 and I believe it sold for £78,000 and would have went for more had it not been chipped.
“Every year we have stories like this, a little diamond in the rough as to say!”
Another one that sticks in James’ mind is a woman named Amy Morris who collected props from film sets.
“She got the curtains from Dot Cotton’s kitchen in EastEnders,” he recalls.
“She bought it from our car boot in Bassetts Pole.”
Andrew adds: “Last year someone bought some gold. A watch guy has found Rolex’s and Omega’s that he’s added to his massive watch collection.”
Recalling when their passion for car booting first started, dad-of-five James, who is expecting his sixth child in June, explains: “Andrew and I have been pals since primary school.
“We got to the age of 17 and were going out but needed money, so we went to a car boot – and that’s when we found a niche in the market.
“There were no Saturday car boot sales so Andrew and I said, ‘Come on, let’s try doing a car boot.’”
While James was still doing his A-Levels and Andrew was working full-time, they tried holding a car boot sale of a weekend.
“The first one we had eight car booters turn up and the pitches were free of charge and by the end of year one the maximum we had was 30 car booters,” James recalls.
Fast forward to now and the wheeler dealers operate from seven different sites around North-east Birmingham – situated around the edge of Sutton Coldfield at Bassetts Pole, Middleton, just alongside the Belfry, at Lea Marston (two sites) at Hams Hall, and now also at Chelmlsey Wood/Castle Bromwich/Coleshill.
Not only that, but they’ve recently broken the Guinness World record for the largest car boot on earth with 1,068 sellers at their Belfry site, beating the previous record of 1,024 which was achieved in Sweden in 2016.
They found this little Chinese teapot with two rabbits on the lid, they paid £2 for it. It went to an Auction house in London in July 2005 and I believe it sold for £78,000
James Taroni,
James, who recently flew to California to open a car boot at Coachella Valley High School in the hopes of taking the car boot concept across the pond, says: “We must’ve had about 20,000 members of the public come through the gate.
“It was amazing! We had a firework display and over 600 charities that day. I bet we raised over £1 million for different charities. We had people come from France, Scotland and Cornwall.”
Over the years, the pair have witnessed people get engaged at their car boot sales and have even had a birth.
And they make sure to turn it into a fun day out for everyone, with helicopter rides and monster trucks – and not to mention special appearances from showman James.
Andrew explains: “There’s a lot of resellers and they use us quite a lot now.
“These Youtubers, influencers and resellers, they’ve got massive followings and they literally want to come and see the ‘Car Boot Kings’ – especially King James with all his gold chains and fur coat on and everything.
“He’s a showman. He’s like the proper King – he’s like King Charles, we wheel him out for special occasions!”
Now, James and Andrew want to encourage people of all ages to visit a car boot sale and see what it’s all about.
“So many people come down to walk in the Warwickshire countryside for their mental health,” James explains.
“Everyone’s just in a good mood – people are earing money, saving money, there’s no negative to a car boot, just positives all the way through.”
Andrew adds: “There’s a family that come with their two kids, who are aged seven and eight, and they walk around with their trolley and buy stuff.
The first, second or third aisle are the most popular but a good position is by the catering van because people will always stop there
James Taroni,
“They might spend £3 for a pair of football boots but they’ll sell them on eBay for £12 and if you do that 10-15 times a day…they paid for a family holiday to Disney World.”
But there’s one thing that is more important to the duo than anything else – and that’s helping others.
“The massive thing for us is that we really try to help people who are struggling, especially after Covid and with the cost-of-living crisis,” James explains.
“We let our charities in for free or anyone raising money for a good cause, like if you’re a young student and want to travel the world but you’ve got no money.
“It’s at our expense but we’re big believers that the clock comes back to 12 and if we can help people, we’ll help them.”
TIPS FOR SELLERS
1. Everything sells
James, who once paid £5 for a faux fur coat that would usually cost around £500-£600, explains: “The things you don’t think you’re going to sell, you’ll sell.
“One man’s rubbish really is another man’s treasure – what’s not good for you is good for someone else.
“I remember when I turned up and had a hosepipe – it was only 5 metres long, but someone needed 2 metres of hosepipe just to get from their washing machine to outside.
“I got £2 for a bit of hosepipe I’d normally throw in the rubbish.”
2. Get there early
As the well-known phrase goes, ‘the early bird catches the worm.’
James says: “We always say try and turn up early. People don’t want to lose their Sunday so the’re happy to come early doors – the earlier the better really to get the better positions.
“We open at 3am and the big market traders that have the big pitches and take a couple of hours to set up get there for then.”
3. Choose your positioning wisely
“People want to be on the first aisle because obviously it’s the first port of call when the customer comes in,” James explains.
“The first, second or third aisle are the most popular but a good position is by the catering van because people will always stop there.”
4. Presentation
James explains that if you’re coming to do a car boot as a first timer, you’ll need a table, a sheet and if you’ve got clothes to sell, a clothes rail.
“Your valuable things you’ll want to keep closer to you – you wouldn’t go to the pub and leave your wallet on the bar,” he continues.
Andrew adds: “The more effort you put in the more you’re going to sell it for.”
5. Persistence is key
Andrew says: “Don’t give up after the first time, persevere.”
TIPS FOR BUYERS
1. Come with a wish list
It’s worth knowing what you’re after before you arrive so that you don’t waste your time or money on unwanted things.
Andrew says: “Some people come with a wish list and they’ll search for those things week in and week out.
“I’ve got people asking me all the time, ‘Can you look out for this, can you look out for that?’”
2. Don’t be scared of second-hand electricals
While many people may steer clear of second-hand electricals through fear they’re faulty, the car boot pros have a top tip that could just save you wasting hundreds of pounds.
James explains: “You can buy fridge freezers that someone’s bought for £10 rather than say, £150.
“And you can get second hand 8inch TVs for £100. They might have a chip on the top corner but you can’t see it, but because they’re damaged they can’t resell them so they tend to make their way to the car boot.”
He continues: “I bought a 42inch TV for my son for his bedroom last year and paid £50, and you’re talking about a £300 TV. It’s still working now!
“You’ve got to use your common sense when it comes to electricals.
“There are guys like the coffee lady who offers electrical testing so you can take them to her and drop it in the generator.”
3. Keep your eyes peeled
While the duo insist that everything sells, there are a few items that James notes are particularly worth keeping your eyes peeled for.
“Baby products are amazing,” he explains.
“Once you’ve finished with your pushchair that’s cost you £1,000, people get rid of them for £50 and just don’t want them anymore.
“They might be second-hand but they’re so expensive now.”
He goes on to say that another product worth keeping an eye out for are football boots.
“My children, it’s £50, £60, £70 for a pair of football boots and because they’re only eight, six, they’ll only grow out of them in about six months,” James explains.
“Someone’s happy for you to pay £5 for them and a lot of people put them on Vinted for £20. Once you’ve cleaned them up it’s still a football boot.
“If you’re a buyer, the world’s your oyster, whether you want to save money, earn money, or invest it and resell it, it’s beautiful!”
Andrew points out that people often have a bad impression of car boot sales and just assume they’re like a jumble sale with a load of rubbish, when in actual fact they can help you to furnish your house.
James, who has done just that with some of the bargains he’s snapped up, adds: “I’ve had fantastic garden furniture from the car boot.
“It’s worth between £2,000-£3,000 and I’ve paid £200 for it. People are moving houses or downsizing and they don’t need it anymore.”
UKs biggest & best car boots
1. Arminghall Car Boot Sale, Norfolk
Arminghall is one of the largest car boot sales in Norfolk, attracting thousands of visitors every week. It offers a vast array of goods, from antiques and collectibles to fresh produce and clothing.
2. Bristol and Bath Car Boot Sale, Somerset
Held at the Bath Racecourse, this car boot sale is known for its size and variety. It’s a must-visit for bargain hunters and those looking for unique items.
3. The Giant Shepton Mallet Flea & Collectors Market, Somerset
Located at the Bath and West Showground, this market is held several times a year and is one of the largest in the country. It features a mix of traditional car boot stalls and antique dealers.
4. Denham Giant Car Boot Sale, Buckinghamshire
Denham is one of the largest car boot sales in the South East, offering a wide range of items from household goods to vintage treasures. It’s a popular spot for both buyers and sellers.
5. Wimbledon Car Boot Sale, London
Held every Saturday and Sunday, the Wimbledon Car Boot Sale is one of London’s most famous. It attracts a diverse crowd and offers an eclectic mix of items.
6. Chiswick Car Boot Sale, London
Known for its friendly atmosphere and high-quality goods, the Chiswick Car Boot Sale is a favourite among Londoners. It’s held on the first Sunday of every month.
7. Chelford Car Boot Sale, Cheshire
One of the North West’s largest car boot sales, Chelford offers a huge selection of items. It’s a great place to find everything from garden tools to vintage clothing.
8. York Racecourse Car Boot Sale, Yorkshire
This car boot sale is held at the York Racecourse and is one of the largest in the region. It features hundreds of stalls and attracts a large number of visitors.
9. Belfast Car Boot Sale, Northern Ireland
Located at the King’s Hall Complex, this car boot sale is the biggest in Northern Ireland. It offers a wide range of goods and is a great place to find a bargain.
10. Edinburgh Corn Exchange Car Boot Sale, Scotland
One of Scotland’s largest indoor car boot sales, it’s held every Sunday and offers a vast array of items. It’s perfect for those looking to shop in a weather-proof environment.
4. Shop seasonal
Andrew advises to think seasonal when it comes to buying and reselling products.
He recalls: “There was a guy that used to come and buy wetsuits from a seller that flogged ex Sports Direct gear.
“He’d sell wetsuits at £5-£6 a time and the buyer was selling them on eBay for about £40 or £50.
James adds: “He’d seasonal buy so he’d buy in the winter and sell them in the summer.”
5. Take change
One big mistake people often make is not carrying enough change on them.
“Quite often if you’ve got a £20 note and it’s £2 for an item and they’ve got no change then you have to mess about,” James says.
“So make sure you have a pocket full of change.”
6. Be prepared to mooch
It can take hours to walk around a car boot sale, but good things aren’t worth rushing.
James advises: “Mooch – look in the bottom of boxes and don’t rush because there’s a diamond in the rough, quite literally!”
7. Be prepared to haggle
The best pals are huge fans of haggling and think it’s all part of the fun.
James says: “When it comes to having a price list, you’ll know what price you want for it, so your price is really already set.
“It’s part of the market trader Del Boy haggle – that’s the beauty of the car boot, it’s taking you back to basics where it’s all haggling and fun.
“If you don’t want to sell it for £20 you don’t have to, and you can just wait for the next person to come along.”
Car Boot Kings is available to watch or stream for free on Channel 4