Antiques Wars? Swinderby fair to be revived by Newark owners!

[...] Antiques Wars? Swinderby fair to be revived by Newark owners … [...]

i tink it is pathetic.of the dmg group to try to undermine
the swinderby fair .in such a underhanded manner.there is plenty of room for both fairs to run as they were. dmg group have gradualy
increased there fees at most of there venues .and no doubt they will do the same again ,as they try to end the arthur swallow fairs. i hope the dealers stay loyal to the swallow fairs as they are very helpfull organisers. good luck arthur swallow fairs and hope you have a great first fair at the lincoln showground.

[...] Antiques Wars? Swinderby fair to be revived by Newark owners! :: Antiques Blog AntiquesAvenue http://www.antiquesavenue.com/antiques-wars-swinderby-fair-to-be-revived-by-newark-owners/ – view page – cached Is there to be an antiques fair war? A clash of the two Titans of the Antiques Fair world? The countries best fair the Newark Antiques fair has lon — From the page [...]

I think it is disgusting that D.M.G. have been allowed to take over the fair at Swinderby. Arthur Swallow has built the fair up over the years and has been very loyal to all his customers. it is up to the dealers now to vote with their feet and all follow Arthur Swallow to Lincoln.

As a stallholder at both newark and swinderby i must express my disgust at the actions of iacf they are reviving a war which was fought and drawn 15yrs ago.we are in a ressesion,antiques are out of fashion and this silly battle will do harm to all concerned.maybe iacf should put thier efforts into filling newark fair as friday is a total embarrasment with empty marquees and buildings.i spend my friday apologising to customers who have paid to come into a more than half empty fair.to iacf i say organize your fair and let the dealers and customers get on with their work.

i think dmg are clowns. support arther swallow at lincoln. once they squash all competition they will keep jacking stall rents and dealers will have no choice as there will be no other fairs . they are luring everyone with letters sawing if you book newark you get a swinderby ticket for £30 just to lure you in………..

I THINK IT WILL BE WORTH WHILE PAYING TO GET INTO SWINDERBY .
JUST TO HAVE A LAUGH, SEEING 50 STALLS ON THE R.A.F. SWINDERBY SITE WILL BE A JOKE . COME ON YOU MUGS AT I.A.C.F.WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS ??
FILL NEWARK UP FIRST .IS THIS NOT ALREADY A BIG EMBARRASMENT TO YOU’S ??

PLEASE CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW ANOTHER FAIR CAN BENIFIT BOTH SELLERS AND BUYERS WHEN WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION.
WOULD IT NOT HAVE BETTER TO WORK ON WHAT WE HAVE GOT I.E. LINCOLN AND NEWARK. ONE WILL HAVE TO GO AND I AM SURE IT WILL NOT BE LINCOLN ,
FROM WHAT THE GOSSIP IS IN THE TRADE ,THE SUPPORT FOR

shame on you dmg given most people we spoke pre booked lincoln it will be interesting to see how many turn up. i agree with most comments except about supporting fair organisers LETS SUPPORT OURSELVES AND MAKE LINCOLN A SUPER FAIR FOR US were all there at the beggining lets make it work fols and ill even promise not to argue with elaine see you all at the big lincoln

Agree with you Richard, Before iacf announced their move I had suspected that someone would step into fill the space.

whats all this about, many replys saying the newark organisation should not have jumped into swinderby, as far as i am concerned i dont give a hoot, everyone is saying lincoln will do well, dont count your chickens before they hatch, im going to go to swinderby in october, if lincoln is a flop gues what all the past dealers that did swinderby in the past will be straight on the telephone asking hello richard, prety please can i book a stall at swinderby,there is no loyalty in any fair, dont kid your selves, at the end of the day may the best organiser win, and yes i will be honest if swinderby does not do well then hey i will book lincoln. why worry about it, is my face bothered. dont think so…love to all. from david.

I am so disappointed that I hear that Swinderby is no more. I have enjoyed coming to buy from traders at the Swinderby Airfield for many years. Personally, I believe the rustic nature of the fair will be lost by this move to ‘fancy’ Lincoln Showground. When something is changed that has so much appeal, it is often lost forever. I hope that Swinderby can be revived by IACF/DMG and that traders continue with them at such a great location. Swinderby HAS worked for many years, why else would it have continued for so long. Its uniqueness as a fair will be lost leaving the same old Newark/Peterborough antique rigidity with higher prices. Its not just traders that make a fair, its the people that go to them to buy.

why doesnt D.M.G. plough all the wasted money into the dying Newark and trying to keep our inflated stall rents down . Instead trying to run a fair just days before there very own fair at Newark madness…
Dont worry Newark stallholders d.m.g. wont be loosing out we will suffer for this next year when they rise our stall rents . Newark is dying and they come up with this idea to start another fair infront of Newark Total madness who ever thought of this must be out of his mind . Or maybe he doesnt like Antique dealers !!!

Ok so Newark was there first. Get over it IACF, concentrate on your own back yard.

Proposing an old RAF site swinderby boycott against IACF. Who’s up for it, could be worth listing a petition here. You never know it could make IACF pull the plug before we do it for them.

REMEMBER – IACF discounted rates will last only as long as Aurthur Swallow does. As soon as they drive him out of business, their rates will increase, or more likely they will ditch the airfield altogether forcing a monopoly on Newark

That means postage stamp size pitches at horrendous rates and 1 day trading

The 2 organisers do not have the power to decide the outcome of this battle. We do. I say get behind the Lincs showground and Aurthur Swallow, because that’s there for the long run

Past Masters,

I am happy for folk to comment here but this is not the place for a petition against IACF – This blog takes comments from all not just those on the side of A. Swallow – he should provide the space for that I think.

Anne

Looks like things are moving swiftly in this rivalry

According to the latest update in the Antiques Trade Gazette the new Swinderby fair will now be a three day event rather than the two day event mentioned in my previous blog post on the subject. It appears that IACF are going to try and replicate the old Swinderby fair on the Swinderby site.

Also see the ATG for news on possible date clashes next year

Hi Pauline,

I dont think I ever suggested that my site was being used as a war on Newark, I hopefully just said that I wanted to keep my blog open to opinion from all sides.
Anne

Oh deary me! Where are the days gone bye where Jeff Whitaker used to greet us at the Newark roundabout wearing his famous large hat greeting all the stallholders as they arrived at his then Giant Newark Fair.Ever since I.A.C.F took over from Whittaker, then DMG and now again IACF the Newark Fair has gone downhill leaving it to a One day event. If you don’t get a good pitch you are standing alone amongst the litter on the second day.. How can the NEW Swinderby ever survive. We have not attended Newark for a long time and will certainly be at Lincolnshire Showground. It would be worth it to hire a Helicopter just to see how empty Swinderby looks from above.Hope to see you at the Lincolnshire showground Jeff. Regards from the German Trade.

Wise words from Pauline and Rachel. Re-read their comments. All the best to Arthur Swallow.
Have you been to any of the IACF fairs since the buyout?
I’m just back from two. What a sad atmosphere – look at the staff faces for the realtruth. Their ONLY interest is the balance sheet. Sad days indeed.

Hi June,
So do tell which fair or fairs will you be standing this October? Thanks for adding such a balanced comment

The truth is if we dont support LINCOLN we will let I.C.A.F (D.M.G) have the monopoly god help us all next year D.M.G..will double our rents . We need the competition between these two fairs to survive we can not let D.M.G. do this to us .I say support LINCOLN . The move will be great for us all . Dealers and buyers over the years have went on about dirty toilets etc this upgrade is well overdue . O.K the first fair will be a bit hectic ,Every – thing will soon settle back to the wonderful fair it has always been ..We must also thank Arthur Swallow for starting Swinderby in the begining .We would of all been crippled with larger rents at Newark than we already have .This is why a lot of dealers can not afford to do Newark .
I also find it amusing at Annes comments asking what fair will we be standing at in October . Surely all these emails must of given her a small hint .
ITS LINCOLN ALL THE WAY GOOD LUCK ARTHUR SWALLOW WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU .

Er Alan

I’m not part time sorry. I’m sure they hit your business, but you gotta roll with the punches

have you gone down the on line route heavily instead of keeping your fingers crossed that either of the big fairs may implode?

For many, many years I visit the UK twice a year, just for Swinderby and Newark.
My full support and sympathy is for Arthur Swallow: he has proved to be very capable of running a fair that is interesting for buyers and sellers from the continent. The Newark Fair was getting worse year after year: stallholders are now leaving on the first day, most of the inside stalls are empty at 4 o`clock. When DMG sold the antique fairs we hoped there would be a new policy. Now we know what policy.
The only solution for newark is: look after your stallholders and your buyers, improve your own fair in stead of starting a war no one can win in these days of recession.
As an oversea buyer I was a VIP member. I never, never felt that the overseas buyers were treated like that.

CAROLE I THINK IT IS YOU WHO SHOULD GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT .IF SWINDERBY NEVER STARTED ALL THOSE YEARS AGO D.M.G. I.A.C.F WOULD OF HAD THE MONOPOLY AND HELD US ALL TO RANSON HIGH RENTS ETC .BUYERS LOVED SWINDERBY AND ARTHUR SWALLOW ..IT SEEMS YOU ARE THE ONE MOANING ABOUT YOUR SPACE . AS FOR CALLING PEOPLE IDOTS YOU SHOULD BE VERY CAREFULL . MAYBE SWALLOWS FAIR WILL BE A BETTER PLACE WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU THANK GOD YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO GO . SWINDERBY WILL BE SHORT LIVED AND CAN ONLY LAST FOR 2 YEARS AT THE MOST THAT IS A FACT CHECK IT OUT .WHAT WILL YOU DO THEN ?? RUN BACK TO SWALLOWS FAIRS AS THERE WONT BE A NEWARK THAT IS DYING ON ITS A—-. IT WAS A DIRTY TRICK ON BEHALVE OF I.A.C.F. TRUE HONEST DEALERS DONT LIKE DIRTY TRICKS . I.A.C.F.DID NOT THINK ABOUT US DEALERS. OFFERING SPECIAL OFFERS WONT LAST LONG EITHER WHEN THEY START RUNNING SWINDERBY AT A LOSS .I JUST DONT BELEIVE SWALLOW HASN’T WORKED WITH YOU TO GIVE YOU A STALL OF YOUR CHOICE HE HAS BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO KEEP ALL HIS DEALERS HAPPY AND THAT IS A FACT I SUGGEST YOU GET ALL YOUR FACTS RIGHT . GOOD LUCK TO THE LADS EVERY- ONE WISHES YOU WELL . FOLLOW THE SWALLOW

I stood at Swinderby for many years, but there was no loyalty from Swallows when they decided to move to Linclon. I was going to lose a third of my space and be charged the same price. I also tried to get a deal on a large marquee and then a smaller one. Mark was not interetsed in trying to accomodate myself, or the 23 other delaers who were in the shopping arcades. There are hundreds of dealers booked for swinderby and I am one of them. I dont hear any of you guys mentioning the organiser of the monthly lincoln fair. this guy has done this fair on this site for many years, what will happen to his fair? Swallows or the showground have`nt shown much loyalty to him. Also, why DID swallows depart so quickly!!! they had over 2 years of their contract to go. Lincoln wont work for many dealers. For all my years of standing at Swinderby, I was shown no loyalty by them!! They took great pleasure in taking bookings from people who had never supported the fair before, but as soon as this new eco building became available, dealers were getting in and dealers like myself were offered nothing. So much for loyalty. I am sure Swinderby will be a great success, and I know of many dealers are only doing Lincoln because they had paid in advance and could`nt afford to lose their money. They wil all be at Swinderby for the December fair. There are many dealers who have found a way of NOT!!!!! standing at Lincoln while not losing all their money, while standing at Swinderby. All of us who are staying at Swinders have been getting the word out to all our buyers, who will be coming to see us at our usual place. Lincoln will do OK, but on a smaller scale. They should never have left the site. They know why they left, I know why they left, but I dont see them telling the dealers why they left. And finally, I know for a fact that if IACF did`nt take over Swinderby someone else would have.

nearly same stall number as under swallow strange

David Craig you are talking a load of rubbish .We always booked and paid for a 24ft X 24ft pitch with Arthur Swallow it was us the dealer that took it upon ourselves to spread out he hasnt robbed any one of us of space .What about the space you get at Newark you can not fit a van caravan and stall on it . As for Swallow running a fair at Lincoln when a small fair is already held when D.M.G. changed all its dates at Newark Jaguar fairs started a fair there . So get your facts right
This small fair will benifit from Swallow fairs it will put the showground on the map and could do this small fair a huge favour . The reason sellers are going to Swinderby is for the cheapness nothing else ,Any sensible dealer will not be won over by a few cheap deals, They can not run at a loss and can not offer these deals permanent .As for free entrance to Newark wow big deal there wont be many buyers going Newark it is on its last why do you think I.A.C.F are doing these deals there worried and they know Newark is on its knees . As for Swallow moving qickley into Lincoln they will have a good reason .Also another load of rubbish stating sellers are staying at Lincoln instead of loosing there money they could of cancelled with no loss of money at all . Total load of rubbish plus why should you have a deal when every other dealer have to pay there due’s .there will be thousands and thousands of buyers at the Lincoln showground the support these guys have had is unbelievable .What happens when Swinderby finishes in 2 years it is only short term .

DAVID CRAIG This is my final say on the matter .The fact is those lads have bent over backwards to help every one at Lincoln and that is a fact . As for 10 years at Swinderby your the one that is talking a load of rubbish Planning permission is needed for these fairs check it out with Linconshire county council and there is no way there has been 10 years planning permission granted check that out . Maybe Arthur Swallow wanted rid of certain touble makers who moaned and brought the fair dowm and this was his chance Any one who paid upfront in August were guaranteed a pitch . Also another fact dealers who are standing at Newark have been given a offer of cheap pitches at Swinderby so dealers who are doing Lincoln then Newark have passed the cheap pitches over to other sellers who want to do Swinderby and that is a true fact i know of at least 15 dealers who have done this and are only going to Swinderby because of this otherwise the cheap skates wouldnt be at Swinderby .There will be a few dealers at Swinderby for the first day then they will pack up and go paying £30 they have nothing to loose and the fair will be empty . As for not getting a refund that is totally untrue .Where are you getting all this inside information from even I.A.C.F have only said 2 years and 4 years at the most for Swinderby . Lincoln will be a great fair it is fully booked and has a great future all the buyers will be there in there thousands and if they have any money left they might go to Swinderby remember there is another big fair infront which is Peterbrough . The true fact is this is a rivarly with I.A.C.F and they havent thought of there dealers or Newark fair and it will all back fire . When I.A.C.F stop all the special offers we will see if Swinderby will have the support sorry cheap special offers dont win us lot over we are all off to a guenuine fair with a long term future .

Well, Thanks all for using my blog to air your points of view. Is this the only place on the intenet which allows the trade a little free speach? Would it be useful for me to add a proper forum here where a proper threaded discussions can take place?

If I see enough demand from you all then I will provide this – do contact me

Anne

I think that both fairs will suffer. Swinderby has been my favourite fair for a number of years. I was extremely disappointed when I heard it was moving. My next thought was that the site was wide open for somebody else to come in and that is what has happened.

I don’t blame IACF for taking it over, it is business after all and AS are their closest rivals. But it has upset the apple cart. I come from South Essex to do Swinderby and it is quite an expensive exercise. I can see both fairs suffering as many will want to continue to do Swinderby whilst others will want to stay loyal to AS. I don’t know which one to do and in fact may just do Peterborough and give them both a miss.

I am curious to know what will happen to the casual queue at Swinderby. Will people still be able to fly pitch in the queue? From what I know of IACF they don’t usually let that sort of thing prevail. But it was part and parcel of the Swinderby fair and one of the things about it that made it so great IMO.

DAVID CRAIG You are promoting Swinderby for your greedy self .I also started in the sheds at Swinderby ,And will follow the lads to Lincoln it is the only way forward as for hundreds of dealers cancelling December at Lincoln NO CHANCE .I have never heard of one dealer cancelling Lincoln for December.. Where you get all your information from beats me . As for buyers from overseas they will all be at Lincoln they are not fools they know where to go .Swinderby will have a few stalls o.k. no one has denied that but only a few penny pitchers to save a few quid professional sellers will be at lincoln . We know long term were we are best off ,LINCOLN . You are the one who deosnt seem to know what you are talking about planning permission was needed to hold a large event like Swinderby you couldnt of done Swinderby from the start because you would of remembered Swinderby not being on in A December and dealers getting a petetion to have it on and sending it to Linconshire council which then granted the 6 FAIRS and that is a fact .Listern Craig if you have all these buyers coming to see you at Swinderby good luck to you mate But they will be all at Lincoln first without a doubt .I also think you work for I.a.c.f..I also dont beleive Swallow wouldn’t help you out with space RUBBISH, We will all be around to Swinderby to see for ourselves the size of it and have a laugh . It will be a joke couple of hundred stalls on a site that size .You lot will be all wishing you had off stayed with Swallow ..As for other promoters jumping into Swinderby airfeild that is all I.A.C.F talk , If this is the case why didnt another promoter years ago start a fair before Swinderby .There are no promoters out there willing to take the chance of such a big event even more so these days of a credit crunch etc ,The truth is I.A.C.F. done this out of spite no other promoters were interested at all or even spitfull enought to do this to the trade .I.A.C.F will suffer for this .Sellers do not like what they have done they are damaging what little is left of the trade . Good Luck with your 1000 square ft stall at Swinderby . Have the kettle on for us lot coming to see you at Swinderby .Thats if your not to busy to make us a cuppa !!!

PETER SUMMERS, You guys just dont listen. Why not ask Mark or Richard if they offfered us anything that was like for like. I`m giving you facts here, but you choose to stick your head in the sand. I have many of my overseas buyers coming over to me at Swinders, I aint saying they wont visit Lincoln, but there are coming to us first. I`ve already got the transport arranged for some of them.

I`ll be far too busy selling to make you a cuppa, but you could give me a hand to pack my china for my Korean and Japanese buyers.

I dont have 1,000sq ft stall just the usual 17 by 17 the one I had with Swallows, but they only wanted to give me a 10 by 20 which is a third less for the same price. No Thanks. You can ask Swallows yourself if you dont believe me.

I tried several times to get an agreement with a stall for most of the 24 shopping arcade traders, but Mark was`nt interested. FACT

FINALLY WHY WERE SWALLOWS TRYING TO GET THE SWINDERBY SITE BACK!!!! VERY INTERESTING !!!!!!!!!!!

Anne, are you saying people are not allowed to share computers then? Do you have any PROOF that anyone is assuming “multiple personalities”?
I really hope David Craig does well at Swinderby with his Korean and Japanese buyers. The vast majority of dealers will Follow the Swallow.

Oh Dear

We are all getting a bit worked up aren’t we!!

Anne, you seem to have been hijacked as a site for the trade to vent their frustration at this whole thing.

Proper forum would be great idea. No doubt with only a week to go before the big showdown we’ll also have the after fair autopsy to go to.

Does anyone know how bookings are actually going at either. I phoned Lincoln swallow fairs and made out I needed a fresh booking in a prime outdoor space to see their reaction. They are pretty full with no double space left in prime places and just a few singles that haven’t been paid for. Looks like thats where the majority action will be. Anyone done the same with IACF?

Ok – Post closed to new comment. You can continue to contribute and read this debate over on the new antiquesavenue.com forum

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I am wondering where this thread has gone please?

I am a buyer and want to know for April: Licoln or Swinderby? Am I supposed to read something into the early cancellation of the Swinderby fair in February?