1. How did you get your start?
As a teenager I earned extra pocket money helping out my parents with their business, mainly unpacking and repacking at shows with the occasional stint in the gallery in Camden Passage.
In 2002 I joined my (widowed) mother in the business and learned from her.
We look for items that we want to live with. Although margins and profitability are key to any business, our starting point is whether we like it. It is only after this that issues like price and condition become considerations.
2. Fairs vs shops?
The business has changed considerably since I started working full-time. Although we used to have a small gallery in Islington, we closed the retail premises in 2002 to focus exclusively on fairs, both here in the UK and in the US.
3. What’s in store for the dealership for the rest of 2018?
Last year Sylvia decided to take a back seat and hand over the running of the business to me. I am excited to continue finding new pieces for our collectors and constantly looking for undervalued areas within our field of ceramics and glass.
4. What do you buy for your personal collection?
Very little remains in my personal collection. There just aren’t enough quality pieces out there. I would be my own best customer as I love what I sell.
5. Real ale or espresso martini?
Espresso every day… I love my coffee! As for drinks, champagne always.
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