A smiling dealer behind vintage Star Wars merchandise on his stall at a BP Toy Fairs event.
This view is backed by Barry Potter, who launched his first big toy event as BP Toy Fairs at Sandown Park Racecourse in 1987.
Potter said: “While there is still a strong demand for the classic collectables of tinplate and Dinky Toys and trains, the growth collecting area continues for Star Wars and TV-related science fiction toys from the ’60s,’70s and ‘80s, the ‘cult collectables’.”
That first fair at Sandown Park hosted 400 stalls increasing to the 500 consistently booked these days. The next of these flagship fairs at the racecourse is on Saturday, November 11.
This family business is run by Potter and his two sons Ellis and Simon and they are all kept busy on their toy fairs circuit. As well as Sandown Park and the NEC the events run at Doncaster, Bolton, Buxton, Coventry and Stafford.
They have witnessed an increase in stall demand across the board and both sellers and buyers getting younger.
New Kensington fair - a note on booking
Regarding the Kensington Vintage Fair running on November 4 (ATG No 2615): the full booking reference including the number is eventbrite.com/e/kensington-vintage-fair-tickets-712190911187 and tickets can be bought on the door.
