Bristol's Citywide Car Boot and Yard Sale

What if we promoted a city wide, giant car boot / yard sale, held over an entire weekend once a year.

Everyone who wants to take part can either open up their front room, their car, or their front garden to the public, selling anything and everything they don't need anymore but that others around the city would dearly love.

It could be promoted in advance by people registering a point on a Google map and/or hanging a physical branded sign (which they could print out themselves) on their doors.

I feel this has the potential to become an Event similar to the annual art trails etc.

Why the contribution is important

It supports local businesses by increasing footfall.
It brings communities closer together.
It works hard to unite the city.
It's fun and will make people money.
It lets people discover lost treasures.
It promotes a culture of recycling.
It gives you an excuse to discover more of your city.
It promotes postivity by allowing people to clear their houses of unwanted clutter, and make money in the process.
It can all be done without leaving your home.

by user985201 on November 19, 2013 at 04:45PM

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Posted by user785748 November 19, 2013 at 19:50

Great idea, all the benefits of a car boot sale without having to own a car.

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Posted by user575624 November 20, 2013 at 08:44

Great idea. Around our neighbourhood (Bishopston) there are lots of little streets, several of which have regular street fairs and/or yard sales. I'm sure they and others would get behind this idea and try schedule their events around the city wide event.

It might also be promoted as a way to raise money for their favourite charity, and/or a good chance for charities to get involved to raise more funds.

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Posted by user661274 November 20, 2013 at 09:34

They do something like this in some French villages. However, it tends to be just a single street.
How about if we did it in different parts of Bristol on each weekend over the Summer?

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Posted by user372062 November 21, 2013 at 10:51

This is a great idea. Where I'm from in Essex, there are many boot sales every Sunday all summer - you can literally just go out for a drive and find them in random fields. Unfortunately, that culture is very car/big field dependant, which I think is one of the reasons why boot sales seem to be so rubbish in the Bristol area at the moment.

I'm not sure about making it only once annually. The best thing about boot sales is that you can go to them regularly to discover hidden gems - and sellers also can adapt to regular sales.

I think the best way to do it would be similar to George's Make Sundays Special - maybe 4 or 5 times over the summer.

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Posted by user465114 November 21, 2013 at 12:55

I like this idea, but it does mean that a seller/vendor is tied to a spot and cannot take part in the buying/shopping

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Posted by user734334 November 24, 2013 at 11:21

Great! In holland they call this a 'free market' and usually do this on festival days. Always create a lovely atmosphere.

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Posted by user644606 November 25, 2013 at 11:08

Great Idea - I can really see this taking off. Feels like it could really bring the community together.

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Posted by user147144 November 25, 2013 at 12:20

Great idea! To get around MCP's issue you could stagger them across a month and focus on specific areas (just like the Arts Trails) and then people could sell and buy?

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Posted by user251846 November 29, 2013 at 11:25

I've seemn this happen in Hamburg. It's a tremendous idea.

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Posted by user266919 December 12, 2013 at 11:10

Great idea. Last summer we did a Yard Sale in our street (Easton). It was a big success and introduced me to a lot of new neighbours I hadn't met before.

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Posted by user889839 January 23, 2014 at 09:41

great idea - in Germany they have one thursday every month where you can pay the council to take all your unwanted stuff away. So everyone puts their stuff out the night before and then you cycle round your area looking to see what's put out and you can help yourself and then the council takes away whatever's left.
I think once a month over the summer is a good idea because then you can have a chance to sell stuff one month and go and look around and buy stuff the next.

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Posted by user985201 February 27, 2014 at 14:03

For all those interested, this is now happening on April 6th in BS4. See http://saletrail.co.uk/ for more info, or follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BS_SaleTrail

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Posted by user985201 March 11, 2014 at 07:31

There is now an interactive map setup for those hosting a Sale in Bristol BS3/4 on April 6th. https://mapsengine.google.com/[…]/edit?mid=z2xUPWt21OtE.kWeqqx9a3uc0

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Posted by user985201 March 11, 2014 at 07:31

...and a Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/369298233212493/ and group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1448071942093668/

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Bristol's Citywide Car Boot and Yard Sale

Why the contribution is important

Current Rating

Comments

Posted by user785748 November 19, 2013 at 19:50

Posted by user575624 November 20, 2013 at 08:44

Posted by user661274 November 20, 2013 at 09:34

Posted by user372062 November 21, 2013 at 10:51

Posted by user465114 November 21, 2013 at 12:55

Posted by user734334 November 24, 2013 at 11:21

Posted by user644606 November 25, 2013 at 11:08

Posted by user147144 November 25, 2013 at 12:20

Posted by user251846 November 29, 2013 at 11:25

Posted by user266919 December 12, 2013 at 11:10

Posted by user889839 January 23, 2014 at 09:41

Posted by user985201 February 27, 2014 at 14:03

Posted by user985201 March 11, 2014 at 07:31

Posted by user985201 March 11, 2014 at 07:31

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