| The established antique dealer will already know his | | | | UK there are some during the week which should not |
| way around Paris, the major cities and the antiques | | | | be ignored. The large deballages are during the week. |
| brocante fairs. However for the small dealer or the | | | | Many fairs are held on public holidays and attract |
| individual who may be new to this or on a learning | | | | many visitors. Of course you may decide to stay in |
| curve, this article endeavours to give some guidance. | | | | Paris and visit all the brocante outlets there - many are |
| There are several places to buy, similar to the UK, so | | | | well advertised and famous like St.Ouen (Clignancourt) |
| before you go a study of possible routes or places | | | | open Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There are |
| you wish to visit is essential. The magazine I use to | | | | antique quarters like 'Louvres de Antiquaires', in the rue |
| establish an itinerary is "Aladin" where you will find " | | | | de Rivoli. There are many fairs in Paris advertised in |
| l'Agenda des Chineurs", (a list or diary of events). Les | | | | the Aladin magazine. Use your search engine to find |
| chineurs is used rather loosely to cover antique dealer | | | | antiques, brocante and puces, there is an abundance |
| or hunter, professional or amateur. This magazine is full | | | | of information. Don't forget it is more difficult to find |
| of useful information, their web site is You can | | | | bargains in Paris because it is a Mecca for dealers |
| subscribe or just extract information for the immediate | | | | worldwide. |
| future. | | | | Having decided your route, check the towns you will |
| There are essentially two reasons for going to France | | | | pass through and lookup antiques and brocante in |
| 1.To buy or 2.To enjoy the ambiance of France and | | | | pagejaunes.fr., and use the internet. Don't forget to ask |
| buy some antiques/collectables at the same time. | | | | at the hotel you are staying at, the tourist office and |
| Whatever the reason, it is still necessary to establish | | | | other dealers. Sometimes you will discover the odd |
| where you are going and for how long. Don't forget | | | | one not on the main routes. Beware that brocante on |
| France is a big country, albeit well served with | | | | tourist routes can mean high prices. |
| motorways but it still takes time and money (tolls, fuel | | | | You can combine visits to the brocante/antique shops |
| etc.) to travel. | | | | during the week with weekday fairs. You should be |
| You will need a good up to date road map of France, | | | | able to plan one or two weeks taking in many fairs |
| preferably in book form to make it easy to read in the | | | | and shops as you wish whilst still enjoying the |
| car, a list and map of the "Departments". France is | | | | ambiance. After all this you need to look at the costs |
| divided into about 100 departments and these numbers | | | | involved, fuel for the round trip, ferry if from UK/Ireland |
| are used by most people to define where their activity | | | | (go for mid week deals), hotels (wide variation in cost |
| is located, i.e. 66 is Pyrenees - Orientales and the post | | | | but book if going in the tourist season, sleeping in the |
| code will also start with this number, just insert French | | | | car is not a good idea if you are working), Tolls on |
| departments in the search box and you can download | | | | motorways, (these soon mount up), car insurance for |
| the map. So with a good road map and the | | | | EU travel and don't forget the contents. EU medical |
| department map you can start to plan. | | | | card (free) makes life easier at hospitals and doctors |
| You must decide which part of France you wish to | | | | even if you have to pay. You can get reimbursed in |
| visit or you will have to do some research using | | | | the UK. |
| "L'Agenda des Chineurs" to make this decision. | | | | The economics for the small dealer are clear, if your |
| Whatever you choose you must decide if you are | | | | costs are £1000.00 and you want to sell your |
| visiting shops or fairs, or a combination of both. As far | | | | stock at double your purchase price you need to buy |
| as shops are concerned many advertise in 'Aladin', | | | | £1000.00 to break even! You can do your own |
| others in yellow pages, "pagesjaune.fr" and there is a | | | | sums on this, but remember your travel costs are |
| very good website at Antique shops are similar to | | | | fixed and it is the profit margin that will pay for the trip, |
| those in the UK, run by professional dealers often | | | | as well as giving you some clear profit. However the |
| specialists: the antique centre as we know it hardly | | | | sums are straight forward, the more you buy, and sell |
| exists. To find brocante shops your search engine is a | | | | at a profit the more economical the trip will be. Don't |
| good source as well as pagesjaunes.fr. Keep asking in | | | | forget you still have to sell it! |
| hotels, information centres and dealers you meet, they | | | | Leaving stock in the car overnight is not a good idea |
| are all full of information about the area. | | | | unless you are in secure parking (available at some |
| The decision to visit markets or fairs gives you a wide | | | | hotels), but take many holdalls and boxes so you can |
| choice, marches hebdomaires (weekly), marches | | | | take the stock with you at night Yes, it is worth it! |
| mensuels (monthly) or any number of fairs scattered | | | | Obviously with large items you must decide the risk. |
| throughout France similar to UK. These are listed under | | | | There are other sources of brocante, antiques and the |
| 'Calendrier des Manifestations' by department, town | | | | unusual in, Trocs and a charity called Emmaus |
| and type of fair. This is why that department map is | | | | scattered around the country. Worth popping in if |
| so important. Choosing which fairs to aim for depends | | | | passing but do not make a detour. These are |
| on your goals, 'Professionels' are usually the classic | | | | essentially second hand shops but do often have the |
| antique fair with specialist dealers or 'Brocante' | | | | odd gem in their "smalls" department. The rules on |
| (bric-a-brac), these two are often combined. Vide | | | | buying are the same as always, no damage, no |
| Greniers (empty loft) like a boot fair, but usually in the | | | | repairs and ask is it genuine? I have not mentioned |
| street with local inhabitants selling off anything. Foire au | | | | auctions (enchères) which are similar in most |
| Puce is a flea market and may be found anywhere. | | | | countries and there is no reason why you should not |
| Deballages Marchands is a large display of | | | | go to these. They are time consuming and only you |
| merchandise aimed at the dealer and normally there | | | | can decide if you can fit them in to your schedule. |
| are one thousand or more dealers similar to Newark in | | | | Again Aladin lists many of these. Overall buying in |
| the UK. These are often reserved for dealers, but if | | | | France is fun and the above information is based on |
| you have a trade card you'll get in. | | | | my own experiences. |
| The majority of fairs are at the weekend but like the | | | | |