Having already launched three decorative home and salvage fairs in the north of England, Swallow made its first swoop down south in 2014 for an annual three-day home and salvage fair at Loseley Park near Guildford, Surrey.
That event joined Tatton Park in Cheshire (no longer running), the Cheshire Showground and Ripley Castle, near Harrogate.
The next Loseley Park event runs from Friday to Sunday, July 13-15.
Reflecting on the southern end of things five years after the launch, Burgoin said: “Although the format for all the decorative and salvage shows are the same, Loseley differs slightly from the biannual Cheshire and Ripley events. It attracts a unique range of southern dealers, many selling pretty decorative antiques.”
Last year too, Swallow observed a trend for European salvage and French brocante wares which proved very popular with buyers. The event attracts more stylists and props buyers than the northern fairs, and due to the show taking place in the high summer, Swallow finds that antique and salvage gardenalia – tin baths, stone urns – is much sought-after during the three days.
“Exhibitors always bring plenty to satisfy the demand,” said Burgoin.
He added that Swallow social media analysis shows that this event has a huge following in the south.
During and after last year’s event the firm experienced “a healthy increase in activity across our social media, particularly Instagram”.
Last year saw Loseley actually became the busiest of all five Swallow decorative home and salvage fairs (two held at both Ripley and the Cheshire Showground).
Around 80 exhibitors will be at the Loseley Park fair this summer, including Liam Woodgates and Tom Camp from Hopkinson Vintage & Antiques in Nottingham with swathes of vintage and industrial.
The footfall is expected to be as high as it was in 2017, when some 5000 visitors attended over three days.
