From 3 Days to 5: Our First Jersey Roadshow Trip Exceeds Expectations
Updated: Aug 5
Our First Trip Across the Channel
This April marked a first for us as a business, taking our roadshows beyond the mainland and across to the beautiful island of Jersey. With three days planned across St Helier, St Brelade’s Bay and St Martin, and five of our experienced appraisers ready to go, we were set to welcome hundreds of friendly faces through the doors of our venues.
Having never run roadshows on the island before, we genuinely didn't know what to expect from the week, and what we assumed would be a fairly standard three-day schedule turned into something we hadn't planned for at all.
What Brought Us to Jersey
Three years after starting WeBuyVintage, and with thousands of UK roadshows behind us, we felt ready to take the business somewhere new. We assembled a team of our most experienced buyers, supported by operational staff and our creative team, and made the trip across the channel to Jersey.
Expanding beyond the mainland was a genuine milestone for us as a company. More than that though, it was a chance to bring what we do to a community that had never had access to it, and it became clear very quickly that this was something the island had been without for far longer than we realised.
The Plan Vs Reality
For the week, we had three busy roadshows planned:
Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, St Helier - Tuesday 21st April
St Brelade’s Bay Hotel - Wednesday 22nd April
St Martin’s Methodist Church - Friday 24th April
I spent the first day at the appraisal desk in St Helier, and it did not take long to realise the demand on the island was something we had underestimated. The footfall was significantly higher than anything we had anticipated and the day went on to break records for us as a business, with people arriving steadily from the moment we opened and thousands of pounds paid out to local customers before we closed.
St Brelade's Bay the following day was no different, and by Thursday the demand still showed no signs of easing. Rather than close out the week as planned and leave people
disappointed, I made the decision to extend the trip by two days, taking us from three roadshows to five.
That decision created a considerable amount of work at very short notice. The team on the island secured new venues, extended our accommodation and arranged secure storage for the volume of items we were now handling. Back in the UK, our marketing team turned around promotional assets quickly enough that both additional dates ended up just as busy as the original three.
Five Days, Hundreds of Stories
Across the five days, our team of five appraisers, including myself, had the pleasure of greeting everyone who came through the doors - hearing the stories behind each item and ensuring every visitor had a personal, welcoming experience. That has been the standard since the very first roadshow we ever ran and that will not change regardless of where we are.
What people brought in was extraordinary in its range. Jewellery, watches, coins, militaria, vintage toys and plenty we did not expect. Edd, our Business Development Manager and one of our most experienced antiques appraisers, picked a 1970s pocket calculator as his standout item of the trip - a reminder of how quickly everyday items can become fascinating pieces of history that spark bittersweet nostalgia.
Edd, Gary, Kate, Rebecca and I covered the tables throughout, helping the average customer walk away with over £1,000.
Across the week, the scale of interest and engagement made this not only our busiest week of the year so far, but crowned St Helier for having the highest footfall and St Martin for the value delivered back to customers.
A Glimpse Behind The Scenes
While the five roadshows kept us incredibly busy, the team also managed to make the most of their time on the island. Between events, there were a few opportunities to explore Jersey, enjoy team dinners and reflect on what had already been a hugely successful few days.
Despite the extended schedule, the rest of the business did not stop. We held a board meeting during the trip and continued running day-to-day operations alongside the events, which is not a straightforward thing to manage when half the leadership team is on an island in the middle of the channel. The team handled all of it seamlessly.
Listening To The Residents of Jersey
Speaking to hundreds of people across the week, one thing became very clear, very quickly. Events like this simply do not come to Jersey often, and that played a significant part in why each day was as busy as it was. There was strong demand from the moment we opened the doors right through to close, every single day.
As always, customer feedback played a key role in shaping our decisions. After hearing from visitors, some who were stopping by during short lunch breaks, we recognised the need for more availability. This directly influenced our decision to extend the trip and introduce additional dates, ensuring more people had the opportunity to attend whilst we were there.
Not only were many attendees over the moon with their valuations, so many also had kind words to say about our appraisers’ honest approaches, the wonderfully warm welcome received by our Events Assistant Christine, as well as the delicious array of refreshments available throughout the day.
Keeping Jersey On The Map
Following the success of our first trip, Jersey has firmly cemented itself as an important location for future roadshows.
What began as a three-day visit turned into something considerably bigger, and served as a clear reminder that the demand for what we do extends well beyond the mainland. I am incredibly proud of what the team achieved over that week, and we are already looking forward to going back.
To everyone who came to see us at one of our Jersey roadshows, thank you - putting people back into the heart of selling is why we exist, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without all of you
If you would like to know when we’re next in your area, simply pop your postcode into our website to see your selling options - https://www.webuyvintage.co.uk/selling-options
