Forget the Festive High Street Scrum And Do Your Christmas Shopping In The Saleroom

By the time you read this, most of you will be well advanced in planning for the festive season, writes Tim Blyth.  Perhaps some of you will have wandered the county’s High Streets, wondering what on earth you are going to buy your nearest and dearest this year.

If so, you will have noticed two things.  As you traipse from shop to shop, a sense of déja-vu may come upon you, as you start to see much the same present ideas in every shop.  And the second is the depressing realisation that so many stores – especially the national chains – are full of specially-packaged, overpriced gifts which few would ever buy for themselves, and which are probably destined either for regifting or landfill.

Finding something original and thoughtful is always a challenge, especially in the identikit world of High Street chains.  And perhaps because of that, we are noticing a real trend in the saleroom, particularly at this time of year: alongside the serious collectors and the traders, we are seeing more and more people seeking out that truly individual present.

A couple of years ago we moved our monthly Antiques and Collectables Sale to a Saturday, to make it easier for such bidders to attend.  But even midweek sales are attracting ordinary bidders, many of whom take part via our live online bidding platform.  Shopping online is important even in the saleroom.

As well as decorative items for the home, other categories of lots which are proving popular with gift buyers are toys and jewellery. 

Whilst children will always want the latest must-have, on-trend toy, many of the vintage toys are bought for adults, who enjoy being reminded of the things they played with when they were younger.

Buying jewellery at auction means avoiding the eye-watering mark-ups charged by retail jewellers, and such sales often see exquisite vintage jewellery which you will never see on the High Street.  These don’t necessarily need to be the most precious stones and metals; early 20^th century enamel jewellery is particularly popular, and eminently affordable.  Most importantly, jewellery bought at auction is genuinely unique and demonstrates that some real thought and effort has gone into the present.

Rare big-ticket lots which see bidding run into the thousands will always be the ones which make the headlines, but the fact is that auctions are a treasure trove of unique, affordable things to buy – and hence the perfect way of avoiding High Street Christmas shopping misery.

Keys has a week of Sales in December ideal for those last-minute Christmas gifts.  It kicks off with a Pictures Sale on Friday 5^th December; the monthly Antiques & Collectables Sale takes place on Saturday 6^th December; there is a Jewellery Sale on Wednesday 10^th December; this is followed by a Toys Sale on Friday 12^th December.  All sales take place at Keys’ Aylsham salerooms, and live online at bid.keysauctions.co.uk.