In Love With Vintage
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Sue Birchall, Wendy Pearce and Steve Hampson, who were previously part of ‘The Vintage Collective’ further up Victoria Ave, have been in their new space since March of this year. As passionate collectors, or ‘accumulators’ as they laughingly refer to themselves, the three have a lot of experience with the psychology of what brings people in looking for specific vintage items. “This kind of shop draws people in,” says Sue, “and it always interests me - what people collect - because you can never tell. It’s so random. But people love talking about what they collect.” Steve gives me the example of a young guy from Wellington that often pops in, who collects nautical memorabilia. “He’s fanatical about White Star Line (a British shipping line which operated from 1845-1934). So whenever he and his family come up to visit relatives they call in. I’ve always got to have something new from White Star Line to show him. Because he’s a young collector I give him postcards and things to encourage him.” Sue says that Wendy has a customer that collects early china: “He’s young and he buys this old stuff.” “But good stuff,” Steve emphasises. “Old stuff!” Wendy says. “I mean it’s all old stuff,” says Sue, and Wendy laughs. “Pre-Victorian,” Sue clarifies. “And he knows his stuff,” adds Steve. “It’s incredible. I think it’s really intriguing,” says Sue.
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It’s not just nostalgia for times gone by that brings people into vintage stores. As op-shop prices go up (along with the price of everything else), many vintage stores have become really reasonably priced in comparison. There is a persistent market for these older items because of their quality, something which is commonly lacking in newer, mass-produced goods. When I ask them what’s ‘hot’ right now when it comes to vintage and antique goods, Steve tells me: “Retro… Mid-Century, big lava vases from Germany, German pottery. Stuff like Bitossi and then things like uranium glass, which glows. Art glass is quite collectible. Just not grandma’s crystal.” Wendy and Sue chime in to argue that crystal seems to be making a comeback. “It’s hard to predict what people will like,” says Steve, “so we have a variety. You can buy an old galvanised bucket and you can buy a really nice Hammersley tea set, and everything in between.” And people are buying. Recent data shows a 23 percent increase in visitors from Palmerston North to Whanganui, compared to last year. “There’s a lot of tourists coming to Whanganui. I think a lot more than people probably realise,” says Sue. Steve explains how valuable out-of-town visitors are to businesses like their vintage store: “When you’re a visitor you’ve got the time. So you’ll fossick around and have a look. Because people who live here are busy with their busy lives and working, so they just don’t have the time.” The three all agree that one of the reasons for the increase in visitor numbers to our city is its art. “It’s the artists that have moved here that are starting to make a difference - the arts community. And now we have places like the Sarjeant Gallery. We’re becoming a destination.” Customers browse quietly around us as we sit talking on antique chairs, surrounded by the hum of the shop and the radio. Later, as I take photos, I can hear Sue, Wendy and Steve exclaiming over a new find. Each has their own passion — Sue with her beautiful hand-knotted carpets, Wendy with her vintage advertisements, and Steve with his maritime and Whanganui tourism treasures — but what stands out most is their incredible depth of knowledge and shared passion for new discoveries. Listening to them talk, both with each other and their customers, I realise it’s almost like a special language. This is a place where people seeking a connection to the past find understanding — and community — in the present.
Visit The Collective Retro/Vintage Pop-Up Shop at 57a Victoria Ave from 10-4, Tuesday - Saturday.
Visit The Collective Retro/Vintage Pop-Up Shop at 57a Victoria Ave from 10-4, Tuesday - Saturday.
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Visit The Collective Retro/Vintage Pop-Up Shop
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