Steve Wells (left) of DWP Housing Partnership and Graham Spridgeon, owner of the Bournemouth Vintage Emporium.
A business selling authentic vintage items has celebrated its second anniversary, proving that there is profit in nostalgia.
The huge Bournemouth Vintage Emporium on Christchurch Road just down the hill from Pokesdown railway station has tapped into a growing market.
Graham Spridgeon launched the enterprise after agreeing a special deal with landlord DWP Housing Partnership, which is keen to encourage local entrepreneurship.
After two years trading, the business has gained a formidable reputation with visitors coming from across the world.
Steve Wells (left) of DWP Housing Partnership and Graham Spridgeon, owner of the Bournemouth Vintage Emporium.
The booming bazaar has proven that given premises with a sensible rent, a niche business is able to flourish.
The carefully curated vintage emporium has tea rooms and up to 50 traders selling vintage fashion, art, curiosities and furniture.
It has a specially decorated and dedicated room that can be hired for meetings and is soon welcoming a barber to work on site.
Steve Wells from DWP Housing Partnership, said: “We bought the premises some years ago and have planning permission to build flats.
“However, after speaking with Graham about his plan to open a new venture I suggested he use the building as it is the ideal size.
“Two years on and I’m delighted that the emporium is booming. It really is a fascinating place to visit.
“As well as our residential accommodation which we are known for, we also have a number of commercial premises and we are always pleased to assist new businesses get off the ground.
“Graham’s business also helps numerous other traders by giving them space to sell their wares. It also shows how popular vintage items are.”
Steve Wells (right) of DWP Housing Partnership and Graham Spridgeon, owner of the Bournemouth Vintage Emporium.
Graham, who trained as a barber and launched the business because it was his passion, said: “Having a sympathetic landlord made a huge difference. DWP have been very accommodating and encouraging.
“Our business model has worked but the emporium continues to evolve.
“We only sell genuine vintage and antique items and all traders here must adhere to this.
“Because of this policy customers are aware that they are getting genuine articles and this has seen us grow.
“We have visitors from many countries and ship out goods to all parts. The next stage of our development is internet sales.
“Most items we sell are from the 60s, 70s and 80s, but we have also sold 18th century items.
“Furniture and lights sell best, but there is such variety that everyone finds something of interest here. Nostalgia is really big and that is partly to do with the TV shows that have popularised it.”
Steve Wells (right) of DWP Housing Partnership and Graham Spridgeon, owner of the Bournemouth Vintage Emporium.
- www.dwphousing.co.uk
- www.bournemouthvintageemporium.com
Pic caption: Steve Wells and Graham Spridgeon in vintage attire.
Notes for Editors:
DWP Housing Partnership was established as Dave Wells Properties in 1985. The company, which has its headquarters in St Clement’s Road, Boscombe, owns properties across Dorset and Hampshire and houses over 3,000 tenants.
The business currently has other new developments under construction in the Bournemouth and Poole area and plans for several more in the future.
Steve Wells sits on a number of national panels, advising on the best ways to regenerate run-down areas and working to make sure Bournemouth remains a great place to live and work. He’s also a member of the National Landlords Association (NLA) and the British property Federation (BPF).
For more information contact Ed Baker, account director at Deep South Media, on 01202 534487 or 07788392965.
