After working in Technical Analysis and Software Design for Virgin Media & UCAS, Phil Sims took a chance on buying and selling online to create a more flexible lifestyle.
For Phil, it all started with selling antique postcards on eBay. Working from a small rented office in a local building he would spend long hours sorting, uploading, and shipping products to customers. The business grew to a successful volume but he soon found the long hours and monotonous tasks to be unsustainable. He recalls “It was when I knew who was walking around the corner just by the sound of their steps or the bark of their dog that I knew I needed change”.
This led him to opening an antique centre to keep the buzz of buying and selling but with greater variety and a sense of community. The antique centre model also provided a sustainable business model to support his own passion for buying and selling.
Sims Vintage Antique Centre is owned and operated by Phil Sims and his wife, Terri, who have successfully grown the business over the past 10+ years. The store has recently relocated to a larger building on the Yew Tree Farm Shopping Village in Wootton Wawen. After significant investment and renovation the new building opened its doors on February 10th, 2024, providing customers with a huge selection of choice from over 50 antique and vintage traders.
We asked Phil some questions about the success behind Sims Vintage Antique Centre.
What was the most challenging part of getting started?
“The long hours spent setting up and growing the business was very demanding and meant a big sacrifice to family and social time. However, family and friends understood what I was building so I felt very supported, nonetheless it was a hard time.”
What do you think makes your centre a success?
“I’ve seen a lot of centres open and close in the surrounding area since opening Sims Vintage. It’s really important to get the business side of things right including the systems and operations that support the dealers in the centre. I spend as much time on running the business as I do buying and selling."
What’s your favourite part of running Sims Vintage Antique Centre?
"It may sound cliché, but to meet such a varied group of dealers and customers and never knowing what may walk through the door next gives me a real buzz!"
Sims Vintage Antique Centre use Antiquely to manage a list of 50 dealers, track sales, and provide reporting. To find out more about how Antiquely can save you time and help your dealers succeed, request a copy of our ‘Guide to Point-of-Sale for Antique Centres’ at the link below.
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