My Top 7 Tips for Shopping Brimfield
Last month, Steven’s mother took me to my first ever visit to the major antiques fair, Brimfield. For those who don’t know, Brimfield is America’s oldest outdoor antique market, which takes place three times a year in Brimfield, Massachusetts. We stopped by for three days during their September installment. With this being his mother’s third time attending the event, I truly felt like I was in good hands. I learned a lot from the experience, and feel more than confident for the next time I visit.
Another element to the trip that made it fun was the fact that it was my first overnight trip. He’s just a few months old, so these “first” experiences can be nerve-wracking, but he did a wonderful job at the hotel with me at night, and an even better job as a shopping buddy. The bulk of his trip was spent in his Snuggit, enjoying primo views of the merchandise, and the all the scents from the antique pieces.
Below are the most memorable pieces I saw (one of which I now own) as well as some of my general tips for visiting Brimfield.
Disclaimer: The following tips aren’t necessarily gears toward those who are vendors, or industry professionals on the hardcore hunt for inventory for their own shops. They’re moreso for visitors like myself who are there for leisure. Also please consider that I visited the event during it’s third installment of the year, so the size of the crowds, selection and number of vendors may vary depending on which month you attend and which days/time of those days you attend. Now the paper mache Woody head I spotted says that’s enough disclaimers for now. Let’s get on to the list.
Tip 1: The Earlier the Better
Like most things in life, the saying is true at Brimfield: The early bird gets the worm. The earlier in the week that you attend and the earlier the hour you show up each day, the more likely you are to score a major find! It’s important to remember that you are competing not only with those looking to score some unique finds for their home, but also professional sellers who are hoping to score iconic or highly-coveted pieces to resell. So if you’re looking to find the best of the best, you have to beat the rest.
By the time we got there, some of the most curated stalls were ransacked. But pending you don’t suffer from a tremendous amount of FOMO, you can be assured that late into the week, we still found a lot of iconic furniture such as the Harry Bertoia for Knoll chairs below, and my #1 Brimfield find, which I’ll be sharing at the end of this article!
Tip 2: Bring Cash…I Mean it…
While doing some research for Brimfield, the most consistent tip I picked up on was to bring cash. So course, Steven’s mom and I showed up well-equipped with cash for the purposes of purchasing from the antiques vendors. But I never thought I’d require cash just to park, buy a cup of lemonade or snack on a bag of popcorn. When they say bring cash, they mean business. Luckily there are ATMs around the venue for those who still don’t heed the warning.
Tip 3: Leave Your Pumps at Home
When I pictured what Brimfield would be like, I thought back to a lot of the past antique fairs I’ve been to. They all took place on paved ground (think the Alameda flea market.) So I thought I’d pack a pair of comfortable heels in my suitcase in addition to my sneakers. Boy was I glad that I had my sneakers on that first day, because it actually takes place on a grassy plain where there are large patches of dirt and mud. This is not the venue to bring heels, open-toed shoes, your favorite white sneakers or anything else you’re not prepared to get at least a little bit dirty.
Tip 4: It’s Mostly Vintage and Secondhand
In the past when I’ve attended large-scale antique or interior fairs, there have also been plenty of vendors for new or artisan products. I sort of assumed that I’d find a lot of makers with vendors at this event as well. I even told Steven’s mom “I’m hoping to test out some sectionals and maybe get some quotes and swatches.” But this is not that kind of fair. While there are some stalls run by boutiques with new inventory and a few artisan stands, the majority of what is there is vintage and antique. And that’s what makes Brimfield so special! It’s a nice departure from the mass-produced pieces of the modern day, and a chance to find those one-of-a-kind treasures that you’ll never forget. Embrace it!
Tip 5: Bring a Cart
I knew I’d have to bring my own tote bags to the event considering most antique/vintage booths don’t come equipped with corporate-style wrapping stations. But then Steven’s mom made me realize that bringing a cart is an even better idea since we’d be there all day and might be parked too far to go back to drop things off. The cart she brought was a huge help for holding our jackets when we didn’t need them, carrying our purses, and - of course - transporting our purchases. There is a downside to the cart, which is that many vendors don’t have aisles wide enough to accommodate them. This means you’ll have to take turns with your party members watching the cart outside each tent. But it is more than worth it if you happen to be parked six blocks away and fall in love with a ceramic cachepot.
Tip 6: Collect Business Cards
Let’s be real: no one ever has the cash and the vehicle transportation to accommodate all of their amazing Brimfield finds. But if you find an item or a vendor you like and would want to possibly pursue later down the line, it’s essential that you grab their business card or write down their business name/contact information. If you’re lucky, you may be able to call them a week or so after the event and order the thing you’ve had on your mind. Or visit their brick and mortar/online store to see what else they receive in the future. I discovered so many wonderful businesses I’d never heard of before, and now have more ideas of where to shop for antiquities, vintage furniture and art. Brimfield is a beautiful opportunity for vintage sellers and buyers from all over the country to be in the same place at the same time three weeks out of the year, but it’s only a sampling of what these vendors have to offer all-year-round!
Tip 7: Study every Stall
The most important tip I have for a successful trip to Brimfield is to study every stall that you can. Steven’s mom and I made a point to see as many stalls as we could possibly fit into our trip, in an effort to see the entirety of the selection. And it served us well in finding some amazing pieces. Sure some of the stalls are highly curated and beautifully merchandised. But sticking only to the eye-catching stalls filled with designer pieces is going to cause you to miss out on some real gems. Sometimes a crowded table or a very modest-looking clothing rack can be where you find a one-of-a-kind piece at an out-of-this-world price.
I want to now share with you the pièce de résistance of our Brimfield adventure, which we would have never found had we not checked every row and every stall. I spotted this gorgeous 1970s Thonet brand bentwood rocking chair, and knew it had to be part of my collection. This is a very influential style of rocking chair that dates back to the 19th century when it was first designed by German carpenter Michael Thonet. (I’m thinking of doing an article all about this style of chair, so be in the lookout for that blogpost down the line.) And I can now say I own my very own. Sitting in it is like taking a trip back in time. And now I have a lovely work of art in my home that will always remind me of my first of many trips to Brimfield.
I hope these tips will be helpful and encouraging to those hoping to attend future installments of Brimfield. I can’t wait to make attending a tradition. And I want to thank Steven’s mother for taking me, and helping me lug this chair across the market grounds to the car! It was an experience I won’t forget!
Until we meet again!
