The Big Car Boot Sale Rebrand: From Traditional Market to Fashion-Forward Urban Event
The Balham car boot sale in south-west London has undergone a significant rebrand to emphasize a fashion-forward, urban style rather than a traditional market image. Since its inception in 2019 by Steven Lopes and Erin Murphy, who also runs a vintage store, the event has grown from about 20 attendees in its first months to attracting between 1,000 and 2,000 people every other weekend. The rebrand aims to reflect city style while maintaining a family-friendly atmosphere.
Similar growth has been seen at Rummage in the Range in Manchester, where queues are reported down the street with around 300 people arriving by 10 a.m. This event is positioned as a hybrid of car boot and flea market.
Drive-in pitches for sellers at these events cost up to £35, while walk-in pitches are £10, offering an affordable alternative to more expensive storefront options such as Portobello Road.
The rise of these fashionable car boot sales is linked to social media and secondhand selling platforms. The UK secondhand market is valued at approximately £4.3 billion this year, with the average monthly spend on secondhand items rising from £58.40 five years ago to £124.80 now. Influencers and sellers like Becky Chorlton, who has around 30 million likes on TikTok, and Freddie Stoten, are helping to expand the audience and increase competition across car boots and markets.
Despite this modern appeal, cash remains the primary payment method, reflecting a mindful spending ethos in this largely cash-based scene. Card machines are rare, with occasional use of PayPal.
The trend of increasingly fashionable, influencer-driven car boots raises questions about the gentrification of what has traditionally been a British pastime, as the scene shifts toward designer-focused reselling and urban style.
