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We may live in a digital age, | 0:00:07 | 0:00:09 | |
but a surprising amount of British trade is still done the old-fashioned way... | 0:00:11 | 0:00:15 | |
RAPID AUCTIONEER'S PATTER | 0:00:15 | 0:00:17 | |
..at traditional auctions. | 0:00:19 | 0:00:21 | |
Now's your time to get a bargain. | 0:00:21 | 0:00:23 | |
These sales may feel like throwbacks to a bygone age... | 0:00:23 | 0:00:27 | |
..but for the buyers and sellers who flock to them, | 0:00:28 | 0:00:31 | |
they're still the best way to conduct business. | 0:00:31 | 0:00:34 | |
At 1,600. Blow your nose and bid again. | 0:00:34 | 0:00:36 | |
We'll be visiting the UK's most dynamic traditional markets. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:40 | |
Selling everything from pigs to cattle, sheep dogs to ponies, | 0:00:41 | 0:00:47 | |
580. | 0:00:47 | 0:00:49 | |
..fish to veg. | 0:00:49 | 0:00:51 | |
And discovering how they are the heartbeat of rural life. | 0:00:51 | 0:00:55 | |
They'll be bargains to be had today. | 0:00:56 | 0:00:58 | |
-450. -That's part of being at an auction. | 0:00:58 | 0:01:00 | |
Today, we are in Lincolnshire at the UK's largest horticultural auction. | 0:01:01 | 0:01:07 | |
-36 carrots. -36? We've got another 12 to come, then. | 0:01:07 | 0:01:12 | |
On we go then to the cabaret. | 0:01:13 | 0:01:15 | |
110. 120 has the lady bid. Gentleman, 130. | 0:01:15 | 0:01:17 | |
We'll be meeting the auctioneers in the hot seat... | 0:01:17 | 0:01:20 | |
-140. -Yeah, do the best you can and don't mess about today. | 0:01:20 | 0:01:23 | |
..and following the fortunes of three buyers and sellers. | 0:01:23 | 0:01:26 | |
I've arrived with an empty van, | 0:01:26 | 0:01:28 | |
so a successful day would be I can fill it | 0:01:28 | 0:01:31 | |
and go home with some bargains. | 0:01:31 | 0:01:33 | |
As they experience all the excitement... | 0:01:33 | 0:01:36 | |
-You've got accommodation down in DC. -..and tension... | 0:01:36 | 0:01:39 | |
Sometimes it's dread news and sometimes it's good. | 0:01:39 | 0:01:42 | |
..as the hammer falls. | 0:01:42 | 0:01:44 | |
Oh, they break your heart with this, don't they? | 0:01:44 | 0:01:46 | |
We're in Spalding, an ancient market town in Lincolnshire, | 0:01:54 | 0:01:58 | |
the largest county in the East of England. | 0:01:58 | 0:02:00 | |
It's famed for its big skies and rich soil. | 0:02:01 | 0:02:05 | |
A quarter of all the UK's plants and vegetables are grown here. | 0:02:05 | 0:02:08 | |
And on the edge of Spalding | 0:02:11 | 0:02:12 | |
is Britain's oldest and biggest horticultural market, | 0:02:12 | 0:02:16 | |
Spalding Auction House. | 0:02:16 | 0:02:18 | |
This one, that one, that one. | 0:02:18 | 0:02:21 | |
He grows a few varieties, then. | 0:02:21 | 0:02:23 | |
It's been going an impressive 70 years | 0:02:24 | 0:02:26 | |
in this heartland of British horticulture. | 0:02:26 | 0:02:29 | |
People come people come from a radius of 50, 60 miles here today. | 0:02:29 | 0:02:33 | |
Some really nice stuff, yeah. | 0:02:33 | 0:02:35 | |
Nice bit of colour. Good value for money on that. | 0:02:35 | 0:02:38 | |
10p to 20p per plant could make a lot of difference. | 0:02:38 | 0:02:43 | |
The auction happens three times a week, come rain or shine | 0:02:43 | 0:02:47 | |
and often attracts as many as 40 buyers. | 0:02:47 | 0:02:50 | |
Now including wonky peppers. | 0:02:50 | 0:02:52 | |
They all taste the same, don't they? | 0:02:52 | 0:02:54 | |
There are two separate auctions today - | 0:02:55 | 0:02:57 | |
a veg auction, selling over 1,000 bags and boxes of veg. | 0:02:59 | 0:03:03 | |
Yes, please. Thank you. | 0:03:03 | 0:03:05 | |
And a horticultural auction, | 0:03:05 | 0:03:07 | |
selling 16,000 flowers, plants, and shrubs. | 0:03:08 | 0:03:12 | |
-Hello, how are you? -I'm fine, thanks. | 0:03:12 | 0:03:15 | |
It takes two auctioneers to do the selling. | 0:03:20 | 0:03:23 | |
-Is it working all right, this week? Because... -Well, I don't know. | 0:03:24 | 0:03:27 | |
It was going a little bit funny earlier. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:29 | |
Claire Pearson on veg. | 0:03:29 | 0:03:32 | |
Most of the produce we receive | 0:03:32 | 0:03:34 | |
will have been either cut that day, | 0:03:34 | 0:03:37 | |
or the previous day. So it is very fresh. | 0:03:37 | 0:03:41 | |
And Ady Williams on plants. | 0:03:41 | 0:03:43 | |
The most important thing is knowing your customers | 0:03:43 | 0:03:46 | |
and knowing what you're selling. | 0:03:46 | 0:03:47 | |
When you're actually lining up a trolley of plants, | 0:03:47 | 0:03:50 | |
you know who's going to be bidding for those, | 0:03:50 | 0:03:52 | |
and what sort of money they're looking to pay. | 0:03:52 | 0:03:54 | |
So you've virtually know you've sold it before you do. | 0:03:54 | 0:03:57 | |
-It's a ginseng plant, look. -Oh, right. -All swollen roots. | 0:03:57 | 0:04:00 | |
-That's unusual, isn't it? -It's a bonsai. | 0:04:00 | 0:04:02 | |
-Indoor or outdoor? -Indoor. | 0:04:02 | 0:04:04 | |
Claire's veg auction is a vital market | 0:04:05 | 0:04:07 | |
for the region's many smaller growers. | 0:04:07 | 0:04:10 | |
Look at these, look. | 0:04:10 | 0:04:11 | |
Lots of the local farmers are quite small. | 0:04:11 | 0:04:15 | |
They only have a few acres, | 0:04:15 | 0:04:17 | |
so they're not big enough to sell to multiples. | 0:04:17 | 0:04:21 | |
This is the perfect outlet for them. | 0:04:21 | 0:04:25 | |
BELL RINGS | 0:04:25 | 0:04:26 | |
Time for the auction to begin. | 0:04:26 | 0:04:29 | |
Morning, everybody. | 0:04:29 | 0:04:30 | |
-Morning, Claire. -Did you miss me last week? | 0:04:32 | 0:04:34 | |
-Who? -Thank you, Mr Hazell. | 0:04:34 | 0:04:36 | |
Everything is fresh and must all be sold before the auction is over, | 0:04:36 | 0:04:40 | |
because it won't be fresh tomorrow. | 0:04:41 | 0:04:43 | |
We could have 500 lots. | 0:04:44 | 0:04:46 | |
So we do move through an awful lot of produce. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:50 | |
We have to go pretty quickly. | 0:04:50 | 0:04:52 | |
We're on a time limit. | 0:04:54 | 0:04:55 | |
We have to start at 11:00 and have to be done by 12:30. | 0:04:55 | 0:05:00 | |
Now we have the sprout stalks. | 0:05:00 | 0:05:03 | |
These are in fives. Five lots on offer. | 0:05:03 | 0:05:05 | |
Stop me at £1. £1 bid. | 0:05:05 | 0:05:06 | |
1.10, 1.20, 1.30. | 0:05:06 | 0:05:08 | |
1.40. £2. | 0:05:08 | 0:05:10 | |
2.10, 2.20. | 0:05:10 | 0:05:11 | |
The veg is being sold to a range of local buyers, | 0:05:11 | 0:05:14 | |
mostly purchasing for their own shops, restaurants or market stalls. | 0:05:14 | 0:05:19 | |
2.80 right at the back. | 0:05:19 | 0:05:20 | |
Any further bids? We're at 2.80. | 0:05:20 | 0:05:23 | |
Are you bidding, sir? No. | 0:05:23 | 0:05:24 | |
2.80 then. Right on the back row. | 0:05:24 | 0:05:26 | |
There's a lot to sell and a need for speed. | 0:05:28 | 0:05:32 | |
So the auctioneers are moved around on mobile platforms, | 0:05:32 | 0:05:36 | |
like Wimbledon umpires on wheels. | 0:05:36 | 0:05:38 | |
When we do the selling, we're sat on a rostrum which is about | 0:05:39 | 0:05:42 | |
five, six foot up in the air. | 0:05:42 | 0:05:44 | |
And it is a bit unique because, at other places, | 0:05:44 | 0:05:47 | |
we'll bring the goods in front of a fixed station. | 0:05:47 | 0:05:49 | |
But we are not, we are portable. | 0:05:49 | 0:05:50 | |
At the heart of this auction | 0:05:52 | 0:05:53 | |
is quality veg from highly experienced producers. | 0:05:53 | 0:05:56 | |
If you want to buy, you just buy. | 0:05:56 | 0:05:59 | |
We've got a good relationship with all of our growers. | 0:05:59 | 0:06:02 | |
They're fairly regular and some of them put in every single sale, | 0:06:02 | 0:06:05 | |
so they know we're going to do a good job. | 0:06:05 | 0:06:08 | |
I really would like to start at £2 today. | 0:06:08 | 0:06:11 | |
All right, after you, keep going. | 0:06:11 | 0:06:14 | |
They don't come much more regular than seller John Dix. | 0:06:14 | 0:06:18 | |
He's been bringing his produce here for nearly four decades. | 0:06:18 | 0:06:21 | |
They are good stuff, whoever they are. | 0:06:21 | 0:06:23 | |
There's not that many local markets on a Wednesday, see, | 0:06:23 | 0:06:27 | |
so people can come. | 0:06:27 | 0:06:29 | |
They come from a long way away here, you know. | 0:06:29 | 0:06:32 | |
John has nearly a tonne of potatoes for sale today. | 0:06:32 | 0:06:36 | |
But there's a UK potato glut right now, so he's worried. | 0:06:36 | 0:06:39 | |
It's a bad year to sell potatoes, because such hellish yields. | 0:06:41 | 0:06:46 | |
I mean there is talk that | 0:06:46 | 0:06:48 | |
some of the growers are not even going to lift them. | 0:06:48 | 0:06:51 | |
Some of the bigger growers. | 0:06:51 | 0:06:53 | |
Probably an average yield will be 20 tonnes per acre. | 0:06:53 | 0:06:57 | |
Some of these fellas, this year, are talking about 30. | 0:06:59 | 0:07:02 | |
But John thinks he'll beat the glut, because the spuds he grows, | 0:07:02 | 0:07:06 | |
Maris Pipers, are, in his view, irresistible. | 0:07:06 | 0:07:11 | |
South Lincolnshire Maris Piper is definitely, | 0:07:11 | 0:07:14 | |
definitely the finest chipping, eating potato in all of the world. | 0:07:14 | 0:07:19 | |
And that's a fact, sir. | 0:07:19 | 0:07:20 | |
But he needs good prices, | 0:07:20 | 0:07:23 | |
because his sales at the auction produce most of his income. | 0:07:23 | 0:07:26 | |
John lives with his wife Jackie just six miles from Spalding. | 0:07:31 | 0:07:35 | |
They've been farming their 100 acres here for the past 40 years. | 0:07:35 | 0:07:39 | |
Jackie and myself do try to do as much as we can ourselves | 0:07:41 | 0:07:44 | |
because that really is, to me, | 0:07:44 | 0:07:46 | |
that's what a smallholding always was, you know, | 0:07:46 | 0:07:49 | |
man and wife working together. | 0:07:49 | 0:07:51 | |
Like many smallholders, | 0:07:51 | 0:07:52 | |
they grow a variety of crops throughout the year. | 0:07:52 | 0:07:55 | |
The field we're in now is sprouting broccoli. | 0:07:57 | 0:08:02 | |
We grow seven different varieties. | 0:08:02 | 0:08:06 | |
Its maturity ranges from basically now | 0:08:06 | 0:08:11 | |
until next May. | 0:08:11 | 0:08:13 | |
It's a beautiful, beautiful thing to eat. | 0:08:13 | 0:08:15 | |
Eat it how you want. | 0:08:15 | 0:08:17 | |
Beautiful. Tastes beautiful. | 0:08:19 | 0:08:22 | |
But John's biggest passion is his potatoes, | 0:08:22 | 0:08:25 | |
and there's only one variety that counts. | 0:08:25 | 0:08:28 | |
There variety we grow is always Maris Piper. | 0:08:28 | 0:08:32 | |
I've never, ever had a bad comment on the taste, or anything to do with... | 0:08:32 | 0:08:37 | |
South Lincolnshire Maris Piper, not just ours, | 0:08:37 | 0:08:40 | |
but South Lincolnshire Maris Piper. | 0:08:40 | 0:08:42 | |
Again, I'm very biased, obviously. I'm going to be, aren't I? | 0:08:42 | 0:08:46 | |
We should be ready to start grading, then, ready for tomorrow. | 0:08:46 | 0:08:49 | |
That's hope they make some money. You never know your luck. | 0:08:50 | 0:08:52 | |
First introduced in the mid-1960s, | 0:08:54 | 0:08:56 | |
Maris Piper has become a firm British favourite for chips, | 0:08:56 | 0:09:00 | |
roasties and mash. | 0:09:00 | 0:09:02 | |
It's got a beautiful taste. | 0:09:02 | 0:09:05 | |
Easy to chip for the fish and chip shops, on a commercial basis. | 0:09:05 | 0:09:09 | |
Baked potato. | 0:09:09 | 0:09:10 | |
It's just like cream, without cream on it. | 0:09:10 | 0:09:14 | |
It's the ultimate taste. | 0:09:14 | 0:09:16 | |
John and Jackie harvested all these potatoes about a month ago. | 0:09:16 | 0:09:19 | |
They take them in batches to the auction each week, | 0:09:20 | 0:09:24 | |
so they can keep their customers supplied throughout the winter. | 0:09:24 | 0:09:27 | |
The grading machine begins by sifting out spuds | 0:09:28 | 0:09:31 | |
that are too small to sell. | 0:09:31 | 0:09:33 | |
Jackie then inspects each one to double-check quality | 0:09:33 | 0:09:37 | |
before being bagged up by John. | 0:09:37 | 0:09:40 | |
Then onto the pallet. | 0:09:40 | 0:09:42 | |
Now, in the real modern farming world, | 0:09:42 | 0:09:45 | |
this would be stacked automatically. | 0:09:45 | 0:09:46 | |
The only automatic thing about this pallet stacker is me. | 0:09:48 | 0:09:51 | |
The couple harvest about 100 tonnes of Maris Piper every autumn. | 0:09:52 | 0:09:56 | |
-Take that one across the bottom. -That's it. | 0:09:57 | 0:10:00 | |
And keep them cool, dark and protected from frost | 0:10:00 | 0:10:03 | |
under a special potato blanket. | 0:10:03 | 0:10:06 | |
Put that one up a bit. | 0:10:07 | 0:10:08 | |
But farming can be an unpredictable livelihood | 0:10:08 | 0:10:11 | |
and, for John, it never stops. | 0:10:11 | 0:10:14 | |
I actually had a couple of big tractor expenses this year, | 0:10:14 | 0:10:17 | |
so you've got to keep earning, as any business has. | 0:10:17 | 0:10:19 | |
You never know what's round the corner, really. | 0:10:19 | 0:10:22 | |
We all understand the nature of trade and trading. | 0:10:22 | 0:10:25 | |
You can't always have the top dollar. | 0:10:25 | 0:10:27 | |
You can't always win, you know. | 0:10:27 | 0:10:29 | |
And with the UK potato glut causing low prices, | 0:10:29 | 0:10:33 | |
the auction could be challenging for John. | 0:10:33 | 0:10:35 | |
No, no, no. No, no! | 0:10:35 | 0:10:37 | |
This last year was a very good price... | 0:10:37 | 0:10:39 | |
..for potatoes, last year, because there was just not the crop. | 0:10:40 | 0:10:43 | |
But always, when that happens, you're in trouble the next year. | 0:10:43 | 0:10:47 | |
Because everybody jumps in and too many grown. | 0:10:47 | 0:10:50 | |
The load that I will take tomorrow, I would hope | 0:10:50 | 0:10:53 | |
for it to gross out between £120 and £150 for the load, | 0:10:53 | 0:10:59 | |
which is good, you know. | 0:10:59 | 0:11:02 | |
If we meet that target, I'll be overjoyed. | 0:11:02 | 0:11:05 | |
On we go. | 0:11:12 | 0:11:14 | |
Just one little box. | 0:11:16 | 0:11:18 | |
You've picked the dodgy trolley, haven't you? | 0:11:18 | 0:11:22 | |
So are we on number 980? | 0:11:23 | 0:11:24 | |
Yeah. 89460. | 0:11:24 | 0:11:27 | |
John Dix takes his produce to be sold at Spalding | 0:11:27 | 0:11:31 | |
twice a week through the winter. | 0:11:31 | 0:11:33 | |
The reason that Spalding auction, in my opinion, | 0:11:33 | 0:11:35 | |
is still so very popular, | 0:11:35 | 0:11:37 | |
as it certainly is - fresh produce, knowing where it's come from, | 0:11:37 | 0:11:42 | |
knowing where it's grown and they can trust the product. | 0:11:42 | 0:11:45 | |
He's brought almost a tonne with him, | 0:11:47 | 0:11:50 | |
loaded in ten kilo and 25 kilo bags. | 0:11:50 | 0:11:52 | |
He's got a reserve of £1 for the smaller bags | 0:11:52 | 0:11:56 | |
and £1.80 for the larger ones. | 0:11:56 | 0:11:58 | |
We all put a reserve price on. | 0:11:58 | 0:12:01 | |
Which I do. A low reserve, because I want the product to go. | 0:12:02 | 0:12:05 | |
For John, it's as much about pride as it is about prices. | 0:12:06 | 0:12:10 | |
So he takes his opportunity to check out the competition. | 0:12:10 | 0:12:13 | |
I like to have a look around before I go away, | 0:12:14 | 0:12:17 | |
just to see what the opposition's putting up front today. | 0:12:17 | 0:12:20 | |
So I can judge whether I'm doing right or wrong on the sales, really, | 0:12:20 | 0:12:24 | |
you know. It's my own little research. | 0:12:24 | 0:12:26 | |
Despite this year's potato glut, | 0:12:28 | 0:12:30 | |
John's spotted something that's cheered him up. | 0:12:30 | 0:12:33 | |
There are very few Maris Pipers here. | 0:12:33 | 0:12:36 | |
There's not too many. | 0:12:37 | 0:12:39 | |
I don't know how many Maris Piper growers are in here, | 0:12:39 | 0:12:42 | |
but there's probably only a couple | 0:12:42 | 0:12:44 | |
and you can see there's quite a lot of potatoes in. | 0:12:44 | 0:12:47 | |
This year, there does seem to be a shortage of Maris Piper. | 0:12:47 | 0:12:52 | |
Because it's a very difficult potato to grow. | 0:12:52 | 0:12:54 | |
I mean, some of these spuds, | 0:12:54 | 0:12:56 | |
you chuck down in the field and they grow on their own nearly. | 0:12:56 | 0:12:59 | |
But Maris Piper will get every mortal affliction | 0:12:59 | 0:13:01 | |
that Jesus can throw at it. | 0:13:01 | 0:13:03 | |
And unless you're ready for it, you'll get caught out. | 0:13:03 | 0:13:06 | |
So there you go. It's a difficult one to grow, but, this year, | 0:13:06 | 0:13:09 | |
it's definitely reaping a benefit. | 0:13:09 | 0:13:10 | |
It's selling quite well. | 0:13:10 | 0:13:11 | |
I'm not going to say too much, | 0:13:11 | 0:13:13 | |
because that might fall to bits today, but we'll see. | 0:13:13 | 0:13:16 | |
-Right, here you are then, Ian. -Good morning, Mr Dix. | 0:13:16 | 0:13:19 | |
Yeah, do the best you can and don't mess about today. | 0:13:19 | 0:13:22 | |
All right? Get shot on them. | 0:13:22 | 0:13:23 | |
-Thank you very much. -Thank you. See you tomorrow. | 0:13:23 | 0:13:26 | |
Like many sellers, John won't be staying at the auction, | 0:13:26 | 0:13:29 | |
because he is keen to get back to work. | 0:13:29 | 0:13:32 | |
He'll find out what his produce gets after the event. | 0:13:32 | 0:13:35 | |
It's pointless hanging around. | 0:13:36 | 0:13:38 | |
They've got our reserves, we trust them, | 0:13:38 | 0:13:40 | |
we trust the auctioneers and what's the point? | 0:13:40 | 0:13:44 | |
Crack on, go home, do something else. | 0:13:44 | 0:13:45 | |
So, for John, it's now a wait to see if the buyers at the auction | 0:13:48 | 0:13:52 | |
love his Maris Pipers as much as he does. | 0:13:52 | 0:13:55 | |
Got a bid here at £5. | 0:14:00 | 0:14:02 | |
Any further bids? | 0:14:02 | 0:14:04 | |
John's potatoes are about to go under the hammer. | 0:14:04 | 0:14:07 | |
Spalding buyers have their own codenames, | 0:14:07 | 0:14:10 | |
so the likes of Mr July and Mr Mash are getting ready to do battle. | 0:14:10 | 0:14:15 | |
We'll move along now to the Piper. | 0:14:15 | 0:14:18 | |
Maris Piper. In the ten kilo bags. | 0:14:18 | 0:14:21 | |
40 on offer. Stop me at £1. | 0:14:21 | 0:14:23 | |
£1 bid. One, 1.10, 1.10. | 0:14:23 | 0:14:25 | |
1.10 on my left. 1.10... | 0:14:25 | 0:14:27 | |
First up are the 10K bags. | 0:14:27 | 0:14:29 | |
John was hoping for a minimum of £1 each. | 0:14:29 | 0:14:32 | |
Anybody else, 1.40? 1.50. 1.50, just here. | 0:14:32 | 0:14:36 | |
Just in front of me. Do you want to go again, sir, on the back? | 0:14:36 | 0:14:39 | |
1.50. | 0:14:39 | 0:14:40 | |
I'm taking this bid at 1.50. | 0:14:40 | 0:14:42 | |
Mr July. Five bags. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:45 | |
He's got his price. | 0:14:45 | 0:14:47 | |
But the bidder only wants five bags. | 0:14:47 | 0:14:50 | |
The remaining 35 are offered back to the losing bidders. | 0:14:50 | 0:14:54 | |
1.50 he bids me. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:55 | |
1.50. Any advance on 1.50? | 0:14:55 | 0:14:57 | |
Do you want to go again, sir? 1.50. | 0:14:57 | 0:14:59 | |
If they aren't taken, they might be going back to John. | 0:14:59 | 0:15:02 | |
I've got a bit at the back of the room for 1.50. | 0:15:02 | 0:15:06 | |
Team clears. | 0:15:06 | 0:15:07 | |
A bidder steps up. | 0:15:08 | 0:15:10 | |
And clears means that he's bought all of them. | 0:15:10 | 0:15:13 | |
Next up is the larger 25K bags. | 0:15:13 | 0:15:16 | |
John's brought 20 to sell and has set a low reserve of 1.80 per bag. | 0:15:16 | 0:15:21 | |
25 kilo bags. | 0:15:22 | 0:15:24 | |
20 on offer. Start me at 2.50. | 0:15:24 | 0:15:26 | |
2.50 bid, thank you. | 0:15:26 | 0:15:28 | |
Got the bid just in front of me. 2.50. | 0:15:28 | 0:15:30 | |
Anybody else bidding? 2.60. | 0:15:30 | 0:15:32 | |
Thank you, sir. 2.60. | 0:15:32 | 0:15:33 | |
Any more bids. | 0:15:33 | 0:15:34 | |
We are at 2.60. | 0:15:34 | 0:15:35 | |
I can't see any more hands, can you? | 0:15:35 | 0:15:37 | |
2.60. Mr Mash. | 0:15:37 | 0:15:41 | |
The winning bidder for John's spuds pays 2.60 for each bag. | 0:15:41 | 0:15:45 | |
But it seems he also doesn't want the whole lot. | 0:15:45 | 0:15:48 | |
Ten to Mr Mash. | 0:15:49 | 0:15:51 | |
Five to Mr Margin. | 0:15:51 | 0:15:53 | |
Five left. Who's in for the last five? | 0:15:53 | 0:15:56 | |
Anybody? | 0:15:57 | 0:15:59 | |
Nope. On we move, then. | 0:15:59 | 0:16:01 | |
Thank you, Mr Margin, we're clear. | 0:16:01 | 0:16:03 | |
It's good news for John. | 0:16:04 | 0:16:06 | |
His Maris Pipers have done him proud as he's sold all his bags. | 0:16:06 | 0:16:11 | |
Tonight, he'll get the total figure. | 0:16:11 | 0:16:13 | |
2.20. 2.30 here. | 0:16:13 | 0:16:16 | |
2.30. | 0:16:16 | 0:16:17 | |
With its huge flat fields and rich soil, | 0:16:20 | 0:16:23 | |
Lincolnshire is Britain's most important county for growing. | 0:16:24 | 0:16:27 | |
A quarter of all UK veg production happens right here. | 0:16:29 | 0:16:32 | |
And, in some areas, | 0:16:32 | 0:16:34 | |
nearly one in four of the population work in agriculture. | 0:16:34 | 0:16:38 | |
Agriculture and farming is the lifeblood of this area. | 0:16:39 | 0:16:44 | |
Everything revolves around it. | 0:16:44 | 0:16:46 | |
Nearly every business that you deal with has got something to do with | 0:16:46 | 0:16:51 | |
agriculture, even if you go... | 0:16:51 | 0:16:53 | |
..to the bank, | 0:16:54 | 0:16:55 | |
there's an agricultural manager for the area from each bank. | 0:16:55 | 0:16:58 | |
Food and farming contributes a mighty £2.5 billion | 0:17:01 | 0:17:05 | |
to the local economy, | 0:17:05 | 0:17:07 | |
making it the third most important business in the region. | 0:17:07 | 0:17:10 | |
Growing has always been hugely important here | 0:17:13 | 0:17:16 | |
and Spalding veg auction was founded in 1948, | 0:17:16 | 0:17:19 | |
as a hub for buying and selling the region's output. | 0:17:19 | 0:17:23 | |
In the mid-90s, | 0:17:25 | 0:17:27 | |
the market outgrew its town centre location and moved here | 0:17:27 | 0:17:30 | |
to the outskirts of town. | 0:17:30 | 0:17:32 | |
But it remains the beating heart of the county's agri-business. | 0:17:33 | 0:17:37 | |
We have buyers come here from all over the country | 0:17:38 | 0:17:41 | |
because they know the product is fresh. | 0:17:41 | 0:17:45 | |
They can see it with their own eyes. | 0:17:45 | 0:17:46 | |
Two to Mr Claw. | 0:17:48 | 0:17:50 | |
Cromer clears. We have two more boxes. | 0:17:50 | 0:17:52 | |
Anybody else bidding? 1.50. | 0:17:52 | 0:17:54 | |
Cheers, all. | 0:17:55 | 0:17:57 | |
The auction tradition for bidders to have codenames goes back some years. | 0:17:57 | 0:18:01 | |
At 90 bid. I thought you were thinking about bidding, Mr Monster. | 0:18:01 | 0:18:05 | |
It's a way to avoid the market mixing up clients | 0:18:05 | 0:18:08 | |
with similar surnames. | 0:18:08 | 0:18:10 | |
At 95p. | 0:18:10 | 0:18:12 | |
July. | 0:18:12 | 0:18:14 | |
But, in the cloak and dagger world of the auction, | 0:18:14 | 0:18:17 | |
it also allows buyers to operate less obtrusively. | 0:18:17 | 0:18:20 | |
When you first register with the auction house, you are given a name. | 0:18:21 | 0:18:25 | |
I was very fortunate because I'd filled my form out correctly and neatly, | 0:18:25 | 0:18:29 | |
I was allowed to pick my name, so we picked Halo. | 0:18:29 | 0:18:32 | |
We're still going up here at 1.65. | 0:18:32 | 0:18:34 | |
Mr Halo. | 0:18:34 | 0:18:36 | |
They have bidding names, so that has been a challenge, | 0:18:36 | 0:18:39 | |
learning all of those. | 0:18:39 | 0:18:40 | |
And the highest bidder will probably... | 0:18:42 | 0:18:45 | |
I'll say it's Mr whoever wins the bid and they'll go like that. | 0:18:45 | 0:18:50 | |
And that's how many they want to buy. | 0:18:50 | 0:18:52 | |
Or whatever. | 0:18:52 | 0:18:54 | |
Sprout stalk. These are from our finest grower. | 0:19:00 | 0:19:03 | |
Let's not muck about. 1.50. | 0:19:03 | 0:19:05 | |
Hold it there, mate. | 0:19:05 | 0:19:07 | |
I changed the fertiliser this year. | 0:19:07 | 0:19:10 | |
We did, actually. | 0:19:10 | 0:19:11 | |
It's not just sellers who rely on the auction for their livelihoods - | 0:19:12 | 0:19:17 | |
many of those who buy here need to source quality veg from Spalding | 0:19:17 | 0:19:21 | |
to keep their businesses running. | 0:19:21 | 0:19:23 | |
Selling then. | 0:19:25 | 0:19:27 | |
Buyer James Dawson owns a fruit and veg stall in Scunthorpe. | 0:19:27 | 0:19:31 | |
The auction is vital for him to keep his stall going. | 0:19:31 | 0:19:35 | |
But he also needs to pay low prices | 0:19:35 | 0:19:37 | |
to have any chance of making a profit. | 0:19:37 | 0:19:40 | |
People do tend to prefer to buy locally grown vegetables, | 0:19:41 | 0:19:45 | |
especially if it's got the word Spalding attached to it, | 0:19:45 | 0:19:49 | |
or it's grown in that area. | 0:19:49 | 0:19:50 | |
It does seem to sell better. | 0:19:50 | 0:19:52 | |
Low prices at auction also have a positive impact on sales, | 0:19:52 | 0:19:56 | |
so they're doubly important. | 0:19:56 | 0:19:59 | |
I'm quite reliant on Spalding auction. Price comes into it. | 0:19:59 | 0:20:02 | |
If I pay less at the auction, | 0:20:02 | 0:20:04 | |
then the customer pays less on the stall | 0:20:04 | 0:20:07 | |
and that way I sell a little bit more. | 0:20:07 | 0:20:09 | |
Hi there, are you all right? | 0:20:16 | 0:20:18 | |
James's stall is 70 miles away from Spalding | 0:20:18 | 0:20:21 | |
at Scunthorpe market. | 0:20:21 | 0:20:22 | |
Anything else I can get you? Just that, yeah? Just 95. | 0:20:22 | 0:20:25 | |
His family have traded at the market here | 0:20:25 | 0:20:29 | |
for half a century and James started off on a family plant stall | 0:20:29 | 0:20:34 | |
before venturing into veg. | 0:20:34 | 0:20:36 | |
The opportunity came up for the stall, | 0:20:36 | 0:20:38 | |
which has always been pole position, | 0:20:38 | 0:20:40 | |
one of the best looking stalls on the market. | 0:20:40 | 0:20:43 | |
So when that came available, I took the opportunity. | 0:20:43 | 0:20:45 | |
It is all a bit new to me, really. | 0:20:45 | 0:20:47 | |
I never used to like veg, really, as a kid, but, yeah, | 0:20:48 | 0:20:52 | |
I can't get enough of it, really, now. Yeah. | 0:20:52 | 0:20:54 | |
Pretty much everything James sells is from the Spalding auction. | 0:20:55 | 0:20:59 | |
His customers love the quality. | 0:20:59 | 0:21:02 | |
But James knows he has to be very careful with prices. | 0:21:02 | 0:21:05 | |
There you go. | 0:21:05 | 0:21:07 | |
Supermarkets have had a huge impact on market traders like James. | 0:21:07 | 0:21:11 | |
If his prices are too high, he risks having no customers. | 0:21:11 | 0:21:16 | |
Pop them in there. It's all right. | 0:21:16 | 0:21:18 | |
Five for a pound. | 0:21:18 | 0:21:19 | |
The economic superstore of the stall are stark. | 0:21:19 | 0:21:23 | |
Almost all the income from the weekdays | 0:21:23 | 0:21:25 | |
is needed to cover overheads. | 0:21:25 | 0:21:27 | |
So he needs a good day on Saturday and low prices at auction | 0:21:27 | 0:21:32 | |
if he's to pay himself a wage at all. | 0:21:32 | 0:21:35 | |
Monday to Friday, that just about covers wages for the week, | 0:21:35 | 0:21:40 | |
rent, and fuel expenses. | 0:21:40 | 0:21:43 | |
And it all really hinges on how good a Saturday we have | 0:21:43 | 0:21:46 | |
to whether I actually draw a wage, | 0:21:46 | 0:21:49 | |
but the more keen the prices I pay at the auction, | 0:21:49 | 0:21:52 | |
that can make a difference, sometimes, yeah. | 0:21:52 | 0:21:54 | |
There you go. Sorry? | 0:21:54 | 0:21:56 | |
I'm just wondering why them carrots look like that. | 0:21:56 | 0:21:59 | |
-Well, they're like red ones. -Oh. -Nice. Sweet. Yeah. | 0:21:59 | 0:22:02 | |
That is one of the main reasons why I do buy a lot of my | 0:22:02 | 0:22:06 | |
stuff of the auction. It is cheaper than the wholesale market. | 0:22:06 | 0:22:09 | |
Is that right? There you go, then. Thank you. | 0:22:09 | 0:22:12 | |
Prices tend to be at least 25% cheaper, I would say, | 0:22:12 | 0:22:17 | |
even when I'm buying the best quality stuff from there, | 0:22:17 | 0:22:20 | |
it always works out cheaper than the wholesalers. | 0:22:20 | 0:22:23 | |
There you are, look, there's a good 'un. | 0:22:23 | 0:22:25 | |
At auction, James has to juggle two competing priorities. | 0:22:25 | 0:22:29 | |
He has to get stock, or he can't run the stall. | 0:22:29 | 0:22:32 | |
Thank you, that's lovely. | 0:22:32 | 0:22:34 | |
But he can't pay too much for anything, | 0:22:34 | 0:22:36 | |
or he'll have no chance of making a profit. | 0:22:36 | 0:22:39 | |
On we go, then, to the cabaret. | 0:22:44 | 0:22:46 | |
No, we won't sing today. | 0:22:48 | 0:22:50 | |
We sell a lot of the time and everybody wants the big 'uns. | 0:22:50 | 0:22:53 | |
So there's a lot at stake today for young James. | 0:22:54 | 0:22:58 | |
He needs the highest quality for the lowest prices. | 0:22:58 | 0:23:01 | |
I've arrived with an empty van, | 0:23:02 | 0:23:05 | |
so a successful day would be | 0:23:05 | 0:23:06 | |
I can fill it and go home with some bargains. | 0:23:06 | 0:23:09 | |
The canny young stallholder, bidder name Magnolia, | 0:23:11 | 0:23:15 | |
plans to use his knowledge of how the auction works to his advantage. | 0:23:15 | 0:23:19 | |
He wants leeks, but he treads carefully. | 0:23:20 | 0:23:24 | |
Next we have the leeks. | 0:23:24 | 0:23:25 | |
These are in four and a half kilo boxes. | 0:23:27 | 0:23:30 | |
Ten boxes on offer. | 0:23:30 | 0:23:32 | |
Most lots at the auction consist of multiple bags, or boxes, | 0:23:32 | 0:23:36 | |
of the same vegetable from one supplier. | 0:23:36 | 0:23:38 | |
If the winning bidder only wants part of the lot, | 0:23:40 | 0:23:43 | |
the auctioneer will offer the rest to others who have also bid. | 0:23:43 | 0:23:46 | |
Let's start these of at 2.50. | 0:23:47 | 0:23:50 | |
Bid. Thank you. | 0:23:50 | 0:23:51 | |
2.50. 2.60. 2.70. 2.80. | 0:23:51 | 0:23:53 | |
James offers £2.50 straightaway, but bids no more, | 0:23:53 | 0:23:57 | |
allowing someone else to win the bidding. | 0:23:57 | 0:23:59 | |
£3, on my left-hand side. | 0:23:59 | 0:24:02 | |
£3. 3.10. 3.20. | 0:24:02 | 0:24:03 | |
Lady's bid at 3.20. 3.30, now, sir. | 0:24:03 | 0:24:06 | |
3.30 just in front of me. | 0:24:06 | 0:24:08 | |
3.40 now. Thank you. | 0:24:08 | 0:24:09 | |
3.40 on my left-hand side. | 0:24:09 | 0:24:11 | |
3.40. Any further bid? | 0:24:11 | 0:24:13 | |
I'm at 3.40. | 0:24:13 | 0:24:14 | |
Beaver. | 0:24:14 | 0:24:16 | |
Three to Beaver. | 0:24:16 | 0:24:18 | |
So only three of the ten boxes have gone. | 0:24:18 | 0:24:21 | |
The rest will be offered to the next highest bidder at the price they bid. | 0:24:21 | 0:24:26 | |
-Mr Sharp? -Three, please. | 0:24:26 | 0:24:28 | |
Three to Mr Sharp. | 0:24:28 | 0:24:29 | |
One to Hay Green. | 0:24:29 | 0:24:30 | |
-What's left? -Magnolia. | 0:24:30 | 0:24:32 | |
Winner at 3.40 and we've got three left. Three to Magnolia. | 0:24:32 | 0:24:34 | |
Three to Magnolia. Thank you, sir. | 0:24:34 | 0:24:36 | |
We go to the rainbow carrots. | 0:24:36 | 0:24:38 | |
So James pays 2.50 each, his original bid, | 0:24:40 | 0:24:44 | |
for four boxes of leeks. | 0:24:44 | 0:24:46 | |
While the top bidder paid 3.40 a box. | 0:24:46 | 0:24:49 | |
James uses the same technique to get some bargain carrots. | 0:24:51 | 0:24:55 | |
Would you like three, Mr Magnolia? | 0:24:55 | 0:24:57 | |
Thank you. Magnolia clears. | 0:24:57 | 0:24:58 | |
And a host of other veg. | 0:24:58 | 0:25:00 | |
Carrots, peppers, cauliflowers. | 0:25:01 | 0:25:04 | |
Four to Mr Magnolia. | 0:25:04 | 0:25:06 | |
Did you want to take five? He'll take five. | 0:25:06 | 0:25:07 | |
Thank you. He'll clear. | 0:25:07 | 0:25:10 | |
It might seem that sellers are losing out, but this method, | 0:25:10 | 0:25:13 | |
known as under bidding, is designed to ensure that everything gets sold. | 0:25:13 | 0:25:19 | |
We always try to get the best prices we can for the vendor, | 0:25:19 | 0:25:22 | |
but, sometimes, | 0:25:23 | 0:25:25 | |
it's best to sell it at a slightly lower price | 0:25:25 | 0:25:28 | |
if we know we can clear the product, | 0:25:28 | 0:25:31 | |
because it's not going to last - it's fresh produce. | 0:25:31 | 0:25:35 | |
Next are the Tundra. | 0:25:36 | 0:25:37 | |
These are in sixes. | 0:25:37 | 0:25:38 | |
30 on offer. Let's go 1.50. | 0:25:38 | 0:25:40 | |
And there is always good old-fashioned opportunism. | 0:25:40 | 0:25:44 | |
He's not bidding at all on these cabbages. | 0:25:44 | 0:25:47 | |
I'm at 1.80, then. | 0:25:47 | 0:25:48 | |
Any further bids? | 0:25:48 | 0:25:49 | |
Seven. Ten to Mr Seven. | 0:25:50 | 0:25:53 | |
One to Canoe. | 0:25:53 | 0:25:54 | |
Four to Margin. | 0:25:54 | 0:25:55 | |
That's 15 sold. | 0:25:56 | 0:25:57 | |
-Half gone. -But when he realises there's some left, | 0:25:57 | 0:26:01 | |
he jumps in with a cheeky low bid. | 0:26:01 | 0:26:04 | |
All 1.50. | 0:26:04 | 0:26:06 | |
Let's move on to the next lot, then. | 0:26:06 | 0:26:07 | |
Sorry? Mr Magnolia, would you like some? | 0:26:07 | 0:26:10 | |
-1.50. -Oh, they break your heart with this, don't they? | 0:26:10 | 0:26:14 | |
How about 1.60, sir? | 0:26:14 | 0:26:15 | |
-Why not? -He goes 1.60. 1.70 now, you have competition. | 0:26:15 | 0:26:18 | |
1.70 just in front of me. | 0:26:18 | 0:26:20 | |
You know how it goes. | 0:26:20 | 0:26:21 | |
1.70. | 0:26:21 | 0:26:23 | |
But he's gone too low. | 0:26:23 | 0:26:25 | |
Another bidder swoops in, ups the bid by 20p and wins. | 0:26:25 | 0:26:30 | |
Cleared to Mr Chisel. | 0:26:30 | 0:26:32 | |
Outmanoeuvred, James loses the cabbages. | 0:26:32 | 0:26:36 | |
Now we're going to the Stemster. | 0:26:36 | 0:26:39 | |
Next, an all-rounder potato called Stemster. | 0:26:39 | 0:26:42 | |
25 kilos. | 0:26:42 | 0:26:43 | |
By going to go 2.50 again. | 0:26:43 | 0:26:45 | |
2.50 bid. 2.60, 2.70 at the back. 2.80, now. | 0:26:45 | 0:26:48 | |
James needs spuds for his stall, so this time he's taking no chances. | 0:26:48 | 0:26:52 | |
Do you want to go again, sir, at the back? | 0:26:52 | 0:26:54 | |
No. Three. Are you bidding, sir, no? | 0:26:54 | 0:26:56 | |
£3. I'm with you, sir. | 0:26:56 | 0:26:58 | |
-Magnolia? -Usually, before the bidding takes place, | 0:26:58 | 0:27:02 | |
you've made your mind up how many you would want, | 0:27:02 | 0:27:05 | |
if you are the winning bidder. | 0:27:05 | 0:27:07 | |
And you've also set a top price in mind, | 0:27:08 | 0:27:11 | |
because you know what you want to sell it out at, | 0:27:11 | 0:27:14 | |
so it's just a case of trying not to get carried away, | 0:27:14 | 0:27:17 | |
because that's quite easy to do. | 0:27:17 | 0:27:19 | |
Look at all the anticipation. | 0:27:21 | 0:27:23 | |
With his livelihood at stake, James has to work hard to ensure | 0:27:24 | 0:27:28 | |
he gets his vegetables cheap enough to make a profit | 0:27:28 | 0:27:31 | |
on his stall this week. | 0:27:31 | 0:27:32 | |
We're going to start them off 1.50. Bid. | 0:27:32 | 0:27:34 | |
He'll need to buy a lot more veg before the auction is out. | 0:27:34 | 0:27:38 | |
Six miles away, potato grower John Dix is making that call. | 0:27:48 | 0:27:52 | |
Eager to find out how well his precious Maris Pipers did | 0:27:54 | 0:27:57 | |
in the auction. | 0:27:57 | 0:27:58 | |
Yeah. | 0:28:00 | 0:28:01 | |
Oh. | 0:28:02 | 0:28:03 | |
That's good. That'll be the bigger ones. | 0:28:08 | 0:28:11 | |
Yeah. That's very good, thank you. | 0:28:11 | 0:28:12 | |
Yeah, cheers, bye. See you Monday. | 0:28:13 | 0:28:16 | |
The smaller bags were 50% above my reserve price. | 0:28:16 | 0:28:20 | |
And the larger bags were 33% above my reserve price. | 0:28:22 | 0:28:28 | |
So I'm very happy with that, so happy days are here again. | 0:28:29 | 0:28:32 | |
Roll on Monday. | 0:28:32 | 0:28:34 | |
The ten kilo bags were £1.50 | 0:28:34 | 0:28:36 | |
and the 25kg bags | 0:28:36 | 0:28:40 | |
were £2.70. | 0:28:40 | 0:28:41 | |
I'm very happy, very pleased about it. | 0:28:41 | 0:28:43 | |
I may even have a couple of beers tonight | 0:28:43 | 0:28:45 | |
but I would have had them whether the price was up or down! | 0:28:45 | 0:28:48 | |
So an excellent result for John at auction, | 0:28:52 | 0:28:55 | |
well above what he hoped for and a welcome increase in income - | 0:28:55 | 0:28:59 | |
for this week, at least. | 0:28:59 | 0:29:00 | |
We Brits love our potatoes. | 0:29:04 | 0:29:07 | |
They're worth over £1 billion a year to our national economy | 0:29:07 | 0:29:10 | |
and nearly 30% of the national crop is grown here in eastern England. | 0:29:10 | 0:29:15 | |
And the number one UK potato? | 0:29:16 | 0:29:19 | |
It's that relative newcomer the Maris Piper. | 0:29:19 | 0:29:22 | |
Lincolnshire has seen many potato varieties come and go | 0:29:26 | 0:29:29 | |
over the last 100 years or so. | 0:29:29 | 0:29:31 | |
The King Edward has probably been the best survivor. | 0:29:33 | 0:29:37 | |
Still eaten now, well over a century since it was first introduced. | 0:29:37 | 0:29:41 | |
Potatoes need great soil and there's plenty of that here. | 0:29:43 | 0:29:47 | |
Spalding, the soil is very good, nice silt soil. | 0:29:49 | 0:29:52 | |
All of the area around Spalding, | 0:29:52 | 0:29:54 | |
a lot of potatoes and greens are grown. | 0:29:54 | 0:29:57 | |
The soil is really good, because it never really dries out. | 0:29:58 | 0:30:01 | |
It always holds quite a bit of moisture. | 0:30:01 | 0:30:05 | |
And it's so easy to work. | 0:30:05 | 0:30:06 | |
The rich soil is good for flowers, too. | 0:30:08 | 0:30:11 | |
Tulip growing was once big business here. | 0:30:11 | 0:30:13 | |
The industry is much depleted - gone to Holland and elsewhere. | 0:30:15 | 0:30:19 | |
But flower growing on a big scale | 0:30:20 | 0:30:22 | |
remains key to Lincolnshire's agri-economy. | 0:30:22 | 0:30:25 | |
So the plants are every bit as important | 0:30:27 | 0:30:30 | |
to the auction house as the veg. | 0:30:30 | 0:30:31 | |
At 80p. At the back of the room, sir, at 90. | 0:30:39 | 0:30:41 | |
You're being told off, Mrs Wisbech. | 0:30:41 | 0:30:43 | |
I'm glad it's not just me that gets told off. | 0:30:43 | 0:30:46 | |
Auctioneer Ady's horticultural sale is going great guns | 0:30:47 | 0:30:51 | |
with about half the 16,000 plants, shrubs, and trees already sold. | 0:30:51 | 0:30:56 | |
43 bid. 44. 44. | 0:30:57 | 0:31:00 | |
With a resigned look on his face, Dixon. | 0:31:00 | 0:31:03 | |
There's about 30 buyers here today, from market stalls, | 0:31:03 | 0:31:07 | |
garden centres, and independent shops throughout the county. | 0:31:07 | 0:31:10 | |
Among the big guns is Charles Stubbs - | 0:31:13 | 0:31:17 | |
a man with a serious business empire, | 0:31:17 | 0:31:19 | |
but who always finds time to come to the auction. | 0:31:19 | 0:31:22 | |
Before buying a plant, | 0:31:22 | 0:31:24 | |
it's very important to see it | 0:31:24 | 0:31:26 | |
and it's something you need to touch | 0:31:26 | 0:31:29 | |
and feel and smell. | 0:31:29 | 0:31:31 | |
Going to the auction and getting there early, to make sure that you | 0:31:33 | 0:31:37 | |
look at the product | 0:31:37 | 0:31:38 | |
and make sure it's a quality that you want to buy | 0:31:38 | 0:31:41 | |
is still very important. | 0:31:41 | 0:31:43 | |
It's not something you can do over the internet. | 0:31:43 | 0:31:45 | |
Now we're going to azaleas. There's two lots of 12. | 0:31:45 | 0:31:48 | |
With a chain of ten garden centres to keep supplied, | 0:31:48 | 0:31:52 | |
Charles needs to buy around 4,000 plants today. | 0:31:52 | 0:31:55 | |
But margins are tight, so the price must be right, too. | 0:31:57 | 0:32:00 | |
At 1.60. I can't see movement at the back. | 0:32:01 | 0:32:04 | |
Porter. | 0:32:04 | 0:32:05 | |
The flagship garden centre of Charles's empire is at Brigg, | 0:32:12 | 0:32:16 | |
about 65 miles from the auction. | 0:32:17 | 0:32:19 | |
They started trading here nearly 20 years ago. | 0:32:22 | 0:32:24 | |
My passion has always been plants. | 0:32:26 | 0:32:28 | |
I opened my first garden centre in 1990. | 0:32:28 | 0:32:31 | |
We've now built ourselves to a chain of ten. | 0:32:31 | 0:32:34 | |
We ought to try and bring a bit more colour through here. | 0:32:34 | 0:32:37 | |
Working in this world was always Charles's dream. | 0:32:38 | 0:32:41 | |
I was probably only 11 or 12 when I sold my first plant. | 0:32:42 | 0:32:46 | |
I was literally outside mum and dad's house, sat on the roadside, | 0:32:46 | 0:32:50 | |
selling conifers, eggs, and bags of potatoes. | 0:32:50 | 0:32:54 | |
That really gave me a bug for the industry. | 0:32:54 | 0:32:57 | |
I've got a few pound in my pocket and I thought I'd won the lottery. | 0:32:57 | 0:33:01 | |
I employed my first person when I was 14, | 0:33:01 | 0:33:04 | |
so I would look after the business at weekends | 0:33:04 | 0:33:07 | |
and they would do it in the week. | 0:33:07 | 0:33:09 | |
See if we've got some more stock. | 0:33:09 | 0:33:12 | |
From those small beginnings, | 0:33:12 | 0:33:13 | |
he's built one of the region's biggest horticultural businesses. | 0:33:13 | 0:33:18 | |
For me, running a garden centre isn't just about numbers, | 0:33:18 | 0:33:21 | |
it's about making the day a fun place to work, | 0:33:21 | 0:33:25 | |
a fun place for people to come out. | 0:33:25 | 0:33:27 | |
From the children's train, to the full-size maze, | 0:33:33 | 0:33:37 | |
Charles's vision is to make his garden centres an experience. | 0:33:37 | 0:33:41 | |
The latest new attraction - dinosaurs. | 0:33:43 | 0:33:46 | |
The dinosaurs here, | 0:33:50 | 0:33:51 | |
some of these were bought from a bankrupt crazy golf course. | 0:33:51 | 0:33:56 | |
My team thought I was mad and still do, | 0:33:56 | 0:34:00 | |
but I think it gives it a real feel | 0:34:00 | 0:34:02 | |
and gives our customers something to smile about. | 0:34:02 | 0:34:05 | |
We get a lot of visitors coming. | 0:34:07 | 0:34:09 | |
They can be here three, four, five hours, just to walk round. | 0:34:09 | 0:34:12 | |
They do love the experience. | 0:34:12 | 0:34:13 | |
The experience does its job, bringing in customers to buy plants. | 0:34:15 | 0:34:20 | |
Plants are still a huge part of our business, | 0:34:20 | 0:34:22 | |
that's still the core of a garden centre. | 0:34:22 | 0:34:25 | |
We sell anything from bedding, to trees, to house plants. | 0:34:25 | 0:34:29 | |
The range of plants is still very vital to the survival | 0:34:29 | 0:34:32 | |
of a modern garden centre. | 0:34:32 | 0:34:35 | |
I'm just filling up... | 0:34:35 | 0:34:36 | |
..my benches after a busy day. These benches were full yesterday. | 0:34:38 | 0:34:42 | |
Despite the time of year, | 0:34:48 | 0:34:50 | |
business at Brigg is brisk | 0:34:50 | 0:34:53 | |
with around 4,000 customers visiting today. | 0:34:53 | 0:34:55 | |
Stock needs to be replaced quickly, so the auction is vital. | 0:34:57 | 0:35:01 | |
To have had a successful day at the auction, um, yeah, | 0:35:02 | 0:35:06 | |
I need to have bought probably two or three vanfuls. | 0:35:06 | 0:35:09 | |
And that means buying the right product | 0:35:10 | 0:35:13 | |
at, hopefully, a bargain price. | 0:35:13 | 0:35:15 | |
This week, I'm hoping we'll buy some wreaths, | 0:35:16 | 0:35:18 | |
there'll be some good planted bowls, | 0:35:18 | 0:35:20 | |
there'll be some good house plants in there. | 0:35:20 | 0:35:23 | |
It still gives me as bigger buzz now as it did do 30 years ago. | 0:35:23 | 0:35:27 | |
I still love getting a bargain. | 0:35:27 | 0:35:29 | |
95. It's a Leicestershire bidder, ladies and gentlemen. | 0:35:32 | 0:35:35 | |
Lovett. That's it, Miss Lovett clears. | 0:35:35 | 0:35:38 | |
Charles, bidder name to WGC for Woodthorpe garden centre - | 0:35:38 | 0:35:43 | |
another in the empire - | 0:35:43 | 0:35:45 | |
needs to buy 4,000 or so plants at the auction today. | 0:35:45 | 0:35:48 | |
Found on the front row. | 0:35:48 | 0:35:50 | |
So he'd better get stuck in. | 0:35:50 | 0:35:53 | |
Lot number nine is another individual lot... | 0:35:53 | 0:35:55 | |
And he's off, bidding 70p a plant on some white cyclamen. | 0:35:57 | 0:36:02 | |
-70. -But he's up against rival regular buyer Chris Porter. | 0:36:02 | 0:36:06 | |
Selling now at 80p. Mr Ray Manning. | 0:36:06 | 0:36:09 | |
And they both lose. | 0:36:09 | 0:36:10 | |
Not doing very well today. | 0:36:11 | 0:36:14 | |
-Plenty of time. -There's plenty of time. Yeah. | 0:36:14 | 0:36:17 | |
Seven lots of six holly wreaths. | 0:36:17 | 0:36:18 | |
That's what you're bidding for, ladies and gentlemen. | 0:36:18 | 0:36:20 | |
Were going to start the bidding offers £6. | 0:36:20 | 0:36:22 | |
I think will make more bids. £6. | 0:36:22 | 0:36:24 | |
Chris bids on the holly. | 0:36:24 | 0:36:25 | |
6.60. 6.80. £7 bid. | 0:36:25 | 0:36:27 | |
So does Charles. | 0:36:27 | 0:36:29 | |
Both raising the bid, ladies and gentlemen. At 7.20. | 0:36:29 | 0:36:32 | |
Gentleman bidders are out now. | 0:36:32 | 0:36:34 | |
Mrs Wisbech. | 0:36:34 | 0:36:36 | |
Two lots for Wisbech. | 0:36:36 | 0:36:37 | |
Do you want to bid £7, WGC? | 0:36:38 | 0:36:40 | |
Two, please. Charles kept them for what he bid, £7. | 0:36:40 | 0:36:44 | |
How about you at 6.80, Mr Porter? | 0:36:44 | 0:36:46 | |
-Yes, please. -Clear? How about that. | 0:36:46 | 0:36:48 | |
But rival Chris Porter gets the rest at what he bid - 20p less. | 0:36:48 | 0:36:53 | |
I hate it when he buys cheaper than me. | 0:36:54 | 0:36:57 | |
Time for Charles to get his game face on. | 0:36:57 | 0:37:00 | |
-They're nice. -Yeah, they are. | 0:37:00 | 0:37:02 | |
Calluna trio. Three colours in a pot. | 0:37:02 | 0:37:05 | |
The tricoloured heather takes his fancy and he jumps in. | 0:37:06 | 0:37:09 | |
I'm bid 65. | 0:37:09 | 0:37:10 | |
At 75. Lancashire buyer, ladies and gentlemen. | 0:37:10 | 0:37:13 | |
WGC, 80 bid. Now you're in the limelight, sir, five. | 0:37:13 | 0:37:16 | |
At 85. You're out in the spotlight, sir. 90. That's it, sir. | 0:37:16 | 0:37:19 | |
But another rival bidder's in there, too. | 0:37:19 | 0:37:21 | |
And 95, but you've got competition, WGC. | 0:37:21 | 0:37:24 | |
At 95p. Don't be beaten, WGC. | 0:37:24 | 0:37:27 | |
Charles holds back. | 0:37:27 | 0:37:29 | |
At 95p. | 0:37:29 | 0:37:30 | |
July. And Mr July gets it. | 0:37:31 | 0:37:34 | |
Small lot for July. | 0:37:34 | 0:37:36 | |
But it's not over. | 0:37:36 | 0:37:37 | |
Would you like to big one at 90, WGC? | 0:37:37 | 0:37:39 | |
-Thank you. -He takes the big lot at 90. | 0:37:39 | 0:37:41 | |
The only bidder. | 0:37:41 | 0:37:43 | |
As underbidder, Charles gets the bigger lot at 90p a plant. | 0:37:43 | 0:37:48 | |
Now Charles really gets on a roll. | 0:37:48 | 0:37:50 | |
WGC. | 0:37:50 | 0:37:51 | |
Buying baskets... | 0:37:51 | 0:37:53 | |
At £8. | 0:37:53 | 0:37:55 | |
WGC. | 0:37:55 | 0:37:56 | |
Lot number 9, at £2 for the 10, bid. | 0:37:56 | 0:37:59 | |
-It's WGC. -..and buckets. -4.75. | 0:37:59 | 0:38:01 | |
It's WGC. | 0:38:01 | 0:38:04 | |
-Thank you. -WGC has cleared. | 0:38:04 | 0:38:06 | |
Even these reindeer pots can't throw him off course. | 0:38:06 | 0:38:09 | |
Oh-ho! | 0:38:11 | 0:38:12 | |
Slippery characters. | 0:38:13 | 0:38:15 | |
By the time he's done, he's spent a little over £4,000. | 0:38:15 | 0:38:19 | |
Lots seven and eight. | 0:38:19 | 0:38:21 | |
Got the volume he needed and, above all, some bargains. | 0:38:21 | 0:38:25 | |
-WGC. -Really nice stuff. | 0:38:27 | 0:38:29 | |
Yeah. Nice bit of colour. Good value for money on that. | 0:38:29 | 0:38:33 | |
They were just over a pound. | 0:38:33 | 0:38:34 | |
I'll probably sell them for about five. | 0:38:34 | 0:38:36 | |
Today I think I've generally bought well. | 0:38:37 | 0:38:40 | |
A couple of things I've may be paid a little bit too much for, | 0:38:40 | 0:38:42 | |
but very happy how the day's gone. | 0:38:42 | 0:38:44 | |
Yeah. There should be some good deals for us and our customers. | 0:38:44 | 0:38:48 | |
Charles bought nearly 4,500 plants, pots, | 0:38:51 | 0:38:55 | |
trees and shrubs today. | 0:38:55 | 0:38:57 | |
About two vans' worth. | 0:38:57 | 0:38:59 | |
Enough to keep his garden centre empire well supplied. | 0:39:01 | 0:39:04 | |
For the next few days, at least. | 0:39:06 | 0:39:08 | |
We're moving on to the celeriac. | 0:39:15 | 0:39:16 | |
We've got 18 by 6. | 0:39:16 | 0:39:20 | |
The veg auction is drawing to a close. | 0:39:20 | 0:39:23 | |
Buyer James Dawson still needs some key items | 0:39:23 | 0:39:27 | |
to keep his market stall going. | 0:39:27 | 0:39:30 | |
But with margins tight, he needs to buy at low prices. | 0:39:30 | 0:39:34 | |
-Anybody else? -Yeah, I've been outbid on a few things, but, | 0:39:34 | 0:39:38 | |
I'm not going to pay over the odds. | 0:39:38 | 0:39:40 | |
-Onto the dirty carrots. -Hopefully, I'll get my carrots. | 0:39:40 | 0:39:42 | |
Up next are dirty carrots. | 0:39:42 | 0:39:45 | |
Cheaper because they are unwashed. | 0:39:45 | 0:39:47 | |
We have the bunches first. | 0:39:47 | 0:39:50 | |
16 by 12. | 0:39:50 | 0:39:52 | |
Start me off at £50 bid. | 0:39:52 | 0:39:53 | |
Thank you. £50. 55. 55, 60. 60, just in front of me at 60. | 0:39:53 | 0:39:59 | |
Any further bids? We're at 60. | 0:39:59 | 0:40:01 | |
-Chisel. -Rather than driving the price up | 0:40:01 | 0:40:05 | |
by trying to outbid his rival, James drops out. | 0:40:05 | 0:40:08 | |
As he has before, | 0:40:08 | 0:40:10 | |
hoping the top bidder won't want all of the lot | 0:40:10 | 0:40:13 | |
and he'll get what he wants at a lower price as underbidder. | 0:40:13 | 0:40:17 | |
Five to Mr Chisel. | 0:40:17 | 0:40:19 | |
-Mr Magnolia, you were the only bidder. -Five. -Five he wants. | 0:40:19 | 0:40:22 | |
And it's worked. | 0:40:22 | 0:40:23 | |
He's got bunches of dirty carrots at just 60p each. | 0:40:23 | 0:40:28 | |
That's all for me, thanks. | 0:40:28 | 0:40:30 | |
He's got what he needs to keep the market stall going | 0:40:30 | 0:40:34 | |
for another week and he's managed to keep his spending low. | 0:40:34 | 0:40:37 | |
Hi, boy. Loading figure? | 0:40:37 | 0:40:39 | |
Yes, please, thank you. | 0:40:39 | 0:40:40 | |
Today, I mean, I've bought sweet chillies, caulis, | 0:40:44 | 0:40:47 | |
leeks, onions, potatoes, | 0:40:47 | 0:40:51 | |
broccoli, lettuce. | 0:40:51 | 0:40:53 | |
There's more people here on Wednesday, | 0:40:53 | 0:40:55 | |
so prices are a little bit more expensive. | 0:40:55 | 0:40:58 | |
But a few things I've missed out on, but there we go. | 0:40:58 | 0:41:02 | |
Best buy today would probably be caulis, because they're in 12s. | 0:41:02 | 0:41:06 | |
Normally, their only in sixes | 0:41:06 | 0:41:07 | |
and so they've worked out cheaper than normal, yeah. | 0:41:07 | 0:41:11 | |
It's been a good auction for young James. | 0:41:12 | 0:41:15 | |
He's got the quantity and range of veg he needs, | 0:41:15 | 0:41:18 | |
but has managed to get it all for less than £200. | 0:41:18 | 0:41:22 | |
He's bagged enough bargains | 0:41:22 | 0:41:23 | |
to ensure that he won't just break even this week, | 0:41:23 | 0:41:26 | |
but should make enough profit to pay himself a decent wage. | 0:41:26 | 0:41:29 | |
After two auctions, over 1,000 bags, boxes, and nets of veg, | 0:41:36 | 0:41:41 | |
and more than 15,000 plants, trees and shrubs later, | 0:41:42 | 0:41:46 | |
today's Spalding market is over. | 0:41:47 | 0:41:49 | |
Thank you very much for coming. | 0:41:51 | 0:41:52 | |
We'll see you again next week. | 0:41:52 | 0:41:54 | |
Thank you, goodbye. | 0:41:54 | 0:41:55 | |
Really went well today. | 0:41:56 | 0:41:58 | |
We had all sorts, from small garden centres, market traders, | 0:41:58 | 0:42:03 | |
people who sell on their gate. | 0:42:03 | 0:42:05 | |
Luckily, they all turned up today, so it was really good. | 0:42:05 | 0:42:08 | |
It speaks for itself on how important it is to all the buyers. | 0:42:08 | 0:42:12 | |
They come from far and wide, all over the country, to go there. | 0:42:12 | 0:42:15 | |
It was a good day, everybody's happy. | 0:42:15 | 0:42:17 | |
Didn't have any complaints. | 0:42:17 | 0:42:18 | |
A lot of people went home smiling. | 0:42:18 | 0:42:20 | |
It's a tough business and margins are tight, | 0:42:23 | 0:42:26 | |
but John Dix for one is determined to remain philosophical. | 0:42:26 | 0:42:30 | |
Always bear in mind that famous, | 0:42:32 | 0:42:34 | |
famous line from Rudyard Kipling's poem If. | 0:42:34 | 0:42:38 | |
Success and failure, treat both those impostors just the same. | 0:42:38 | 0:42:43 | |
Because this week you'll be up, next week you'll be down. | 0:42:43 | 0:42:46 | |
So let's just take the mean from life and keep living. | 0:42:46 | 0:42:50 | |
Thank you. | 0:42:50 | 0:42:51 |