Islanders embrace thrifty finds at P.E.I.’s 24th annual 70-mile yard sale amid rising prices
STRATFORD, P.E.I. — As rising costs and inflation proceed to concern Islanders, many individuals who went to the 70-mile yard sale this yr discovered it to be more and more vital.
The annual occasion, now in its twenty fourth yr, happened on the weekend of Sept. 23-24 in jap P.E.I. Islanders and vacationers flocked to the freeway, the place greater than 120 gross sales stretched from Stratford to Wooden Islands.
Marsha McAndrew and her daughter, Anna, attended one in every of these gross sales simply outdoors Stratford. The day earlier than, Marsha had explored fairly quite a few gross sales within the jap a part of the Island along with her dad and mom.
Marsha mentioned particularly given immediately’s escalating costs, occasions just like the 70-mile yard sale are precious.
“It truly is cost-effective to purchase secondhand,” the Stratford resident instructed SaltWire in an interview on Sept. 24.
Amongst her finds, an $80 brand-name air conditioner stood out as her most prized merchandise, used for under two weeks by its earlier proprietor earlier than they opted for a warmth pump.
“I actually discovered some good offers.”
In the meantime, Anna mentioned she hadn’t come throughout something she favored at this yr’s yard sale however talked about final yr she had scored an nearly brand-new backpack for simply $4, which she discovered fairly helpful.
“It holds all the pieces I want,” mentioned Anna.
“My advice when persons are itemizing their yard gross sales is listing as many issues as you’ll be able to as a result of some persons are in search of simply that sure merchandise.” – Marsha McAndrew
New vendor
Marsha, who has been attending the occasion since its inception greater than twenty years years in the past, observed the presence of latest distributors this yr.
Considered one of them, Sukriti Chopra, initially from India and now residing in P.E.I., joined for the primary time. She determined to take part as a vendor along with her accomplice’s mother.
“We’re downsizing the home, you already know, 50-year-old childhood issues. So we thought, nicely, this can be a excellent place to be, folks from neighbouring provinces come right here. So, we determined to be right here,” Chopra mentioned.
Their sales space provided a wide range of gadgets, together with a variety of decorations, kitchenware like mugs, and greater than 100 books. She talked about that Beanie Infants and toy vehicles have been the bestsellers, and her gross sales exceeded expectations.
“We didn’t count on that a lot. I’ve identified [the 70-mile yard sale] is an enormous deal, however being right here, yesterday, the primary two hours, we made most of our cash,” she mentioned. “It was good to, you already know, take part in a enjoyable factor and return with a good sum of money.”
‘Plenty of work’
Marsha mentioned she and her mother tried being a vendor one yr.
“It is lots of work, so it’s best to admire the work that goes into everybody organising.”
Plenty of effort goes into sorting via belongings after which transporting them to the sale location.
“After which the setup, it takes a very long time, and it’s totally tiring. And also you’re sitting within the climate – whether or not it is chilly or highly regarded, you already know, or the bugs are unhealthy – then it’s important to put up with it for the day,” Marsha mentioned.
“However on the identical time, you do get to fulfill lots of people. So I feel that is the enjoyable factor is socializing … it is attention-grabbing to speak to folks and listen to folks’s tales.”
As each a former vendor and a longtime attendee, she provided recommendation for subsequent yr’s distributors.
“My advice when persons are itemizing their yard gross sales is listing as many issues as you’ll be able to as a result of some persons are in search of simply that sure merchandise.”
Thinh Nguyen is a enterprise reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He may be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @thinhnguyen4291.
