Posts Tagged "trunks of treasure"

Trunks of Treasure: Harry Ballin’s Top Tips for Turning £200 into Auction Gold

Expert advice from Windsor Auctions to help your team find hidden gems, avoid costly mistakes, and raise as much as possible for Thames Hospice! The Trunks of Treasure Challenge is all about adventure, teamwork, and a little bit of auction magic. Armed with a £200 budget, teams will go treasure hunting before seeing their finds go under the hammer at a live charity auction in May – with profits boosting their fundraising total for Thames Hospice. To help everyone get the most from the challenge, we sat down with Harry Ballin from Windsor Auctions – the auctioneer behind the idea – to share expert advice and insider tips.   What Types of Items Consistently Perform Well at Auction? According to Harry, the key is to think small, collectable, and interesting – especially when working with a manageable budget. Some categories that regularly do well: Jewellery & Precious Materials Small pieces of jewellery Anything made from silver Enamel items Coins and small collectables These are easy to display, easy to sell, and often attract strong bidding. Vintage Toys & Modern Collectables This is a big one. Harry’s advice? Think about what people loved as kids – because chances are it’s collectable now. Look out for: Barbie dolls Action Man figures Die-cast cars & train sets Pokémon cards Jellycat toys Vintage toys (especially boxed items) And yes… LEGO. Harry admits LEGO is a personal favourite, and while his “addiction” may be well-known, he’s not wrong. Complete or retired sets can perform incredibly well at auction. Other Good Performers Military medals and related items Mid-century glassware (look for names like Whitefriars) Interesting standalone ceramics The overall rule? Small, collectable, and visually appealing often wins.   What Mistakes Should Teams Avoid When Buying Items? If there’s one thing Harry was very clear about, it’s this: Avoid anything broken, chipped, or damaged. Even if something looks interesting, damage dramatically reduces buyer interest. Other things to avoid: Broken toys or incomplete items Chipped ceramics or cracked glass Certain novelty items that create more hassle than value Items that aren’t practical for auction buyers The simplest test: If you wouldn’t be excited to buy it yourself… someone else probably won’t be either.   Where Are the...