“Girls Reading,” Edmund C. Tarbell, 1907. Shein collection.
WOLFEBORO, N.H. – Flamingo Promotions has acquired The New England Antiques Festival in Hopkinton, N.H., and The Vermont Antiques Festival in Quechee, Vt. Cathy and Frank Sykes of New England Events Management announce the sale of these two shows to professional show managers Tina and John Bruno of Flamingo Promotions in Northport, N.Y.
“This move is a natural for Flamingo,” stated Cathy Sykes. “Tina is a native of New Hampshire and brings a great amount of enthusiasm and positive rapport with the dealers who already exhibit at her 30 antiques shows on Long Island, in Westchester and the Hudson River Valley. I’ve known the Brunos for a number of years through my association in New York, and I’m sure they will do a fine job.”
This news comes on the heels of Flamingo also acquiring the Start of Manchester Antiques Show from Kay and Bill Puchstein. Tina had been looking for a venue in New Hampshire when she and Kay struck an agreement for that show. When Cathy Sykes heard of the Start of Manchester acquisition, she offered Tina the Hopkinton and Quechee shows.
Cathy and Frank Sykes started The New England Antiques Festival in Sandwich, N.H., six years ago, returning to New Hampshire after working for Stella Show Mgmt. Co. in New York City. The show moved to the New Hampshire State Fairgrounds in Hopkinton, N.H., to be closer to the other Manchester, N.H., events.
Billed as the first and the largest antiques event of Antiques Week in New Hampshire, this show will continue to run the first weekend of August – right before the Start of Manchester show.
One of the more interesting shows at the beginning of Antiques Week in New Hampshire, The New England Antiques Festival presents more than 200 respected antiques dealers from across the United States who exhibit in five buildings and outside in tents. Offered are a broad range of Americana and country furnishings as well as accessories and a wide assortment of decorative and garden rdf_Descriptions. This year’s dates are Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4.
Also part of the agreement was The Vermont Antiques Festival. Started at the Rutland Fairgrounds four years ago, The Vermont Antiques Festival was moved to the Quechee Gorge Village Antique Mall last year. Tents were raised, admission was dropped and huge crowds gathered for the treasure hunt. Despite the cool Vermont air and the US invasion in Afghanistan, the dealers were so happy many of them stayed an extra day. The dates for The Vermont Antiques Festival are Columbus Day Weekend, October 12-13.
Tina is already working on the transition and assures dealers, “Everyone will retain their booth space and the only changes foreseen are to produce a more rewarding experience for all involved.”
Cathy and Tina will work closely for the first year to make the transition smooth and reliable. They will concentrate their efforts on revitalizing the shows through the addition of increased customer draws and dealer services such as appraisals, book signings, family events and credit card services.
Flamingo is especially noted for enhanced advertising and keeps their eye on drawing retail customers through television and radio. As with all Flamingo shows, the high level of quality and professionalism that knowledgeable dealers and customers have come to expect will be the primary focus of growth here.
Last year Cathy and Frank Sykes bought an antique shop in Wolfeboro, N.H., called Dragonflies Antiques and want to turn their efforts to buying and selling antiques – their first passion. In addition Frank Sykes’ parents Dick and Mary Sykes have recently retired, passing the New Hampshire Book Auction bus-iness on to Frank and Cathy, who look forward to holding several book auctions a year in addition to their Annual Antique & Classic Boat Auction each June.
Cathy and Frank will also continue on as managers of The Annual Wolfeboro Antiques Fair in Wolfeboro, N.H. For information contact Cathy Sykes at 603-569-0000. For information regarding Flamingo Promotions, 631-261-4590.
