Mark Stacey
(Expert)
How do you find life on the road?
As an antiques dealer, I am used to and love travelling the UK and Europe, either searching for buys of exhibiting at fairs - both offer surprises and regrets.
What is your favourite part of your role?
I love meeting people and having fun.
Why did you choose a career in antiques?
I've always been a collector. As a child it was stamps and coins, and later, rummaging around lots of markets, I started collecting small silver and works of art so I think antiques chose me, and my hobby turned into a way of life, which is full of ups and downs.
What would you do for a living if you weren’t working in the antiques trade?
I don't think I could do anything other than what I do know. If I had to have a change of career, I am sure it would be something creative.
What advice would you give to anyone wanting to work in antiques?
The antiques trade is changing fast for anyone wanting to get into it. It offers great fun, excitement and very little money, as a dealer that is, but you get to meet a wonderful array of eccentric people who have passion and many stories, some may even be true, but first and foremost you must research and handle lots of things and be prepared to make a loss - this is how you learn!
How did you get involved in Bargain Hunt?
I became involved with Bargain Hunt in 2002. After seeing an advertisement in the Antiques Trade Gazette, I was selected for a screen test. My very first Bargain Hunt episode was a Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Children in Need celebrity special with a live auction - very scary!
Who has been your most memorable Bargain Hunt team?
Over the years I have met so many lovely contestants, young and old, decisive and non-decisive. It's impossible to pick a favourite, they all bring something special to the show.
What has been your best ever Bargain Hunt find?
Imagine a cold rainy day in an open fair at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, with a pair of young lads, one in sandals! Yes really, and one wanted to buy a musical instrument and so we found a violin in a case for I think £90, and it sold it at auction for over £500. Now that’s playing the right note!
Which fairs do you particularly like shopping at when ‘bargain hunting’?
When shopping at fairs on Bargain Hunt, the excitement is what are we going to find -and the hour goes so quickly! The best fairs are those with big outside selling areas like at Ardingly, Peterborough and Lincoln.
What’s the most profit / greatest loss you’ve made at auction?
I bought a huge Meiji period Japanese satsuma vase, painted with chrysanthemums and peonies. It sold at a London auction house and helped me to buy a new car.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure is chocolate.
How do you spend your free time?
I don't have much spare time - antiques and finding treasures takes up most of my time. I do enjoy relaxing with close friends, a glass of red wine. Watching the world go by is bliss!
Do you collect anything?
As a dealer I have a large collection, mainly of things I can't sell!
Why do you think Bargain Hunt has such appeal?
The appeal of Bargain Hunt is the simple format - £300 pounds, an hour of shopping, fun contestants, the surprises of what can be found, and the unexpected results at auction. It's gripping!
Why would you encourage anyone to appear on Bargain Hunt?
I'm often stopped and told I can do better, but if you think you can join in it’s a roller coaster ride!
