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Episode 2

Three antiques dealers head to a French farmhouse on a buying trip to the region’s best antiques markets and compete to sell their finds online in a day. This time, they are in Pézenas.

Antiques dealers Ian Humphries, Viki Knott and Moses Otunla are on a buying trip to the south of France. Their base is a historic French farmhouse in Provence that is perfectly located close to some of France’s best antiques markets, or 'brocantes' as they are locally known.

The trio have left Provence for neighbouring Occitanie, to visit 'Le Grand Déballage' ie 'The Big Unpacking' in Pézenas, a twice-yearly market where over 100 traders take to the streets. It’s a rare opportunity to pick up two interesting objects each to sell for a profit online in just a day.

The trio’s first challenge is to find something they know will appeal to their loyal customers and social media followers.

Ian sticks to what he knows, hoping lady luck shines on the antique oil painting of an old woman he picks up for a reasonable sum. Viki succeeds in her mission to 'buy French' with a pair of green metal pot stands she is convinced her regular clients will love. Moses leaves the bustling market behind and makes an exciting discovery away from the crowds: a potentially rare mid-century artist’s easel.

The dealers don’t only have to contend with the language barrier and a short selling period. Each day, one of the trio gets the chance to turn the screws on the others and set them a challenge to shop to a specific brief. Today, it’s Viki’s turn to throw down the gauntlet as she asks Ian and Moses to buy something that costs 40 euros or less.

With six items bought between them, it’s back to the farmhouse to size up the competition. The 17th-century farmhouse, set amongst vineyards and olive groves, provides the ideal backdrop for our dealers to take the photographs and videos they hope will make their Provençal pieces stand out when they come to post their objects online.

With just a day to secure a sale and the battle on to make the most profit, which of our trio will come out on top?

43 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Nigel Havers
Expert Viki Knott
Expert Ian Humphries
Expert Moses Otunla
Executive Producer Rob Butterfield
Executive Producer Rae Gilder Cooke
Series Producer Dave Martin

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