91Èȱ¬

Antiques dealers Jon Swanston, Melissa Drabble and Lucy Ryder Richardson are on a buying trip to the south of France. Their base is a historic French farmhouse in Provence - perfectly located close to some of France’s best antiques markets, or brocantes, as they are known locally.

The trio are heading to one of the region’s biggest markets, in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. There are over 300 stalls and second-hand shops scattered along the town’s picturesque roads and canal banks which have earned it the affectionate nickname of ‘the Venice of Provence’. It attracts vintage hunters from across the world, and our trio are joining them in search of two hidden treasures each to buy and then sell for a profit online.

Jon, Mel and Lucy’s first challenge is to find something they know will appeal to their loyal customers and social media followers. Lucy is the only one who is ‘au fait’ with the lingo, but they are all armed with translation apps on their phones and the conviction that money talks in any language.

Mel storms off to strike a deal on a cast iron umbrella stand. Whilst French isn’t her strong suit, tech is, and she is using her phone to negotiate the best price. Will her umbrella stand receive a shower of offers within the day she has to sell it, or will it be left high and dry?

Let’s hope there are no thunderstorms on the horizon, as it is a mysterious pair of metal boots that have caught Jon’s eye. Given that they were probably were made for catching either eels or snakes, they are a rare find, but rare finds don’t come cheap. Jon will have to invest heavily if he wants them, putting pressure on his chances of making a healthy profit.

Lucy, who literally wrote the book on mid-century chairs, buys with her heart rather than her head, selecting a holy water canteen from Lourdes that is a big departure from her usual trades. It is in great condition, but will her fashion-forward clients have the vision to see it as a stylish decorative piece rather than a religious tourist trinket?

As if the pressure of negotiating in an unfamiliar language weren't enough, the dealers take turns each day setting each other a challenge to shop to a brief. It is Jon’s turn, and he has tasked the others to scour L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue brocante for something containing thread. It is an appropriate challenge in a town known historically for its textile trade, but will the dealers unravel under the pressure?

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