Mauritius is Embracing Car Boot Sale Craze

Mauritius is seeing a surge in popularity for car boot sales, a second-hand market concept that’s taking the island by storm. Organiser Annelé Venter is now set to launch a new monthly event in Phoenix on the last Saturday of September, as part of her plan to expand the initiative across the island. The concept, which began in July, has already established regular pop-ups in Mahogany and Gros-Cailloux.

The sales, which are similar to a traditional car boot sale in the UK, have quickly gained a following among locals. Initially, Venter had to contend with some misunderstandings, with some people even believing she was selling cars.

However, the Mauritian community has since embraced the idea as a way to “upcycle,” recycle, and find quality second-hand goods at reduced prices.

Venter says that contrary to popular belief, most participants are Mauritian, rather than expatriates.

However, expats do play a role, particularly when they need to sell their belongings before leaving the island.

Venter recounted that one woman attended the sale four times to sell her items before her family’s departure.

The sales have become a treasure hunt for many, with some visitors finding incredible bargains, such as an inexpensive robot vacuum cleaner or a unique, hand-embroidered bag from Mexico.

Venter noted that one woman bought a bag for Rs 500, only to later discover it was worth 5,000 Mexican dollars.

To maintain quality, the Mahogany location only accepts used, upcycled, or handmade goods, with sellers required to provide a list of their items.

The Gros-Cailloux site has a more relaxed policy, allowing a wider variety of items, including homemade goods and surplus stock, as long as they are not illegal.

Venter plans to extend the car boot sales across the island, inviting others to participate through a franchise system where they can purchase a franchise option via the website carbootsales.mu.

Her goal is to promote a recycling culture and create an engaged community around second-hand products.

More information on event times and registration at carbootsales.mu.

Source: l’Express