FLEA MARKET ARTICLES INDEX

COLORADO FLEA MARKET DIRECTORY

How to Make Money at Flea Markets and Swap Meets

Flea markets, or swap meets as they are also known, is the mother of all garage sales. For any of you that haven't yet been initiated, they are nothing less than part discount store and part carnival.

Whether economic times are good or bad, flea markets remain the best place to buy almost anything for yourself or your home at affordable prices. That's why at the first sign of sun up on a Sunday morning the giant drive in theatre parking lot in El Cajon, California; the Orange County Marketplace in Costa Mesa, CA, or the Annex Antiques Fair and Flea Market in Manhattan come by the hundreds carrying flashlights before vendors have even finished setting out their merchandise.

Experienced shoppers theorize that by 9 a.m. the truly valuable items will already be gone. But still the carnival-like atmosphere keeps the crowds coming, and going, and coming. Buyers are poking among everything - records, chrome wheels, music cassettes, antique furniture, tools, car seats, saddles, World War I gas masks, porcelain dolls, fishing lures, doll furniture, T-shirts, stereos, polished rocks, quilts, sunglasses, and just when you think you've seen it all, a clown starts selling balloons!

AS A VENDOR YOU CAN MAKE INCREDIBLE PROFITS IN A SHORT TIME!

It has been estimated there are over 20,000 flea markets operating each weekend across America, totaling more than $5 billion dollars in sales.

Among the thousands of flea markets, the Rose Bowl market at Pasadena, California really stands out. That's probably because there are 3,000 dealers and, by mid-afternoon, over 50,000 shoppers, all of whom are there to find a treasure and the ultimate bargain.

The Rose Bowl market is an intimidating seven acres, and you would be amazed at what people buy. There are watches, antique fountain pens, pressed glass. Oriental rugs, Indian pottery, art, and weapons.. authentic dinosaur bones setting alongside old rusty metal doo-dads. No one, including the vendor, knows what the doo-dad is, but someone pays $25 for it anyway. From the buyer's point of view, he came looking for a genuine treasure, and this may be it! It seems incredible, but it seems people will buy anything!

DECIDING WHAT ITEMS YOU SHOULD SELL

Aside from the size crowd you can expect, flea markets, swap meets, and garage sales have something in common. Garage sale type items account for a part of the merchandise being sold at a swap meet, but homemade crafts and new merchandise are also widely available.

Many vendors purchase new products at below wholesale prices, and make huge profits. Those who have gone through the initiation process report earnings of up to $5,000 per weekend and more. The key to successful flea market sales is to display attractive, interesting, impulse-buying merchandise at attractive prices. And mixing second-hand pieces with new or more common items that sell well, can be quite a challenge. But once you get a feel for what people expect, and fill that niche in the market, you'll be on your way to making more money in a single day than you ever thought possible.

HOW TO ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF BUYERS TO YOUR SPACE

There are hundreds, or in the case of the larger meets, even thousands of vendors who set up to sell their merchandise at flea markets. If you want to get the attention, and keep it, of everyone from those who showed up with flashlights to those entire families who came dressed up from church to browse, you must somehow stand out from the others.

Strategy is everything. For example, experienced shoppers usually make a reconnaissance tour along the outside circle of a flea market, knowing that the less experienced dealers are there. Then they slowly work their way inward to the more heavily trafficked middle section.

It also helps to know a little about the "history" of items that are antique, collectibles, or can otherwise become a conversation piece. If an item has a history, it's automatically worth more money.

Don't be afraid to talk to people who stop at your space to browse. From a shopper's point of view, one of the great delights of flea markets is the conversation. People are attracted to dealers who are storytellers, loaded with fascinating information about the items they have for sale. And be a conspirator. If your customer has gotten a great bargain, let them know.

Setting up a canopy will not only give your space a professional store-like appearance, it will also give you protection from the hot sun or rain. After setting up your tables, arrange your wares and display merchandise in an organized manner. Remember, a junked-up messy area can take away from the value of some items. It can also cause people to start tripping all over the place.

If you set up signs make certain they are neat and easy to read. Be creative in your approach to getting people's attention and interest. Balloons tied to your tables, canopy, etc., is a attraction that gets attention, for example.

Don't be embarrassed to bargain. In fact, you'd best be prepared to haggle, because everyone expects it. It's part of the flea market tradition.

If you have any interesting stories or tips about shopping at flea markets or setting up a table at a flea market please e-mail us at CBHcontact@gmail.com.