How To Flea Market Profitably

Flea Market : You will learn how "Flea Marketing" can be an excellent way to add to your income . . . the opportunities to make money are limitless.

Flea markets are here to stay. They have become a way of life for millions of bargain-seeking folks from all walks of life. Today, many empty buildings, drive-in theaters, church halls and parking lots have been transformed into Flea Markets all over the country. They are also an excellent way to add to your income every weekend. The opportunities to make money are limitless and all that is required is just the ability to observe others.

Flea Market Photo

Visit as many Flea Markets as you can and notice the different kinds of merchandise being sold. Notice that prices are lower than competitive items sold in stores. This is one of the secrets to the success of Flea Markets. The right kind of merchandise is also very important to the success of a dealer.

The best way for you to start out is by selling all of the items around your house that you no longer want. They may be used or unused. They may be old or new, it doesn't matter. There is a buyer for almost everything. Pricing competitively is very important. You will soon find out if your prices are too high or too low. An item priced too high may not sell the first day. If you are not sure of the value of an item, then ask for a bid. Most will bid twenty to thirty percent less than the true value of the item. If you are not satisfied with the bid, then add to the price and sell it for the higher price. Sometimes it is better to sell for the bidder's price if you have no use for the item. Don't be afraid to ask questions of other dealers. Many will be happy to help you and provide some good information on selling. Be sure the merchandise is displayed so that it may be readily seen with the big items in back of the small ones. Everything should be arranged neat and clean as possible.

Before you decide to become a regular who works Flea Markets on a steady basis, you must decide what kind of merchandise sells best. You will have to ask yourself these questions. Is there a market for this item? How big is the market? A close observation of other dealers will soon reveal that jewelry, furniture, glassware, collectibles, toys, novelties, books, records, hardware, old, new, and antique, coin items, old pictures, photos, reprints and clothes are among the most popular items. Those that sell for one or two dollars are usually the best. Don't overlook seasonal items such as sunglasses and T-shirts. Fishing equipment sells best in spring and summer. Stationery supplies in late August and September would be timed right. Calendars are the best items in January. You must think ahead so that you will have the right items for every season of the year.

A positive approach will give you a good start toward selling to the public. You must remember, that it is up to you to give the public what it wants at a better price than sold at stores or elsewhere. This is the hard part for some to understand because there is always the temptation to make a "fast buck". But, it is the quickest way to fail in any business. The real success comes from REPEAT BUSINESS. Everyone loves a bargain. And that is the secret of bringing them back for more. One excellent way to earn customer confidence is to refund their money if not satisfied.

The ideas and methods of bringing customers to you are only limited by the scope of your business and the extent of your imagination. The author believes that a successful Flea Market dealer may eventually want to expand into a full-time business. Sometimes it is the other way around. Some dealers drop their regular business and concentrate on Flea Markets for a living.

Imported novelties and giftwares are an excellent way to turn browsers into buyers. This is because folks are always looking for the unique and exotic items to give as gifts or show-off to their friends. It is the unusual that attracts us. Many mail order firms will be glad to sell items to you at wholesale prices. Flea Market dealers come and go. And sometimes it is intentional. Some merely want to get rid of old or unused items from attics or basements. Others buy and sell profitably, so the urge to continue is only natural. Many dealers are successful for a time, but soon run out of new items and become discouraged when sales decline. A haphazard way of doing business won't work for long. It takes time and effort.

Choosing the right Flea Market is also essential to your success. Pick one that is established and located near a highway or in the center of a large metropolitan area. Visit at different times and note the amount of customers, dealers and merchandise. Ask a lot of questions and try to find out everything you can before picking a good place to do business. If most of the dealers are there week after week it must be a good place to make money. Some dealers choose markets depending on whether there is a large parking area. Some just go where the impulse takes them, usually to a market they have never seen or to one which they heard of through someone else the previous week. At today's high gas prices it is usually better not to travel too far because it cuts into your profit.

Unless you have reserved a space, it is a good idea to arrive at least half an hour before opening. There will be many bargainers at your table right away. Don't miss those early sales as they can make the difference between a fair or good day. Arriving early will give you a chance to walk around and compare prices of merchandise similar to yours.

Compare quality and prices with yours. Some dealers buy items from other dealers, if the prices are very low. This enables them to resell at a fine profit. this is often true when a dealer is looking for merchandise in a hurry. Some dealers take items on a regular circuit and this way they get better exposure of their goods. Another way to get good exposure is to rotate your items every other week. A few new items added each week will give a fresh appearance and more variety of goods. There is nothing worse than repeating the same setup of goods week after week. There are some exceptions to this rule. As long as sales are as expected, it would be foolish to change anything.

Sometimes it is lack of a simple thing that can mean the difference between success or failure. The addition of a sign can make a world of difference to your display. Even the addition of a nice tablecloth can provide an excellent background to a display of fine china. Similar items should be displayed together so that the eyes can focus on the entire matter. Vases will sell better if filled with flowers or greens. A lamp will sell better if it has a shade on it. If you have a fine lamp that needs a shade it would be wise to buy one that is attractive. Add the price of the shade to it and it will still sell much sooner than without a shade. It is always easier to sell a complete or repaired item. Most folks want to buy an item that is ready to use. This is good to remember when you are selling. Don't try to sell an item that is not working properly unless you tell the buyer about it. The selling price should reflect the condition of the item. However, you must bear in mind that many of the old items that you want to sell are worth more today than they were when you bought them. Especially if they are in good working condition. Old magazines are usually worth 25 cents or more depending on the type or age. Some are even worth five to ten dollars if rare.

there are many sources for items to sell and a visit to many of the merchants in your area will prove it to you. One of the best sources of merchandise is Mail Order items from Mail Order Firms that sell this type of Flea Market merchandise. Many of these firms sell a wide variety of items at wholesale prices and will be glad to send one of their catalogs to interest buyers.

Look for Mail Order Trade, Salesmen and Wholesale Trade publications at your newsstands. You will find many low cost merchandise advertised in them. Write to the sources, obtain copies of their catalogs. Also, watch your newspaper for public auctions, and business close-out sales. Many fine items can be secured, at real bargain prices in this way.