Selling at Flea MarketsSelling at flea markets is a fun way to sell lots of different used items like glasswares and household goods. To discover if flea markets are the right outlet for you and your stuff, we will explore how they work and what you need to know about them. Flea markets can be as different as their individual owners. So you will need to check to see what their terms are. I will give you an overview of some we have run across over the years. Permanent Booth. This is like a flea market store. Rent is paid on a monthly basis, with a contract specifying the terms and length of the lease. With this set up there is no need to pack your items every night. You just roll up the sidewalks and lock up. This is way past just getting rid of a few items, this is a full time business. Weekend Rental. This is a reduced rate for renting 3 days. You still need to pack up every night and unpack every morning. Daily Rental. The rate for one day. Some flea markets are open air and you need to bring all your own fixtures. Basically you are renting a spot of lawn. Others are undercover, with or without tables. The rents vary with the facilities. Some flea markets are permanent, open every weekend, or specific days. They also come in annual, monthly, and special occasion variety. Check around to see what is available in your area. Several times a year we have a flea market on the lawn at the Antique Mall. They usually correspond with another festival or holiday. They are nothing fancy, but do draw a good number of customers. 
Before you commit to a rental, visit to see how much traffic they are getting. You want the busiest market, for the cheapest rent, that offers the facilities you need. Check out all the facilities. If you require flush toilets, you may need to cross some sales off your list. Same if you need a covered space and or tables. How far is it from your home? Set-up usually starts at 6 am or earlier. If you have an hour drive, an hour wait in line to get your spot, and 2 hours of set-up you will need to leave your house at 3 am to make a 7 am opening. If you are not a morning person, selling at flea markets may not be the outlet for you. You may want to consider another outlet for your items, or one closer to home. Closing times are usually not negotiable. Most markets require you to stay open until the designated closing time. Do you have all the equipment needed for selling at flea markets? You don’t need a lot, a few tables, a cash box, packing material, and marking supplies. The biggest difference between a yard sale and a flea market, is a flea market needs to be portable. After setting up and breaking down 10 or fifteen times you will be looking for the lightest weight tables you can find. The molded plastic ones are great. They are light, and weather proof. They are also expensive. Do you mind haggling over prices? It is expected at flea markets, if you find the practice disconcerting, this is not the outlet for you. Do you like chatting and making small talk with people? Selling at flea markets is on the same line as a carnival hawker. You need to draw people in and get their attention. A flea market is like having a yard sale with 200 other people. What makes your stuff better than the other 200? You do, because you like people and you like talking to them. And if you don’t get their attention their eyes will glaze over and they will continue down the row without focusing on anything at your set-up. So how does it sound so far, still interested? Great, here is why a flea market is better than a yard sale. The prices are higher, the traffic is higher, it’s a lot of fun, people shop a flea market looking for higher dollar items than you would find at a yard sale. You will be able to sell a lot of the same items at either a flea market or yard sale. However, used clothing normally isn’t a big seller, there are exceptions, but as a general rule, I would shy away from them. The same rules apply to a flea market as for a yard sale. Clean and price every item. Save plastic grocery bags to use at the check-out. Have plenty of change available. Be prepared to haggle, and say no when the offer is not reasonable. Final Thought on Selling at Flea Markets Make sure the flea market you use sells used stuff. Many are now outlets for cheap import merchandise. These markets draw a different crowd than one that also offers used merchandise. This is not to say you can’t set up there, but check it out first and be aware of your market. Don’t forget to check your state’s rules and regulations on collecting sales tax. Better safe than sorry later on this one. Selling at flea markets is great if you have lots of stuff to get rid of in a hurry. If you have considered a yard sale, don’t overlook flea markets as another option. If you have higher dollar merchandise, that runs to the antique end, consider a flea market over a yard sale if you want to increase your income. Don’t forget to factor in the extra work and expense (booth rental, gas, etc.). You will eliminate your advertising cost, which will offset the booth rental. If selling at flea markets is not the right outlet for you return to the Outlets Page for more ideas. If flea markets are the ticket, get out the marking supplies and get pricing. Remember there are no right or wrong answers, just the best solution to your recycling needs.
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