Selling Costume Jewelry at Flea Markets
Costume-jewelry sales amounted to more than $60 billion in the United States in 2006, according to Fashion Products, a fashion-industry news provider. With costume jewelry accounting for 50 percent of sales for all jewelry categories and the price of nonprecious metals continuing to rise, second-hand costume jewelry has emerged as a big flea market item.
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Things You'll Need
- Flea-market venues
- Costume jewelry
- Jewelry display stands
- Tables
- Chairs
- Cash box
Instructions
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Visit flea markets. Note whether the facilities have amenities for disabled patrons, easily accessible rest rooms and sufficient parking space for vendors. Note flea markets that attract sizable numbers of buyers. Observe the size of the display tables and how flea-market jewelry is generally displayed and sold. Ask costume-jewelry vendors how they price their merchandise and set up their displays. And ask what categories and style of costume jewelry sells best. Ask flea-market operators for the fees, policies and restrictions on displaying merchandise.
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Start building inventory. Select your own unwanted costume jewelry or purchase items at thrift stores, garage sales and retailers' discount and clearance sales. Online jewelry wholesalers and trade magazines are other sources.
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Prepare your jewelry for sale. Clean and polish your entire inventory. Repair or discard broken or severely damaged pieces. Price each item and tag it with a sales ticket or sticker.
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Set up your booth. Bring enough tables to accommodate your jewelry and display stands. Also bring enough chairs for everyone manning the booth. Arrange the displays so each piece of jewelry is visible and accessible to customers. Use a lockable cash box for customers' payments.
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Tips & Warnings
Steer clear of flea markets overpopulated by costume-jewelry vendors. This minimizes the need to compete for buyers’ attention.
On your flea market visits, note jewelry vendors' prices and set yours accordingly. You want to make money on your inventory investment, but high prices for costume jewelry hinder sales in this venue. Flea-market shoppers are looking for bargains. And some resell costume jewelry and are savvy negotiators.
Apply price tags and stickers securely to keep them from falling off or being easily removed.
Attract customers to your flea-market table with creative, low-cost displays. Decorative trays keep card-mounted jewelry organized and easy to view. Discounted Bracelet, necklace and ring stands are availale from wholesale display companies. Jewelry pin-mounted on fabric-covered styrofoam also makes an inexpensive display.
When customers express interest in a piece of costume jewelry, encourage them to buy a matching piece.
Prevent damage to your sales items by using only costume-jewelry cleaners.
Avoid health and hygienic problems -- and possible lawsuits -- by excluding body-piercing jewelry from your inventory.
References
- Photo Credit Thinkstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
