How to become a Flea Market Vendor

Becoming a flea market vendor can be both fun and profitable. You probably have enough junk around the garage or in the basement to get started. Everything and anything legal can be found at a flea market; garage sale items, hardware, antiques, dolls, sunglasses, farm items, animals, books, videos, dvds, games, toys, jewelry, the list is endless. Many college students, retirees, and people looking for a little extra weekend income sell at flea markets. Some vendors in larger markets make enough to support themselves working two days a week.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Something to sell
• $15 to $50 to pay for a weekend space.
• Change for transactions
• tables or something to sell your merchandise on.
• price stickers or tags
• Sales tax license in some states or pay through the flea market.
• Proper food handling license if you sell prepared food.
• enthusiasm

1. duck tag Starting out:
   What do you want to sell? What do you have? What are your interests and what are you knowledgeable about? Traveling to flea markets and looking at prices and types of merchandise might help.
   Most people start out with what they have on hand. You would be surprised what people will pay for some of the stuff we have in boxes in the basement. Old baseball cards, Christmas cards, box of buttons and ribbon, old romance novels, magazines, mom's old dresses.
   You can even buy wholesale online and resale. Garage sales, estate sales, discounted store items, remnants and rummage sale items.
2. Finding a Flea Market near you:
   Check in the Yellow Pages, online, in the newspaper or ask friends. There are few locations that don't have a flea market within driving distance.
   Once you find one, contact the manager. When are they open? Just the weekend, every weekend or just certain weekends. (Some are only open on first Mondays, or twice a month.)
   What do they charge for a spot? Do they charge for the day or the weekend. How big is a spot? Is it indoors or out? Covered or in the open. Do you need to reserve a spot in advance? Do they rent tables or do you need to bring your own? When you get to the flea market who do you see to pay?
3. Setting up:
   So you have talked to the flea market manager, the flea market is open on Saturday and Sunday and you know what a space will cost you.
   1. Make sure you have identified what you are going to sell and price it before you go. You can get stickers and tags at your local box store (like Walmart, Kmart, Target or Staples).
   2. Pack everything in boxes and label them. This makes it easier to unpack and repack when the flea market is over.
   3. Make sure you have change, a box to keep it in, table(s), folding chairs to sit in, plastic shopping bags (used from the grocery store is fine).
   4. Recommend you pack a cooler with food, although food is generally available at most flea markets.
   5. If possible pack the day before so you can leave early to set up before customers show up. (also early morning is when other vendors may buy off you before the customers show up, they are looking for bargains too.)
   6. Show up early, find the manager, pay for a spot (normally designated when you pay unless you become a regular).
   7. Set up and sell.
4. Sales Ideas:
   
   1. Seasonal items; Christmas, Halloween, summer, winter, sports in season.
   2. Toys; buy at garage sales, discounted after the holidays, discontinued and wholesale.
   3. Antiques and collectibles. Do your homework, study and search for these things at estate sales, garage sales and auctions.
   4. Sports Cards and memorabilia.
   5. Fishing items; poles, lures, equipment, new or used.
   6. Hardware and tools
   7. Grandma's attic; house full of items from a deceased relative, store close outs, abandoned storage building sales. sell it all everything and anything. Cheap bulk sale boxes do well.
   8. Food; hot dogs, popcorn, corn on the cob, sodas, chili, sandwiches, cotton candy, snow cones, hamburgers, pizza, seen it all. Some large flea markets have whole specialty food markets.
   9. Fruits and Vegetables; in season produce from your orchard or garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Helpful Hints:
• An old rule for flea markets is to have a goal to sell 3X the cost. If you can do that great. More expensive items may by 2X the cost. This gives you room to haggle!
• Relax and enjoy yourself. If you are too impatient you will drive off sales, let people look, be helpful but don't hover.
• Be ready to bargain. Most successful flea market vendors are willing to haggle a bit, especially if the customer buys a lot of things.
• Group like things together. This helps them sell. You might even sell all those things in one group.
• Boxes with cheap misc. things in them draw attention. Mark with a sign everything 1.00 each or 50 cents each and let them search.
• Mark a price on you items. Lots of good items are passed over because someone will not ask or they thought an item would be more. Make it easy for your customer.
• Keep your tables and displays neat. This attracts more people, they can see what you have. Keep your items clean, do this before you come. Clean items: washed clothes (and folded), clean porcelain, toys and things fetch a higher price.
• Keep track of what sells. You may find a nitch for sales that no one else at the flea market has. Most successful flea market vendors have an area they specialize in. Regular customers for these items can make you more successful and make you more MONEY!
• Bring some blankets or tarps to cover your items. Most indoor flea markets let you cover your items for the night so you do not have to repack you items. Unless you have highly valuable items or items of concern, like guns or coins, most people do this. All vendors keep an eye on each others items as well as the flea market employees, regulars know each other and security is everyone's concern. Or you can pack up each night and reset.
• Taxes: In all the states what you sell or profit you make is taxable. It is your responsibility to pay your taxes. If you are setting up at a flea market most states require that you to collect and pay sales tax to the state. Most transactions at flea markets are cash. Customers do not expect to pay sales tax there. Most vendors just pay the sales tax after sales totals for the day. However, you must check with your state tax office (they are online) for your state's requirements. Getting a sales license usually costs nothing.