How to Make Money Selling at Flea Markets

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By Wasatch
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Outdoor Market Venue

As an antique dealer in the past I used to make a good days income setting up and selling the lower end and the decorative newer items at a local flea market or swap meet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

First find a local market. We have several large ones, both indoor and outdoor. Get familiar with the type of booths that are in the venue you would like to sell at. Some are geared to new discount merchandise, others are more antiques and second hand yard sale stuff. Both can be profitable if you have a source for the items.
Step 2

Weekly event

Find out when the flea market runs. Many are every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Some are permanent and every day. A great one in Texas is on the weekend that include the first Monday every month. It dates back to when people came into the county seat to do business on that day and has continued for over 100 years.
Step 3

Typically the cost is $10.00 to $20.00 a day. Some are more but often worth it as they charge what they can justify with the traffic they bring in. Find out what you need to do to reserve a space. Sometimes you reserve in advance. For some you have permanent vendor spots and people who are only doing a day or two come and get placed the morning of the event.
Step 4

Now what to sell. You can do a day or two just with your own second hand yard sale type stuff. Get your feet wet. This is ideal if you don't have a busy area to sell from home. If you find merchandise wholesale it can be resold. Here are two examples that may help you get going. First a friend went to a carpet seller who was changing distributors. He bought the small rugs from the sample books in the show room for 10 cents each. He bought over 300 for about $30.00. Then he sold them as door mats or boat floor carpet for $2.00 each. He sold out in a day and cleared about $600.00. Another man I know goes to yard sales all summer. He buys kids snow boots very cheaply all summer long. Usually for under a dollar a pair. When fall comes and the first snow hits he sets up and sells them for $3.00 to $5.00 a pair. he usually makes enough in a few weekends selling to fund a small winter vacation.
Step 5

If you know a store owner see if you can make a deal to sell the merchandise they are overstocked on or is slow selling. You may be able to take it on consignment and pay him his cost for what sells. I am sure some of the paid ads on the left and bottom of the article are for wholesale flea market merchandise. Some of these will be great places to purchase in bulk. Just don't buy huge quantities until you know you can sell the stuff well. Better to get a variety of items than one huge lot of untested merchandise.
Step 6

I normally profit about $200.00 on a Saturday. I have had specialty events like a car show swap meet where I have made several thousand dollars in a day. Go give it a try.