How to Start a Flea Market
If you have a sizable property that is near a population center, it might make sense to start a flea market as a money-making venture. A flea market is an open-air market that runs every week or two. It consists of any number of independent vendors who pay the owner of the property a fee to set up a booth and sell goods. Vendors range from individuals selling items from their homes to full-time vendors who make a living buying and selling. Booth fees can range from $10 or $20 for small flea markets to more than $100 for high-traffic locations.
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Instructions
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Plan Ahead
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Set up your area beforehand to minimize security, traffic, or organizational problems. The best site is a large field on the side of a busy road. Arrange for separate entry and exit routes to minimize traffic problems.
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Consider hiring security if your flea market gets large. The presence of security personnel will tend to deter problems before they start. Problems can range from arguments between vendors, theft and traffic to accidents and medical issues.
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Provide a first-aid station, porta-potties, and a chip truck or place where vendors and buyers can get food and beverages. Encourage vendors to set up awnings at booths to keep people out of the hot sun.
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Check with local authorities about permits that may be required for your venture.
Advertise Well
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Spend as much as is required to get the word out about your flea market. You need a high-traffic flow to encourage vendors to want to sell at your flea market. Advertise in all the local papers and develop an advertising budget to maintain a consistent presence, preferably on the same page every week.
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Promote special events at your flea market to maintain public interest. Consider including entertainment, door prizes, contests, or a booth that gives away free items.
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A lot of advertising can be done for free online. Search the internet for websites that are frequented by buyers and sellers in your area.
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Build a website for your flea market, and put some effort into linking it with as many other websites, blogs, and search engines as possible. These links will mature and propagate over time, as more and more people become familiar with your flea market.
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Maintain a consistent presence. Holding your flea market every week at the same time will help people remember when it is happening, and get into the habit of attending.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep an eye out for people who may be selling stolen goods at your flea market. This could damage the reputation of your business.
Be sure to arrange traffic flow safely, especially where cars are entering and exiting the main road.
References
Resources
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