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Hit the Flea Market Circuit and Make Money

June 20th, 2010 No comments

A flea market is an open air market where second hand or discounted items are sold or swapped. The word “flea market” comes from the French word “Marche aux Puces,” literally meaning market with fleas. The term was given to markets where the buyers and sellers were very active and jumped around like fleas in order to make money.

Everyone loves to make money and everyone loves a bargain. Making money at flea markets is a fun way to make a buck but it takes some thought and planning to be successful. Flea Markets are more than a one day yard sale. They are typically held weekly or monthly, year round or seasonally. Vendors sell an item or several items rather than whatever they pull out of their basement or garage. Vendors may be craft people selling homemade candles, table clothes, gloves and mittens, watches or whatever inventory they may create. Vendors may also buy inventory from a store gone out of business or a store that is clearing out the old to make way for the new. It is possible to buy such items relatively inexpensively and with a small mark up still sell below market rate but you can still make money. Other vendors study the market and determine what the hot item is and load up on that item. Sometimes buying in bulk is the way to make money.

To get started making money at Flea Markets, look in the newspaper for flea markets in your area. Your area will be limited by how far you want to travel. Check out the flea markets and determine the busiest. Walk through the flea markets and check out what is being sold. You may not want to show up to sell at a flea market and find multiple vendors with the same thing. To make money at a flea market requires creativity with your product and what you call them. If you were selling rain coats you may advertise them as Mother Nature Splash Guards. That will catch shopper’s attention. A customer may not want a rain coat but just has to have a Mother Nature Splash Guard. Caching, equals making money.

Be knowledgeable about your product or products. You have a better chance of making a sale and making money if you can enlighten a potential customer about your product, especially if your product is somewhat unique. Do some prep work and come up with questions you may be asked and have answers ready. Maybe even print up an FAQ sheet about your product customers can look at. Make sure you have your contact information on the sheet.

Set up your display as attractively as possible. If your table is eye catching because of neatness, you have a better chance of attracting customers. A customer that stops at your table is a potential buyer and when it comes to making money you want as many potential’s as possible. If you have a canopy over your table, decorate it with some brightly colored, eye catching ornaments of some type. Post a trivia question and let folks answer it.

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Author: Daniel M Schmidt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Categories: Articles, Flea Markets/Swap Meets Tags:

Selling at Flea Markets – An Easy, Steady Source of Cash Each Weekend

May 20th, 2010 No comments

The Small Business Administration estimates that 95% of all new small businesses close their doors within the first year. That doesn’t sound very encouraging. How would you like to start your own business that is almost 100% guaranteed to succeed? How would you like to sell at flea markets?

I am talking about starting an actual business, your own flea market and swap meet business, of course. It’s a very easy business to start compared to a brick and mortar business in a strip mall.

There is no long-term lease to sign, no long search for the right location, no large expense for fixtures and shelves, no utilities to pay for and no need to spend thousands of dollars before you open the doors and make your first dollar.

There are no employees, no employee payroll taxes and no workman’s comp to pay.

You can start a flea market business with a lot less financial risk and trouble. Most can be started with less than $1,000. I started mine with only $200 and have made as much as a thousand dollars in only one day.

This business is nothing more than a proprietorship owned and operated by just one or two people. It operates on a basic concept: buy merchandise at the lowest price and sell it for more than your cost.

Many vendors sell used items. The more successful vendors sell brand new merchandise, many times the same items you’ve seen on the shelves in K-Mart or Target.

Selling new items means you can always order more for next weekend. Not so with used items.

Selling is as easy as saying hello to someone when they walk up to your table. Be helpful and friendly and you will make money.

The majority of flea market vendors buy their merchandise from import companies who sell to them at wholesale prices. It is also possible to buy items on sale from retail stores and sell them at the flea market for more than your cost.

Arrive at the market early in the morning on Saturday, rent a space and set your merchandise on the table. Selling is as easy as just saying hello or good morning to people when they walk over to look at what you have.

Merchandise will be your largest expense, perhaps 90% of your investment. Space rent is minimal, as little as $5 a day to as much as $50-$75 a day. The average costs are usually around $25 per space per day.

It is quite easy to double and triple your money at flea markets and swap meets. Buying your merchandise at the lowest cost allows you to sell it for two to three times that cost and still keep your prices less than retail stores.

In the beginning, put all of the profit back into your business by buying as much merchandise as you can afford for the next weekend. After doing so for a month or two, you will be able to begin keeping the profit for yourself without hurting your business. It will become self-sustaining.

You will discover that a flea market or swap meet business is easy and affordable to establish, easy to operate and can provide you a good steady income each weekend.

Copyright 2008 by Allen Farlow. All rights reserved.

Allen Farlow is an expert author and also a successful professional flea market and swap meet vendor.

His latest report reveals two secret principles that can change your life. Wealthy people use them all the time, why not you? Get this free report here: http://www.allenfarlow.com

Author: Allen Farlow
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Earn Extra Income – How to Make Money Selling at Flea Markets

April 22nd, 2010 No comments

Do you need extra money and want tips on making more?  You have definitely come to the right place.  Flea markets are a definite and sure way to earn some extra cash.  They can be very fun, and you can meet many different people. 

Before you decide to begin your new venture, think of what you desire to sell and where you would get these items.  An excellent choice to find items to sell is right in your own home.  You definitely don’t have to invest into a product.  So, go ahead and do some cleaning and pick out old or new things from your basement, attic, living room, bedroom, or wherever you see things you feel you won’t be using anymore.  Those items are only going to continue to sit around the house and collect dust.

If your desire is to invest in your flea market business, storage auctions would be an excellent investment.  Storage auctions are held once or twice a month due to people renting the storage unit and not paying their monthly rental payment.  Therefore, everything in that person’s rental space is then auctioned off to the highest bidder.  Once the auction begins, the owner of the storage unit cannot gain possession of any of their things.  Lots of people at these auctions have won units containing nice televisions, jewelry, washing machines, etc for very cheap.  It is no surprise to win a storage unit for under $100 or $200.  Try searching in the yellow pages of your local phone book under storage; call them and ask them when the next auction is.

Let’s not forget wholesale companies and distributors as a means of investing and reselling.  Google and yahoo search engines are very popular internet tools to seek out information.  Type in wholesale companies in either one of the search engines to see desired results.  You can also key in flea market items wholesale. 

Most flea markets are open on Saturday and Sunday.  Some are open on Thursday and Friday as well.  If interested in when and what time they open in your area, do a Google search on flea markets, then type in your city name or state. 

To begin your day at the flea market, you want to start setting up as soon as the market opens.  Many customers love shopping at the flea markets early in hopes that they can purchase things before they’re gone.  Renting the space, tables, or booths are fairly inexpensive.  In many cases, the prices to rent can range between $8.00 and $30.00 depending on the flea market.  Most of the time, flea markets provide tables for you, but still bring your own fold up tables.

Don’t forget to make deals.  If your prices are too high, many times the customer will walk away seeking out better deals.  If you quote a price that is too high, the customer may try to talk you down to a lower price.  This is ok because this is how you would make money in the flea markets.  People are there looking for bargains and deals. 

My husband and I sell at the flea market almost every weekend.  By making people deals, we sold most of our inventory.  We profit between $100 and $700 per weekend.

Money can be a little tight these days, and thinking of a plan b is a necessity.  With lots of prayer, dedication, and persistence, this task can be quite simple.  Selling at a flea market can be just the answer.  It’s fun, easy, and you can definitely earn a lot of cash.

My name is April Fitzgerald. I’m a loving mother, wife, and entrepreneur. My goal is to spread knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Also, I love selling designer fragrances and genuine sterling silver. They have always been a passion of mine. I witness Jesus Christ on my website in hopes of helping bring some people to Christ. Feel free to visit my website at any time: [http://www.scentbyGod.com] Make yourself at home.

Author: April Fitzgerald
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

Flea Markets: Strategies For Making Money At Flea Markets

April 19th, 2010 No comments

Flea markets are great places to make some extra money on the weekends, or to even make enough money to supplement a lost job.

As part of my wholesale business I once sold at flea markets, and now supply flea market vendors with wholesale products.

Based on my experience, and feedback from flea market vendors, I have come up with a list of strategies for making money at flea markets.

These strategies require you to apply them to the flea markets that you sell at. You might want to make modifications based on the shoppers at your flea market, and the products which you sell.

Strategy #1

Always have a large quantity of merchandise at your booth. People are attracted to quantity, so if you want customers to come to your booth, make sure your booth looks fully stocked up.

Strategy #2

Variety is the key for your flea market business. Your customers are looking for more than one item. The more products you offer them, the more that they can buy from you.

Strategy #3

Always price your items so that multiple purchases receive a discount. Your goal should be to sell out your merchandise at the end of the day. You can always reorder, so why not sell out?
As long as you make a profit on the sale, always encourage your customers to buy more by giving them a lower price.

Strategy #4

Set up your flea market merchandise so that your booth looks like a professional business. If you treat your booth like it’s a real store, so will your customers.

Strategy #5

Have a flyer printed up with your business name, booth number, and merchandise offered. Enclose a flyer in each customer’s bag, this way they will remember you and come back next week.

Donny Lowy is the CEO of the following wholesale and closeout businesses.

http://www.closeoutexplosion.com

http://www.wholesalecloseoutforum.com

http://www.wholesalequest.com

Author: Donny Lowy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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