How To Profit In
FLEA Marketing
Flea Marketing:
You will learn how "Flea Marketing " can be an excellent way
to add to your income . . . the opportunities to make money are
limitless.
Flea markets are here to stay. They have become a way of life
for millions of bargain-seeking folks from all walks of life. Today,
many empty buildings, drive-in theaters, church halls and parking lots
have been transformed into Flea Markets all over the country. They
are also an excellent way to add to your income every weekend. The
opportunities to make money are limitless and all that is required is
just the ability to observe others.
Visit as many Flea Markets as you can and notice the different kinds
of merchandise being sold. Notice that prices are lower than
competitive items sold in stores. This is one of the secrets to the
success of Flea Markets. The right kind of merchandise is also very
important to the success of a dealer.
The best way for you to start out is by selling all of the items
around your house that you no longer want. They may be used or
unused. They may be old or new, it doesn't matter. There is a buyer
for almost everything. Pricing competitively is very important. You
will soon find out if your prices are too high or too low. An item
priced too high may not sell the first day. If you are not sure of the
value of an item, then ask for a bid. Most will bid twenty to thirty
percent less than the true value of the item. If you are not satisfied
with the bid, then add to the price and sell it for the higher price.
Sometimes it is better to sell for the bidder's price if you have no use
for the item. Don't be afraid to ask questions of other dealers. Many
will be happy to help you and provide some good information on
selling. Be sure the merchandise is displayed so that it may be readily
seen with the big items in back of the small ones. Everything should
be arranged neat and clean as possible.
Before you decide to become a regular who works
Flea Markets on a steady basis, you must decide what kind of
merchandise sells best. You will have to ask yourself these questions.
Is there a market for this item? How big is the market? A close
observation of other dealers will soon reveal that jewelry, furniture,
glassware, collectibles, toys, novelties, books, records, hardware,
old, new, and antique, coin items, old pictures, photos, reprints and
clothes are among the most popular items. Those that sell for one or
two dollars are usually the best. Don't overlook seasonal items such as
sunglasses and T-shirts. Fishing equipment sells best in spring and
summer. Stationery supplies in late August and September would be
timed right. Calendars are the best items in January. You must think
ahead so that you will have the right items for every season of the
year.
A positive approach will give you a good start toward selling
to the public. You must remember, that it is up to you to give the
public what it wants at a better price than sold at stores or
elsewhere. This is the hard part for some to understand because
there is always the temptation to make a "fast buck". But, it is the
quickest way to fail in any business. The real success comes from
REPEAT BUSINESS. Everyone loves a bargain. And that is the secret of
bringing them back for more. One excellent way to earn customer
confidence is to refund their money if not satisfied.
The ideas and methods of bringing customers to you are only
limited by the scope of your business and the extent of your
imagination. The author believes that a successful
Flea Market dealer may eventually want to expand into a full-time
business. Sometimes it is the other way around. Some dealers drop
their regular business and concentrate on Flea Markets for a living.
Imported novelties and giftwares are an excellent way to turn
browsers into buyers. This is because folks are always looking for the
unique and exotic items to give as gifts or show-off to their friends. It
is the unusual that attracts us. Many mail order firms will be glad to
sell items to you at wholesale prices. Flea Market dealers come and
go. And sometimes it is intentional. Some merely want to get rid of
old or unused items from attics or basements. Others buy and sell
profitably, so the urge to continue is only natural. Many dealers are
successful for a time, but soon run out of new items and become
discouraged when sales decline. A haphazard way of doing business
won't work for long. It takes time and effort.
Choosing the right Flea Market is also essential to your success. Pick
one that is established and located near a highway or in the center of
a large metropolitan area. Visit at different times and note the
amount of customers, dealers and merchandise. Ask a lot of questions
and try to find out everything you can before picking a good place to
do business. If most of the dealers are there week after week it must
be a good place to make money. Some dealers choose markets
depending on whether there is a large parking area. Some just go
where the impulse takes them, usually to a market they have never
seen or to one which they heard of through someone else the previous
week. At today's high gas prices it is usually better not to travel too
far because it cuts into your profit.
Unless you have reserved a space, it is a good idea to arrive at
least half an hour before opening. There will be many bargainers at
your table right away. Don't miss those early sales as they can make
the difference between a fair or good day. Arriving early will give you
a chance to walk around and compare prices of merchandise similar
to yours.
Compare quality and prices with yours. Some dealers buy items
from other dealers, if the prices are very low. This enables them to
resell at a fine profit. this is often true when a dealer is looking for
merchandise in a hurry. Some dealers take items on a regular circuit
and this way they get better exposure of their goods. Another way to
get good exposure is to rotate your items every other week. A few
new items added each week will give a fresh appearance and more
variety of goods. There is nothing worse than repeating the same
setup of goods week after week. There are some exceptions to this
rule. As long as sales are as expected, it would be foolish to change
anything.
Sometimes it is lack of a simple thing that can mean the
difference between success or failure. The addition of a sign can
make a world of difference to your display. Even the addition of a
nice tablecloth can provide an excellent background to a display of
fine china. Similar items should be displayed together so that the
eyes can focus on the entire matter. Vases will sell better if filled
with flowers or greens. A lamp will sell better if it has a shade on it. If
you have a fine lamp that needs a shade it would be wise to buy one
that is attractive. Add the price of the shade to it and it will still sell
much sooner than without a shade. It is always easier to sell a
complete or repaired item. Most folks want to buy an item that is
ready to use. This is good to remember when you are selling. Don't try
to sell an item that is not working properly unless you tell the buyer
about it. The selling price should reflect the condition of the item.
However, you must bear in mind that many of the old items that you
want to sell are worth more today than they were when you bought
them. Especially if they are in good working condition. Old magazines
are usually worth 25 cents or more depending on the type or age.
Some are even worth five to ten dollars if rare.
There are many sources for items to sell and a visit to many of
the merchants in your area will prove it to you. One of the best
sources of merchandise is Mail Order items from Mail Order Firms that
sell this type of Flea Market merchandise. Many of these firms sell a
wide variety of items at wholesale prices and will be glad to send one
of their catalogs to interest buyers.
Look for Mail Order Trade, Salesmen and Wholesale Trade
publications at your newsstands. You will find many low cost
merchandise advertised in them. Write to the sources, obtain copies
of their catalogs. Also, watch your newspaper for public auctions, and
business close-out sales. Many fine items can be secured, at real
bargain prices in this way.
Insider Secrets To Flea Market Profits
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