Tips For New Vendors

Started by Andy and Jannis Paulk, Big Andy’s Market and Fun Center opened for business in Ocilla, Georgia on October 29th, and soon after launched monthly vendor classes for people with a desire to run their own business who were unsure how to start. The first class, held in November, featured lessons from three long-time vendors and all six attendees are currently either long-term vendors at Big Andy’s or in the stages of planning. The Importance of Working Together For Jannis Paulk, the relationships between owner and vendors, and between... 

Five Merchandising Techniques to Maximize Sales

Merchandising (Noun)–the activity of promoting the sale of goods, especially by their presentation in retail outlets. It is incredibly vital for flea market vendors to utilize effective merchandising techniques, as an attractive, organized display of merchandise will always get attention. Merchandising is important year-round, but it is especially crucial near the holidays, when consumers are usually in a buying mood. Drawing attention to your booth through product placement, displays, sights and smells, and advertising will get your message... 

How to Get a Reseller’s License

The last 18 to 24 months have seen a big increase in retail start-ups at flea markets around the country, as low operating costs and an increasing flow of consumers has led to a surge in new vendors.  Being a successful retailer in any venue requires hard work and a solid business plan, anchored by licenses to ensure compliance with municipal and federal regulations.  Reseller licenses, for example, also impact the ability to deal with the best wholesale suppliers. While a flea market organizer is often a good resource for finding out what the... 

How to add music events and concerts to a flea market

Dee West is the owner of Sasser Flea Market & Antique Mall in Sasser, Ga. She bought it ten years ago, and for the last eight years, she has been hosting musical events, festivals, and concerts. For the last four years, she has offered large concerts for big name Country and R&B acts, including Craig Morgan, Percy Sledge, Clarence Carter, Sammy Kershaw, and Jake Owen. She recently offered FleaMarketZone her advice for flea market managers and owners who are considering adding music to their markets. FleaMarketZone.com: Why should flea markets... 

How to use smartphone tech to accept credit cards at your flea market table

Cash has always been king at flea markets and swap meets, but more vendors than ever are using their smartphones as cash registers that let them accept credit cards for payments. With big companies like Visa getting in on the action, the days of requiring a dedicated phone line or paper records are over, since it is now easy and inexpensive to swipe a credit card with a smartphone, such as an iPhone, Blackberry, or Android cell phone. With instant authentication and e-mail receipts, a paperless transaction means flea market customers can spend... 

How to start marketing your swap meet business without breaking the bank

Once upon a time, a marketing campaign took bucks, big bucks. Now, with the tools and access provided by the Internet, any small business can dive into marketing without throwing money down the drain. And for flea market and swap meet vendors on a budget, low- or no-cost marketing is an easy choice. Here are a range of tips from two marketing experts — Annie Mueller at American Express and Nicholas Jervis at BizCommunity.com — who recently posted some valuable ideas for small businesses who want to begin promoting themselves. Not all will work... 

How to display items at flea markets and swap meets

Sure, low prices and high quality are the keys to success for any retailer, but those alone don’t sell a product. The right display is just as important. The same item will generate very different results if displayed on a mannequin or buried in a dark box. So what can flea market and swap meet vendors do to merchandise their wares most effectively? Here are some tips from experts who know just what vendors need. Eric M. Weinstein, the owner of Specialty Store Services, sells merchandising displays to flea market vendors, so he knows what works,... 

How to avoid and recover from online fraud

Anyone who buys or sells on the Internet may be vulnerable to online fraud. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a joint operation between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center, released a report in 2009 saying that reported cyber-crimes rose about 650 percent compared with 2001, and up 22 percent compared with 2008. The business losses from these crimes totaled $559.7 million in 2009, up 112 percent on the year, according to the report. And to be more specific, an article in October from Investors Business Daily, based on a report... 

How to boost a flea market business with Facebook

Chris Eannucci, who invented and sells his “Chill Clock” to flea market customers, has been overwhelmed by the response he has gotten on Facebook. “It’s been hugely successful,” he says. “We opened a fan page on Facebook, and in five weeks we’ve got 35,000 fans. And sales have been awesome. It’s crazy, the power of Facebook. I had no idea.” And his fans now count over 50,000, as of early September. How important is Facebook to flea market customers? In a recent survey, about 75 percent of respondents said they think companies on... 

How to run a flea market as a charity fund-raiser

Although most flea markets and swap meets are run by business people making a living, many informal marketplaces are set up every year for more altruistic purposes. In some places, you can’t drive by a church on a Saturday morning without seeing tables for vendors set up in the churchyard. Animal shelters, Kiwanis, fire brigades, and youth groups are running similar events. Just as they offer sweet financial opportunities for pros, flea markets make great fund-raisers for non-profits, according to Katherine Murray, co-author of Fundraising for... 

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