How to Sell Used Clothing at the Flea Market

Used Clothing Flea Market Sales - Choosing the Clothes

Children's used clothing sells a lot faster than adult used clothing, unless you have a particular brand or popular style. People are more apt to purchased used children's clothing because kids grow out of clothing so quickly.

Choose the used clothing to sell by the quality and style of the clothing. Do not attempt to sell items that are completely out of style, unless you are clever at marketing them as retro. Basics like jeans, good quality coats, and baby clothing are good choices.

Used Clothing Flea Market Sales - What to Check For

Before offering any of the used clothing for sale at the flea market, you must check for defects and damage. Remember that the quality of the clothing will reflect on you. If you sell bad merchandise, word will get around the flea market and people will stop coming to your table.

Check every piece of used clothing for obvious stains. Small stains in out of the way places are acceptable in most cases. Also check for rips, seams or hems with broken stitches, and worn sections. Working zippers, buttons and snaps, and waistbands, collars, and cuffs must be checked carefully.

Used Clothing Flea Market Sales - Displaying the Clothes

The best way to display clothing for sale at the flea market is to hang them up and use garment racks. Things like t-shirts, sweaters, and jeans can be folded neatly on your flea market table. However, if you have a large quantity of used clothing for sale, you can create discount bins that people can dig through. Hang your best used clothing up or display it on your table, but toss all the sweaters and t-shirts in a rubbermaid tub or an old baby playpen.

Used Clothing Flea Market Sales - How to Price Used Clothes

Pricing used clothing at the flea market depends largely on the market and the quality of clothing you are selling. Most flea market shoppers are looking for super bargains. Do not try to sell a pair of used jeans for ten dollars unless they are a super name brand. You are competing with thrift stores.

Business suits, dresses, and coats will be your most expensive used clothing items. The next tier - items that could be priced from five to ten dollars - would include jackets, top quality jeans, name brand clothing, and complete outfits. Any single items should be one to three dollars. It is a great idea to have special super discount sales to bring people to your flea market table and shift unwanted goods as well.

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How to Make a Watch Display Case

Do you have a collection of vintage watches you want displayed in a case, either at home or perhaps in your store? This article walks you through step-by-step instructions on building a portable wooden watch display case two feet long and one foot wide and two inches deep, able to hold 15 to 20 watches. All that is required in accomplishing this task is a few carpentry tools, plywood, wood stain or paint of your choice, hardware and a pre-cut piece of glass.

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape 1/2" high-quality smooth-finish plywood Circular saw 1/4" plywood Sander Wood stain or paint of your choice A pre-cut piece of glass One-inch wood screws Screwdriver Glue Cloth lining of your choice

Instructions

Cutting the Pieces for Your Watch Display Case

Step 1

Take the piece of 1/2" plywood and measure out a piece two feet long and one foot wide for the bottom of your display case. Cut this piece out with the circular saw.

Step 2

Measure out two pieces that are two feet long and two inches wide each from the 1/2" plywood. Cut these out for two of the sides for your case.

Step 3

Measure and cut out two pieces from the 1/2" plywood that are each 11 inches long and two inches wide for the other two sides.

Step 4

Cut out two sections from the 1/4" plywood that are each 1'11" long and 1 3/4" wide. These are part of the inset to hold the glass over the watches.

Step 5

Measure and cut out two sections that are 10 1/2" long and 1 3/4" wide for the other sections of the inset.

Step 6

Sand any rough edges off all cut pieces. Apply wood stain or the paint of your choice and allow to dry.

Step 7

Go to a local glass shop and have a piece of 1/4-inch-thick glass cut so that it is 1' 10 7/8" long and 10 7/8" wide for the display window of your case. Have all edges smoothed and finished.

Constructing Your Watch Display Case

Step 1

Gather the four outer sides of your case and form a rectangle. Place the two-feet-long pieces parallel to each other one foot apart on their short edges. Complete the rectangle by placing the 11-inch-long pieces on each side in between the other pieces. Drive two screws through each end of the longer side pieces into the shorter pieces. You now have a frame for your display case that is two feet long, one foot wide and two inches deep.

Step 2

Lay the frame flat and attach the bottom of your case to it. Place the bottom piece over the frame and drive a screw every three inches into the frame through the bottom, all the way around the frame.

Step 3

Turn the finished section over on the bottom and gather the four inset pieces. Place one 1' 11" piece inside the case against the long side of the case so it is up on its edge. Squeeze some wood glue in between the inset piece and the side piece and press together. Repeat this process in attaching the other three inset pieces all the way around the inside of the box. You now have an inset for the glass that is 1/4" deeper from the outer sides of your display case.

Step 4

Cut your cloth to fit across the bottom of your case and up the 1 3/4" sides of the inset pieces. Spread glue over all surfaces inside the case and carefully attach the cloth. Allow to dry.

Step 5

Set the piece of glass on the insets inside the case. The glass will be even with the top of the four sides.

Step 6

Your new watch display case is now ready to use.

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CD Spindle Earring Stand

A very simple project to take the leftover stuff from a stack of blank CDs and make a stand to hold earrings. 

step 1Find a suitable CD stack spindle

I had a stack of blank CDs stored on this spindle. There was also a plastic cover, but it's unfortunately gone to the landfill, as I couldn't figure out another use for it. But the spindle that held the blank CDs was quite nice, and the little plastic top that held the whole thing together screwed on nicely. Obviously this won't work with just any spindle without som…

step 2Drill holes in the CD

I had a stack of CDs with useless data on them. This one came from a tourist bureau, and I liked the color, so decided to have the colored/label part show. You could also put the silver, shiny side up. Start with the CD. I used a Dremel cutting tool, but a power drill would also work. 1) clamp the CD firmly to a piece of wood. The wood will have a few dozen tiny …

step 3Glue drilled CD to spindle top

First figure out where the CD and the top of the spindle are touching. There were relatively few contact points on mine. That influenced my decision about what glue to use, as I wanted to use a glue that would 'fill in' a little, and increase the area of the bond. Household GOOP was perfect. Epoxy would likely also work fine. I usually squeeze the goop out onto a p…

step 4Assemble

Here's what mine looked like when I screwed it back together.

step 5Load with earrings and admire

Now you can end the jumble of earrings on your dresser, and have all your lovelies neatly displayed and ready for action. If I can find a tall enough spindle, I'm going to try to do something with necklaces next.

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How to Sell Watches

Selling pocket and wrist watches is an easy way to earn extra income. For the savvy seller, selling watches can turn into a full-time occupation. Thousands of vintage, pre-owned, New Old Stock (NOS) and new watches are sold online daily. Many retailers, wholesalers and distributors sell watches as a discount to move inventory and make way for new models. Online auctions provide the quickest way to buy and sell watches with little knowledge or expertise of the product.

Step1
Research the horology field by visiting the numerous online watch enthusiasts forums and websites, other seller's websites, watchmaker history websites, online auction houses and technical websites. Determine which niche of watches you want to sell: vintage, pre-owned or new watches, suggests to The Watch Guy, a website that specializes in vintage watch information.

Step 2
Research the market. Like any business, the watchmaking field fluctuates with the global economy. Demand for new luxury watches, for example, may slacken during a recession, but sales of NOS luxury watches, which are overstocked unsold new watches, and pre-owned timepieces increase during economic downturns.

Step 3
Join auction websites and bid to make purchases. Most online auctioneers sell vintage and pre-owned watches, so remember that you are purchasing someone's discards. Prices vary, but the condition of the watch is most important. There's a smaller percentage of new watches auctioned.

Step 4
Examine online auction websites. Copy and enlarge the watch photos. Determine whether the watchmaker's dial signature matches the name on the case back and the movement, which is the mechanical or electronic device that operates the watch. The absence of three signatures on a luxury watch manufactured from about the 1950s to present may indicate that it's assembled from other brands.

Step 5
Determine whether the watch you are buying is a fake. Fakes are the biggest threat to buying and selling watches. Determine a fake by recognizing which movements go with each watch. An unsigned Japanese movement in a Swiss watch is the obvious sign of a fake. Poorly embossed logos on the dial, chronometer bezels that don't rotate, mismatched case backs and sloppily etched serial numbers are sure signs of a counterfeit.

Step 6
Establish a relationship with wholesalers and distributors to buy NOS and older timepieces. These sellers don't like keeping last year's models on their shelves.

Step 7
Find a watchmaker who repairs and services watches. Securing the services of a watchmaker is perhaps the most important aspect of selling watches. All vintage, pre-owned, NOS and even new watches should be inspected and serviced before being sold to the public.

Step 8
Hire a professional web designer to create a website to advertise your watch-selling business. Establish a refund policy and limited warranty to build trust with your customers.

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How to Price Costume Jewelry in a Flea Market

Flea markets are a great place to sell inexpensive costume jewelry. If you own vintage costume jewelry, you are probably better off selling them through other channels. Most shoppers in flea markets are not aiming to spend a lot of money on individual items. More often than not shoppers have a general idea of how much they intend to spend in a flea market and that doesn't include spending on high end vintage costume jewelry. You can probably maximize your margins selling them in other locations.

However, flea markets are still great locations to sell your jewelry pieces. If you set up a jewelry booth, you are likely to sell more volume on good quality and fairly priced items.

Below are a few tips setting up a costume jewelry booth in a flea market:

Sourcing

Almost all types of costume jewelry can be sold in a flea market. You may come across items that you can sell from discount stores, clearance sales, thrift stores and even garage sales. While these don't provide a steady or reliable source of products to sell, you can also purchase directly from wholesalers and importers of costume jewelry. A few advantages of purchasing your pieces from an importer or wholesaler is their reliability in providing you with jewelry that have generally passed through quality control and can provide pieces in bulk.

Pricing and Tagging

Make sure that you don't over-price your pieces. You can do this by checking the price of the same or similar pieces in the same flea market or surrounding areas. Meanwhile don't under-price your items as well. Make sure you cover your fixed costs such as booth rental, electricity, hired help and even your time. This should give you an idea of your volume break-even point and the mark-up that you place on each piece.

Make sure all your jewelry pieces are in good condition and clean. You can attach the piece to a card and stick on your price. Another way to tag your piece is by attaching a sting through the loop of the jewelry. Either way, make sure that the pieces are secure in a presentable manner.

Setting Up

Trays are great for displaying your jewelry pieces. The downside to using just trays is the amount of space that it takes up on your table. Whenever possible, use stand or hook larger pieces like bib necklaces on walls. Jewelry stands are available on-line or through display companies.

You also don't want to scare away customers by over decorating. It is always a good idea to have your booth decorated neatly. Having some color helps as it differentiates your booth among the other others.

Another tip is to have, when possible, a sign board. The sign should state exactly what you are selling, in this case costume jewelry. The sign always attracts attention in a sea of many other booths without signs

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How to Handle Cash Safely at an Outdoor Flea Market

One unfortunate fact of being a vendor at an outdoor flea market is having to deal with thieves. Not only will some unscrupulous people tried to steal items from your table or booth, others will target the cash you
have directly. Learning how to handle cash safely at an outdoor flea market will make your sales day both more lucrative and less stressful.

Cash Safety at Outdoor Flea Market - Taking Customer's Money

One of the most important things for a flea market vendor to do is to take the customer's money for their purchases. While most will hand you the dollars or coins directly, some shoppers prefer to count their money out flat onto the table. Encourage customers to put the money directly into your hand. However, the most important thing is to be directly in front of the customer when the money is being passed over. Having a helper at the outdoor flea market can help take care of multiple customers at one time. Otherwise, you must insist customers wait their turn.

Cash Safety at Outdoor Flea Market - Making Change

Many outdoor flea market customers do not carry exact change. It is your job as a vendor to quickly make and give a change to any that make a purchase. The safest way to do this is to have cash and coin on your person. Put the large bill away directly before pulling out smaller bills or coins to make the change with. A vendor's apron or fanny pack can be useful for keeping a supply of change on hand.

Cash Safety at Outdoor Flea Market - Storing the Cash

The safest way to store cash is to keep it on your person. The aforementioned pocketed apron or fanny pack can be useful. However, if you do a lot of business during the flea market day it may become too full or hard to organize. Large bills that are not useful for making change can be stored out of sight inside your car, if your car is parked nearby, or directly under your table in a secure box or bag. Be aware that some thieves at an outdoor flea market may attempt to crawl under the table to steal cash.

Cash Safety at Outdoor Flea Market - What to Look For

An unfortunate part of an outdoor flea market vendor's job is keeping a lookout for thieves. Some of the warning signs that a person may tried to steal something from you are: excessive browsing without showing
interest in any particular thing, lack of response to your questions, glancing around to see if anyone is looking, and the practice of resting hands or bags on your table or booth.

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How to Sell Used Books at the Flea Market

Selling books at the flea market can be profitable if you know how to price and market them. Choosing the right books for the flea market is another important aspect. Book buyers are looking for specific types of books
at bargain prices. Flea market vendors in tune with these wants can make money when they sell books at the flea market.

Sell Used Books at the Flea Market - What Type of Books?

Choosing the types of used books to sell at the flea market is the most important task. Many flea market tables are stocked with paperback romance novels. They are, after all, the most frequently published books on the market. However, since there are so many of these books, it is hard to make any profit from them.

Hardcover books are great to sell, though softcover sell well when their condition is good to excellent. Nonfiction books such as craft books, cookbooks, decorating and gardening books also sell well. Children's good quality books can bring in a great profit at the flea market.

Sell Used Books at the Flea Market - Finding Used Books to Sell

Sources for used books are varied. Used book stores have books at low discounts but, unless they have special sale days, you are unlikely to find many you can sell for a profit. Thrift stores are a great source for used books to sell at the flea market. Perhaps the best source of used books to sell are library bag sales. You can get a bag full of books for just a dollar or two.

Sell Used Books at the Flea Market - How to Price Used Books?

Price your used books based on their condition and subject matter. Of course, hardcover books can be sold for more money than softcover. Nonfiction can often be sold for more than fiction, unless you can find recent bestsellers. Most used books should be priced at five dollars or less at the flea market.

Offering a discount sales table full of used books at the flea market is a great idea to draw in the book-loving crowds. This is where you put the paperback novels and older nonfiction books that you cannot shift. Sell paperbacks for twenty-five cents each, or five for a dollar. Provide plastic bags for your flea market shoppers to stuff with books.

It is possible to make a good profit selling used books at the flea market. With cheap sources, fair pricing, and special discounts, buyers will come to buy.

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How to Attract Women to Your Flea Market Table

Flea markets attract all sorts of people, but most of them are looking for a great deal. If you decide, as a flea market vendor, to target a particular niche of shopper, you must know what will attract them to your
table. Attracting women shoppers at the flea market is a matter of product, display, and personal appearance and attitude.

Products That Attract Women at the Flea Market

Women have different tastes, of course, but the majority of them can be attracted to your flea market table with a few basic products. The first is skin cream and similar products. A display of bottles with pretty labels will attract women at the flea market like honey draws flies.

Women at the flea market will also be attracted to jewelry displays on your table. This does not have to be fancy jewelry with sparkling diamonds. Good quality costume and trendy jewelry is ideal for caching a female flea market shopper's eye.

Displays that Attract Women at the Flea Market

Women are the great organizers and cleaners of the world. Men are much more accepting of clutter and disarray in general.

If this is true, doesn't it stand to reason that you should display your flea market items in an orderly fashion if you want to attract women shoppers? Cover your flea market table with a clean cloth and arrange your merchandise in bins, baskets, and on risers that show them off to the utmost. Women enjoy shoping. Make her flea market experience memorable.

Appearance and Attitude Attract Women at the Flea Market

Many flea market vendors are, to put it nicely, very casual. A lot of them are downright sloppy. This is more true at outdoor flea markets. While a bit of dirt and uncombed hair might be fine for the early risers at the flea market, it will not help to attract women customers.

I am not talking about getting a date here, so you don't have to go all out. A woman coming to shop at a flea market wants to know the products are clean, pest free, and in good condition. If the flea market vendor is sloppy or dirty, she may assume the good are too.

Dress neatly to attract woman to your flea market table. Give a friendly smile and a nod as she comes up to view your merchandise. Do not hover, but be available to answer questions. Male flea market vendors should be
especially courteous and not pushy.

Attracting women customer to your flea market table relies on several factors. Displaying some woman-centric products prominently on your table in a neat and orderly fashion, and being clean, neat, and friendly will go a long way to making money from women at the flea market

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How to Attract Men to Your Flea Market Table

Flea market vendors interested in marketing their products to men have to learn how to attract men to their flea market table. Several things will attract almost any man: tools, sports, and sexy women. Utilizing
these three attractors can get men at the flea market swarming your table and buying your merchandise.

Attract Men at the Flea Market - Product

Choosing the right product to sell at the flea market is vital in attracting men to your table or booth. Men are drawn to certain things: tools, car accessories, and sports paraphanalia. Selling any of these items will ensure men at your flea market
table.

Be sure to advertise the fact that you have these types of male-centric products. Put the tools at the front of your flea market table. Hang sports memorabilia in plain site from your booth's ceiling.

Attract Men at the Flea Market - Display

Men are usually not interested in pretty table cloths and organizational baskets on your flea market table. You can easily attract men with some bold signs or a display of certain types of product. Appealing to a man's frugal nature is a great idea. "Tools! 3 for $5.00!" will get their interest. Most men at the flea market will pride themselves on being able to get a great deal.

While fancy displays are not important to men at the flea market, you still must display the products neatly. Arrange tools by type, or use plastic bins to group ones in a similar price range.

Attract Men at the Flea Market - Sure Things

If you want to attract men to your flea market table, there are several sure things that you can do. The first requires you to be a confident, fit woman under forty. Wear a bikini bathing suit top or a tight tank top. Men will swarm your table even if you are selling candles and leg waxing kits.

If you do not want to go that route, there are still sure things that will attract me to your flea market table. Hang up a large sign or sports jersey of the local team. You can try hanging the opposing team's logo
as well. That will attract men to your flea market table, but they might not want to buy from the enemy. Men at the flea market are a lot like kids. Display some of their favorite things - tools, sports, or sex - and you will attract them to your table.

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How to Prepare to Sell Used Clothes at a Flea Market

Attending a flea market can be exhilarating. The atmosphere bubbles with bargains. Shoppers want to find a good deal, and vendors want to make money. If you have some old clothes piling up in your home, want to make
some extra money and enjoy interacting with a variety of people, selling your items at a flea market might interest you. Here are a few tips for preparing to sell your clothes at a flea market for the first time.

Before going to sell at the flea market, you should call their business office. Ask the manager the hours of operations, rental fees, and whether or not they provide tables and chairs for the vendors. Also, ask how they assign vendor areas, and which areas receive the most traffic. Once you have the answers to these questions, you can make preparations to sell your items.

Make certain your items are clean and in good condition. Put outfit pieces together. For instance, if you plan on selling your old pants suit, be sure you have the jacket and pants.

Either put prices on your clothes with stickers or create a price sheet. If you don't want to write out your prices, at least, have a pricelist mentally established before going to the flea market. Do not price your items too high; people expect to find a bargain at a flea market. Why should they buy something used from you, if they can buy it new for a similar price somewhere else?

After pricing your items, you should pack similar sized items together. For example, box all your medium shirts and medium pants together. This will help you to organize your table when you get to the flea market and will make shopping more productive for your customers.

While you're packing your clothes up, don't forget to pack some shopping bags for your customers. Your used grocery bags you've been saving will be perfect. You want to be sure your customers are able to carry all their merchandise they've purchased from you.

Also, depending on the flea markets' provisions, you may need to pack a chair, table, tablecloth, and garden umbrella. If it is an outdoor flea market, be sure to pack a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water, and snacks.

Finally, before going to the flea market make certain you have some cash. You'll need enough cash on hand to cover your rental fees and enough dollar bills and coins to provide change to customers. Also, if you don't
want to keep cash in your pocket, pack a cash box, and if you're not too good with numbers, pack a calculator in your cashbox.

On the day you decide to sell at the flea market, arrive early, set up your clothes, and sell, sell, sell!

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How to Get the Most Bang for Your Buck at a Flea Market

You are at the flea market of the year. For you it couldn't get any better: The sun is out and it's a beautiful day, you feel at your best and ready to explore. You have enough money in your pocket to make a killing.
Only thing is you don't know how to get the most bang for your buck. Well I'm here as your little pocket elf (so to say)! With this little guide I will help you score the biggest finds of the century!

Just do what I teach and you will be on your way of buying and reselling for more than 50% of the price you bought it for!

1.Haggle,Haggle and Haggle.

Haggling, it's allowed everywhere. This is the basic rule of flea markets. This is asking the seller of your desired item if he could take x for the item when the real value is y which is more than x. Just to give you an example of my expertise, I was at a garage sale a few months back and the woman who was at command was there and i asked her how much a set of golf clubs were. She said they were 5 bucks. Now even though this is a great price for the golf clubs, the house the family lived in was big and extravagant so I'm thinking they're wealthy. So I asked $3 hoping for the best. And She accepted!

2.Don't Show Emotion

This is 1 rule that I even betrayed in my younger years as a hunter. It's like showing fear in front of a tiger. If you ever buy an item from a seller and you know it goes for much more than he or she's asking for it, do not show excitement. It will show them either that you're either really excited about buying this certain thing or your excitement is coming because you know the real value of it. My example of this is when I purchased Final Fantasy 7 for $3 at my local flea market a year ago. When i said "I'll take it" There was a bit of excitement in my voice, and if i remember correctly, the seller did look at me like why is he so excited about this? Well it tell you why. Because it goes for around $70 dollars on ebay! And i did flip it around and I made my profit!

3.If It's Free, Take it No Matter What.

Now you're probably asking me why, well think of it this way. If the seller is giving it away for free and if he or she does not get rid of it, he or she will probably throw it out. Now if you take it and see how you
can use it and you can that's great! If you can't use it! Sell it! It will be really easy to make a profit off of free! For example, I was at a Brooklyn flea market a year ago and the seller was giving away a free PS1 Controller. I took it and I use it for playing my old PS1 games!

4.Make Friends With The Seller

Now this one is not a have to. But think of it more as a want to. If you make friends with the seller, you'll get to know them better and even get discounts! Or get stuff for free!

5.If You Ask How Much It Is And You Know For A Fact That It Goes For Much More Than The Seller's Asking For It, Ask Less.

This,many people don't know about. If you encounter a item in the wild and you know for certain that it goes for much more than the seller is asking, ask for lower. This is called the dumb play. You act like you don't know the value so the seller has no idea of what you know. So for example, back to the Final Fantasy 7 incident. I knew the value of the game was around $70 but he was asking $5. So Obviously, he didn't know the real value either. So to take the advantage i acted like him and asked if i could take it for $3. And i took it!

6.If You're A Kid And You Are Doing These Things It's Even Better.

Now this rule does not apply to everybody, this only applies to kids (obviously), Tweens and Teens. This applies only to them because if this age criteria goes to a flea market and starts using these pointers, the seller who would most likely be an adult would either think they're being cute, they think that the kid has no idea what he or she is doing or the seller probably thinks that they're buying just to use it for it's main use and nothing else, unlike reselling or flipping it for instance.

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How to Find the Bestselling Products

Selling at flea markets can be a rewarding business because of the amount of money that you can make. It is also more exciting than selling at a regular store. The atmosphere of old and vintage products and the thrill
of hunting for rare finds emanating from the crowd are things that you will not get in an ordinary shop. One way that you can sell at flea markets is by selling flea market wholesale items. However, you have to know the best selling products among flea market customers. Here are some tips on how to find great wholesale products to sell at flea markets.

Go to several flea markets and ask wholesale flea market vendors about which bulk products are the most saleable to customers. There is a good change they will not tell you. After all, they do not want the competition. Asking in a roundabout way will probably give you more information, as will watching the tables of several who seem to be selling in greater quantities. If a vendor is selling the types of products you are interested in, keep an eye on shopper volume and price ranges that seem to make the sale.

Also ask buyers of flea market wholesale items to know which wholesale products they look for the most and why. Again, watching the flow of customers through a popular flea market venue can help you with this. You should also know the reasons so that you will better understand the flow and processes of buying and selling at flea markets.

Choose impulse buys that will wow your customers. For example, nobody will miss the chance to buy or take at look at real gold being sold for a dollar. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the flea market buyers. But you should not tell lies about your products. If you said you are selling real gold for one dollar, then you should really sell gold for one dollar. Impulse buy items are usually a lot less exciting than that. Using loss leaders to attract customers works well, but you shouldn't damage your bottom line.

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How to Survive Hot Weather at the Flea Market

The best time of year for a busy flea market sale is Summer, but this season of outdoor recreation carries some trouble for vendors who must stand in the sun all day long. If you want to sell without succumbing to heat exhaustion or roasting red like a lobster, follow these hot weather tips for an outdoor flea market day

Things You'll Need:
Water
Umbrella
Hat
Cooler
Electric fan

Step1
Hot weather and sun may invite men to pull of their shirts and women to strip down to a brief bikini. While this may help attract customers, depening on your physique, and keep you cooler than t-shirts, it can also spell disaster in the sun. Avoiding sunburn is important if you want to keep cool and comfortable at an outdoor flea market. Wear a loose-fitting white or pale color shirt and a hat to deal with the heat. Lightweight shorts are a good idea as well.

Step 2
Slather sunscreen with a high enough SPF onto all exposed skin before you head to the outdoor flea market for a day of selling. Be sure to get your head if you are a balding man, the back of your neck, and your legs and feet if they are not protected by socks or shoes. Do not gamble on getting an outdoor flea market position facing awary from the direct sun.

Step 3
Cool water is a must when selling all day at an outdoor flea market during the hot summer months. Many vendors bring small coolers or large thermoses stocked with water and ice. Keeping hydrated properly can reduce the risk of heat stroke and general discomfort. Keep extra water on hand to cool off with. Pouring some water on a bandana and putting it under your hat is a great way to release heat more quickly.

Step 4
Umbrellas to block the sun's rays are a great help in the hot summer months. Be sure the outdoor flea market allows their use before putting one up. Also be sure to secure it well so it does not blow over onto your or another vendor's merchandise. Handheld umbrellas in light colors also work.

Step 5
Fans are another great aid to keep cool at the flea market. Battery operated mini-fans can provide a cool breeze perfect for your face. Some include spray bottles that blow a fine mist over you. Paper, fabric, or other handheld fans can be effective at providing a slight breeze to increase comfort.

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How to Sell Jewelry at Flea Markets

Do you have jewelry that’s just been sitting around the house, and you want to sell it fast? You may have some luck by heading to your local flea market. Selling jewelry at flea markets only requires you to do a little research before setting up and using price tags on all your merchandise.

Things You'll Need:
Tables
Table coverings
Price tags
Jewelry
Mirror

Step1
Do your research by visiting a few flea markets in your area. You need to see which flea market offers the type of merchandise you want to sell and which ones have the most customers. This is also the time to see how other vendors set up their booths and make a list of what you’ll need. Pay attention to flea markets where there are less people selling jewelry and avoid those that seem saturated or full of jewelry dealers.

Step 2
Talk with other vendors about your wares. You should pay special attention to any sellers offering jewelry, especially if they sell the same type you have. You can ask them how their sales have been and what they think about the flea market. You may even find a vendor willing to buy your stock from you. Also, pay attention to the prices they have on their jewelry. If they have similar pieces at smaller prices than you plan on asking, you may have a problem selling when you set up.

Step 3
Arrive at the flea market early in the day to set up your jewelry. You’ll need tables, coverings for the tables, price tags and the jewelry. You can arrange it by style or group the different types of jewelry together, like all rings together, all necklaces together and so on. You’ll also need to pay a certain amount of money to rent space at the flea market, and most mark the spaces so you know how much space you have. They may also give you a booth number that’s also market on the spot.

Step 4
Set up a mirror or several mirrors on your table. This way people can actually try on the jewelry for themselves. There are some buyers who are hesitant to buy a piece because they don’t think its quite their style. This can even help you make more sales. Alternatively, you may also find it helpful to invest in some mannequins to display the jewelry so buyers see what it looks like on a person.

Step 5
Set your prices, and carefully mark them on each piece using a price tag. You should know the general amount you want for your jewelry, but be willing to haggle a little with customers. There are some buyers who won’t buy anything if they have to ask the seller for a price first. Look for price tags that have a small thread attached because sticker tags may be difficult to remove from the jewelry. Speak directly with each customer that comes into your booth, even if it’s only to say hello and ask if they need help. Customers are drawn to friendly sellers that can keep up a conversation with them. The more you treat them with respect and talk to them, the more sales you’ll make.

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How to Choose What to Wear to the Flea Market

When people talk of flea market style, they often mean transforming flea market finds into stylish home decor pieces. When a flea market vendor talks of flea market style, they are deciding what to wear to spend the day hawking wares from a folding table in the middle of a dusty field.

Step1
Watch the weather report before deciding what to wear to sell at the flea market. Obviously, the temperature will dictate much of what you will wear. However, remember that flea markets start very early in the morning when it is usually cooler. Bring a sweater or light jacket to the flea market to protect against morning chills.

Step 2
Choose a comfortable pair of pants or shorts to wear to the flea market. If you choose shorts, remember to put on sun screen. Flea markets require a lot of sitting around in the sun to make a profit. These pants or shorts must be ones that you do not mind getting dirty. Flea markets are not the cleanest places to work.

Step 3
Select a top with the same things in mind: comfort, ability to get dirty, and protection from the sun. If you have a flea market business, a t-shirt printed with your business name and logo is an excellent idea. As mentioned above, bring an extra layer to throw over in case of chilly weather or a light shower.

Step 4
The shoes you choose for selling at the flea market need to be comfortable and sturdy. You will spend almost the entire day standing up in the dirt as you deal with customers and make sales. Wearing shoes that protect from dropped boxes is also a good idea.

Step 5
Bring a hat. More than anything else, a hat will help keep the sun from burning your skin and tiring out your eyes. On a sunny flea market day, a hat is necessary.

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How to Find the Bestselling Flea Market Products

Selling at flea markets can be a rewarding business because of the amount of money that you can make. It is also more exciting than selling at a regular store. The atmosphere of old and vintage products and the thrill of hunting for rare finds emanating from the crowd are things that you will not get in an ordinary shop. One way that you can sell at flea markets is by selling flea market wholesale items.

Things You'll Need:
Internet
Phone Book
Reseller's License

Step1
Go to several flea markets and ask wholesale flea market vendors about which bulk products are the most saleable to customers. There is a good change they will not tell you. After all, they do not want the competition. Asking in a roundabout way will probably give you more information, as will watching the tables of several who seem to be selling in greater quantities. If a vendor is selling the types of products you are interested in, keep an eye on shopper volume and price ranges that seem to make the sale.

Step 2
Ask buyers of flea market wholesale items to know which wholesale products they look for the most and why. Again, watching the flow of customers through a popular flea market venue can help you with this. You should also know the reasons so that you will better understand the flow and processes of buying and selling at flea markets.

Step 3
Choose impulse buys that will wow your customers. For example, nobody will miss the chance to buy or take at look at real gold being sold for a dollar. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the flea market buyers. But you should not tell lies about your products. If you said you are selling real gold for one dollar, then you should really sell gold for one dollar. Impulse buy items are usually a lot less exciting than that. Using loss leaders to attract customers works well, but you shouldn't damage your bottom line.

Step 4
Look for wholesale companies that offer great deals for their products. You have to know first the kind of product that you want to sell in bulk to make your search easier and faster. The bestselling flea market products are often the ones you can get at the cheapest prices. Once you have chosen your product, you can now start looking for companies that offer flea market wholesale items.

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How to Start a Small Flea Market Business

Starting a small flea market business can be tedious and challenging. There are many pertinent steps that must take place before the store can open for business. An owner of a successful flea market booth will conduct market research, develop an idea for the most marketable product or service in an open market environment and strategize on advertising opportunities, all before opening

Things You'll Need:
Business plan
Marketable products or services
Cash register (optional)
Credit card equipment (optional)
Showcase equipment: mannequins, industrial hangers, clothes racks and floor or wall glass showcase
Gate and lock (if needed)
Notebook for record keeping
Promotional grand-opening fliers

Step1
Get the proper licenses for your business. You can check with your Secretary of State's Office, which often has a branch located in a municipal building, such as a city hall or county courthouse. Also, check to see if there is a Small Business Administration (SBA) locally, where you can take free business related classes and learn more on where to register your business.

Step 2
Prepare a business budget plan to set spending limits. When considering your budget, be sure to include possible expenses and any available resources for the business. For instance, an expense would be the cost of the goods or preparation of services, equipment and rental space. An available resource should help support the distribution of those goods or services. It could be a local business or store owner that can provide used equipment in exchange for a percentage of the store's profits and the promotion of the sponsoring business.

Step 3
Shop for rental space. Local flea markets usually operate daily and provide utilities and affordable pre-sectioned space, in varies sizes, in a market style fashion. The rental amounts will vary according to the size of the booth. While shopping for a booth, observe potential competitors within the flea market as well as the potential flow of foot traffic in the marketplace. Ask the management about how a flea market tenants can participate in promoting his business inside the flea market. See if the management office offers help with advertising for the collective businesses there.

Step 4

Typical Gate for Flea Market Booths
Consider is the types of consumers the business will serve. Survey the typical flea market customer. After picking your perfect location, go to the stores with the best sales performance and talk with some of their customers. This will help you discover the most marketable products or services and determine the optimal strategy for promoting your business to a similar market.

Step 5
Choose the goods or services you may want to provide. You may want to invest in a computer with Internet service, a small cash register, credit card machine and showcases for your goods to properly maintain inventory. You may also be required to secure your own property after the flea market's hours of operation. You will need to build or install a gate or door with lock and key entry. Another approach is providing consumer services typically offered in flea markets, such as a photography studio or tattoo shop. These businesses have no marketable inventory to secure or maintain. Though you will still have to secure your equipment, it isn't necessary to have a computer, cash register or credit card machine to process sales. Service businesses usually offer flat fees for the services offered to their customers, thus, patrons are prepared to pay their balances, upon the completion of the service, with cash or check. If you don't choose to use a cash register, buy a locked portable cash box. For record keeping you can keep a simple notebook to record customers names and keep track of sales on all service transactions.

Step 6

Floor Glass Showcase
Prepare for opening day by designing some grand opening fliers to distribute both locally and within the flea market. Highlight sales and discounts for your new customers, and throw in a small gift to entice them to return.

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How to Barter at Flea Markets

Flea markets are an excellent source for art, clothing, furniture, jewelry, and a variety of one-of-a-kind wares. These nomadic shopping centers offer local small business owners and artisans the opportunity to sell and display their goods. The trade-off is the competition which literally surrounds them --an ideal situation for the savvy consumer who realizes the power she holds as a coveted buyer. Here you will find techniques for successful bartering at flea markets.

Step1
Do not flaunt wealth when shopping at a flea market. You don't want to look as if you have a lot of extra money to spend, even if you do. This includes clothing, accessories, jewelry, and cameras.

Step 2
Ask flea market vendors substantial questions about their goods. You want vendors to think of you as a serious shopper, and not simply someone drifting through the market with no intention of purchasing anything.

Step 3
Visit a variety of shops, even if you find exactly what you want early on in your search. It's a win-win situation: either you will find an item you like better than the first one, or you build positive anticipation of a sale in the original vendor's mind upon your return.

Step 4
Inquire about the price of the object you wish to buy with a neutral response, such as a nod or a slightly raised brow. If the price is well below what you'd be willing to pay, give a counter offer slightly below the first one. The vendor may scoff, but they will most likely accept a compromise which in reality is still much less than you were initially willing to spend.

Step 5
If the quoted price of an item is well above what you would pay, give a very low counter offer. In this instance the vendor will almost definitely scoff or staunchly refuse, in which case you should politely thank them for their time and walk away. This tactic will not work every time, but if a market vendor is desperate for a sale they'll cut their loss by offering you some sort of discount.

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How to Recycle Flea Market Furniture for Big Profits

One of the top sellers at flea markets that cater toward garages sale type vendors is furniture. Small furniture is easy to transport in a van, easy to find in good condition, and profitable. Some flea market vendor's merchandise is comprised completely of furniture found curbside before trash pick up day.

Things You'll Need:
Old furniture
Paint/Finish stripping chemicals
Sandpaper
Paint and stain
Paintbrushes and rags
Well-ventilated work space

Step1
Find old, used furniture to recycle for profit. This can be found at garage sales, thrift stores, or on the curb on garbage days. Check your local laws about picking garbage and, if you do it, be respectful and neat. Grabbing a chair or small table does not mean you toss garbage about.

Step2
Clean the furniture thoroughly. Use cleaning products that will not harm the wood or whatever material the furniture is made from. If you are not planning to refinish the piece, spot test a small area with the cleaning fluid before using it.

Step3
Strip all old stain and paint off the furniture if it is in bad condition. Sand any rough patches, use wood filler to repair dings and holes. Scrub any hardware and clean it thoroughly as well.

Step4
Repaint or re-stain the piece of furniture you with to sell at the flea market. Repair upholstery on chairs with attractive, trendy fabric, preferably in a neutral shade. Reattach hardware that is totally clean and prepared.

Step5
Truck all the recycled furniture to the flea market and display it for sale. Intersperse the furniture with small accent pieces such as pillows, vases, or other objects that will attract interest.

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How to Manage a Flea Market Space

Many part-time vendors use flea markets to earn full-time incomes. Shoppers visit flea markets to look at a variety of items in one space and enjoy the hunt for a bargain. Here's how you can make some extra money by managing your own flea market space

Step1
Reserve your space. Most flea market's reservation system allows you to select your location from an area map. First find out which flea market spaces get the most foot traffic. Generally good spaces are near the entrance, the exit, the food vendors and the bathrooms. If your flea market doesn't allow reservations, arrive early to claim a good space.

Step2
Be in the same space on a regular basis if possible. This helps you manage your space better and allows you to build a repeat customer base. It also allows you to know the exact dimensions of the space you're in and how to best set it up for business.

Step3
Find out the flea market rules and regulations. You're responsible for collecting and submitting sales tax. Some flea markets allow you to turn this in under their license. You must know when you can set up, the hours of operation and rules for property left after the flea market has ended. If you plan to sell food or drinks, you must know if a special permit is needed.

Step4
Get permits and licenses, including your vendor permit or ticket for entrance into the flea market. You are responsible for obtaining all permits and licenses as required by law to operate a business. Check into seasonal permits for flea markets that are open only in the summer.

Step5
Consider the weather. Typically, you don't receive a refund for weather conditions. Check your local forecast and determine what type of clothing to wear and if you should take a tent or cover. You must know the regulations for the size space you are managing.

Step6
Manage your time. Arrive early enough at your space to set it up. You should find out if you are required to stay for the full duration of the flea market, or if you can leave early. Vehicles are typically allowed in only at specific times. Bring food with you or have someone who can watch your space while you take a break.

Step7
Plan what you need because you generally won't be able to leave your space to go get items that you forgot. Bring the items necessary for doing business such as tables, a cash box and change. If you need electricity, you must make sure you get a space that has outlets.

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