Over the last several years the flea market and swap meets have become as American as apple pie. According to a recent issue of Swap Meet magazine, over 600 such functions are being held on a regular basis. Most of these are weekend affairs, but more and more are operating every day of the week.
The biggest flea market of them all is the monthly affair held on the grounds of the Pasadena Rose Bowl. Over 40,000 people attend this function, with over 2000 "dealers" selling their wares. Another giant of the circuit is the one held each week in San Jose - the famous San Jose Flea Market. It isn't unusual for 25,000-30,000 people to visit this great function each and every day, rain or shine. It is so popular and profitable for the "dealers" that nearly 50% of the spaces are rented on a permanent basis. At times, there is a one or two year waiting list to get a permanent space.
Practically any item imaginable can be - and is - sold at these affairs. Your author has visited several, and talked to hundreds of dealers. The overall average NET INCOME seems to be around $125 per day. Some of the so-called "smart" people are earning as much as $500 per day. Most of the people sell two days per week, while some travel and sell four and five days a week.
What to Sell
As mentioned before, almost anything can be sold at flea markets and swap meets; however, some lines seem to out pull most of the rest. I know one guy who has set up a regular route and collects used spark plugs from dozens of service stations and garages. He takes them home, soaks them in a cleaning solution and then applies a spark plug sand blasting machine. He then sorts them according to application and packages them according to the size of the engine. You will find him every weekend at the San Jose flea market, offering his products for $1.50 per set. He tells me that he is usually sold out by noon every day - which is all he wants to work anyhow. He averages about 100 sets - or $150 per day.
One of the most popular lines to sell is clothing: jeans, blouses, shirts, skirts, etc. - both new and used. Shop the Goodwill and Second Hand stores for your inventory. Also keep an eye on your local newspaper for closeouts.
Other popular items are jewelry, auto parts, tools and used books. As always, flea market shoppers are looking for a super deal on anything they buy. So be sure to price your merchandise below the retail price; the lower the price, the faster you'll sell - dealing in volume will make your NET PROFIT higher! $25,000 per year, working just three or four days per week, is not unusual in this business.
One guy, an electronics engineer who was without a job, started selling unusual novelty items at the flea market. Inside of just five weeks, once he discovered what was selling at his flea market, he was earning $500 per week - more than he earned at his old job.
Perhaps one of the most profitable items to sell at flea markets is used paperback books. It isn't unusual for a serious dealer to earn over $200 per day selling this line. People will buy books at all times of the year - nearly everyone reads something. One such dealer is Willie Nelson, who earns his full-time income selling books at the flea market. He spends two days each week locating used books, and two days per week selling them. On average Wilie sells over $300 worth of used books each week, and his cost is less than $50 for the merchandise, along with about $10 per week for the rental space.
The last time I visited a flea market I counted seven different dealers specializing in used books, and all of them were selling something. The largest dealer, with a giant selection, was pricing his books at 25% of the cover price - and they were selling like hotcakes. His cost for the books was about 5 cents each. So you can see that his profits were excellent.
To conclude this section, remember, nearly anything will sell at flea markets and swap meets if the discount is large enough, but some items will sell faster than others. The big sellers are clothing articles, auto parts, tools, jewelry, toys and used paperback books. Later in this presentation I'll give you some ideas that will be helpful in locating your merchandise at the right price.
How to Sell
If you are selling other than hand-crafted items, most people are looking for a real bargain. If an item sells for a dollar in a store, you must be prepared to sell it for less, no matter how new it looks.
If you have access to a public address system or a call horn, use it! You have the added versatility of telling people what you are selling even if they are too far away for you to see what you have for sale.
When you set up your table, step in front of it to see if it catches your eye. Don't forget bold signs, especially for the smaller items you have for sale. Remember, most of your crowd is just walking by, therefore, you must attract their attention in some way, make them stop and look. Display racks can be used for making your item look more expensive - and thus a better bargain.
You might be able to make use of a rack on top of your car. It can carry things to and from the flea market and hold signs to attract customers while you are there. Also, remember how you packed the car. If you're outdoors, and it rains, you'll want to repack your items in a hurry!
Prices have to be clear unless you intend to haggle. If you decide to haggle, quote a price higher than what you expect to sell for, and come down to the level of the price you have decided your article is worth. It is generally not a good idea to haggle over very low-priced items unless the customer wishes to purchase an exceptionally large quantity of the item. If you'd rather simply sell your items for a set price, make signs that are easy to read from far away. Be sure to bring a marker and extra paper in case you decide to raise or lower your prices at any time during the day.
Things to Bring
Another person. This is very important. You will not want to leave your table unattended while you go to the restroom or to look at something on someone else's table. You'll also be glad for the company if things get slow.
Plenty of change. You wouldn't want to lose a sale because you couldn't change a given dollar bill, would you?
Be sure to bring chairs or something else to sit on. It can be a very long day if you have to stand.
Check to see if tables are provided or if you are expected to supply your own. Make sure in either case that you have enough display space so that your items are not hidden.
It is also a good idea to bring a thermos or cooler with drinks and food to last you the day. Much of your flea-market profit can be spent at the concession stand if you don't!
Check to see how much of an admission fee there is and be sure to bring it. Also ask if there are any items that are forbidden for sale.
One last thing: Get there early! At some eight o'clock openings, for example, the lines start forming at five a.m. Have a good time!
Read more >>
