With budgets tightening, consumers are turning to a new shopping venue: flea markets and swap meets.
The National Flea Market Association told the Los Angeles Times that attendance at flea markets and swap meets were up 10 percent to 15 percent compared to a year ago. Interest from vendors has increased so much that many flea markets are actually "sold out."
According to the article, several factors are causing the increased interest in flea markets and swap meets. Lower prices are one, of course, but people also are using flea markets as entertainment — for the price of entry, people can wander around all day.
Should you consider selling your wares at a flea market or swap meet? Some vendors cited in the article complain that customers are window-shopping but not buying. But my take is that in this economy, any new avenue is at least worth investigating.
My suggestion: Research the events in your area and scope out what type of people attend and what types of merchandise are most popular. Are collectibles, furnishings, hand-crafted items, or one-of-a-kind products hot? Swap meets can be a great place for food vendors to sell their wares — particularly if there’s some unique or "homemade" feel to the goods.
Talk to other vendors at the event and ask what kinds of sales they're seeing.
Setting up a booth at a flea market does require an investment of time and money, but it can be a good way of exposing your products to a new audience to drive to your website or retail store.
Be sure you use plenty of cross-marketing to drive this traffic; for instance, your booth should prominently feature your website URL, and you should have business cards with your URL and store's physical address readily available. If someone makes a purchase, make sure they get your card so they can send future business your way.
My first entrepreneurial venture (aside from babysitting) was selling denim vests at a flea market on Long Island. My brother and I made more than $1,500 in about a month. Not bad for a couple of teenagers in the 1970s.
What about you? Have you tried selling at swap meets or flea markets? How did it work out? I'd love to hear.
Rieva Lesonsky