Make The Most of It

WOOO HOOOO.......

We made it through the first half of the year, so we are just happy to be here.

As a vendor, we do not always plan ahead. We sometimes do not take the weekend or mid-week day at the flea market that seriously. We sometimes forget that this is a business. We often forget to pay attention to the details of running our operations, regardless of how small (or big) they are.

A couple of months ago I advised flea market vendors to take it seriously.

Today, I want to reiterate by saying: "Make the Most of It".

Treat the flea market as the corporate headquarters for your Fortune 500 hundred company. Treat it as though you were running a multi-national corporation. You are the Chief Executive Offer, and the janitor. Treat the market as is your front-line, your board room, your weekly sales meeting, and your customer service center all in one.

Make the most of it. I've often said that some of the most brilliant business minds can be found in flea markets, just study Tommy Hilfiger, so why not be one of them?

With the low costs and low risks associated with being a flea market vendor, you should be able to afford to try new concepts, projects, or items. You can afford to make a mistake here, so make the most of it. Where else can you get instant feedback from the customer?

So again, as you approach the first weekend of the second half of the year as a vendor, make the most of it. Network with other vendors, see what items are selling, look at how other CEOs manage their enterprises and learn how you can increase your bottom line.

Take the market seriously and make the most of it.

Happy and prosperous vending.

-FMN

Festival By The Sea PostPones Grand Opening

I don't know about you, but I've been looking forward to vending or attending Festival By The Sea for months now, so I'm a little peeved that they postponed today's grand opening.


The new grand opening date is next Friday, May 22nd. Unfortunately that is Memorial Day weekend and my plans will have me in Georgia. So, if you happen to make it out there, please drop me a line about what you see: flmktnws@gmail.com.

As a vendor, I originally bought extra stock for May 1st, which was supposed to be the original opening date. However, I kindly alerted by someone from Thor that the date was pushed back to today May 15th. Unfortunately, I just tried to call their office, only to get a recording, stating that due to the weather the grand opening was postponed.

Right now I'm in midtown Manhattan and it balmy outside. I was just out there. I know the forecast was calling for rain earlier in the week, but by Wednesday that changed.

With all the bells and whistles they've been promoting, I find it strange that inclimate weather would force the closer of a flea market. So what's going to happen in the fall, even worst, this winter? With one name change , and two opening day changes, they are not off to a good start.

As as shopper, it's tough to reorganize one's plans at the last minute.

I only hope that the organizers of Festival By The Sea get it right soon. I don't know anyone over at Thor Equities, but maybe, just maybe, they might want to include a few vendors on their planning staff. Maybe they don't mind burning through that $500K advertising budget? However, I do mind wasting time and money.

With only two weekends left in May, I would suggest that the operators of Flea By The Sea consider offering the reduced rental rates for vendors that were scheduled only for May, for June as well.

-FMN

4 Tips for Being a Succesful Vendor

Howdy!

Outside of selling on the weekends, I spend quite a bit of time speaking with other vendors. Most of the time it's water-cooler talk and the usual, "How was business today?" However, I also spend time discussing ways to increase our respective businesses.

In these times, and all the time for that matter, making minor tweaks or adjustments to the way you do business can do wonders for your bottom line.

Take a look at the 4 tips below and see how you can apply them to your business.

TIPS:

#1) TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
Whether you are a full time flea market vendor, street vendor, or sell products on your job, the most important thing is that you take it seriously. Granted, it might be a hobby or a reason to get out of the house, but just think how much further you could take it if you took it seriously. Ask yourself this simple question: Am I doing the best I can at this? Anything less than a yes leaves plenty of room for improvement, so take it seriously. This is your operation, your are the C.E.O., treat it as such.

#2) SET SALES GOALS
Be it the weather, your weight, the speed limit, or the DOW, most things are measured on a constant basis. As a vendor, the best way to gauge how your business is doing is by setting goals and taking them seriously enough to achieve them. This does not necessarily have to be financial, but that is honestly the best way to determine if being a vendor is worth your time. My personal rule of thumb, is that I must make at least $100 on market days. For some it might be $50, for others it's a $1000. Set your own goals, then take the necessary steps to achieve them.

#3) MAXIMIZE THE USE OF YOUR SELLING SPACE
Most markets give vendors either 8x10 feet or 10x10 feet of selling space, with some offering space for parking. However it is up to you to make the best use of that space. I use a set of 3-level metal step racks with closet shelving (similar in shape to the one below) to create more display space.



I also find that in open spaces, using two 8x4 tables vertically, like an h, gives customers room to walk into your make-shift booth and allows your twice the selling spice.

#4) PLAY NICE
This might seem a little elementary, but some vendors are just plain ole rude. No one comes to the market to be disrespected, so play nice. Be courteous to not only your customers, but to other vendors and the market's staff as well. People are more likely to share information with someone who is approachable, so stop screwing up your face. This past weekend I had a guy tell me the wholesale cost on a bushel of corn - something simple - but information I did not have first hand knowledge of. This bit of information will go along way as I plan the next item to sell at flea markets.



Happy vending!

-FMN

Flea By The Sea Changes Name

I just got word that the organizers of Flea By The Sea have changed the name to Festival By The Sea and will be launching their new website soon.

According to David Nachtweih, who is handling some of the public relations duties for the project, the name change is meant to highlight the various activities that will be associated into the project.

Although the flea market will still be the focus point of Festival By The Sea, the organizers did not want it to overshadow the carnival-like they are shooting for.

In addition to the name change, Festival By The Sea is slated to have extended operating days including the addition of Thursday and Monday to the flea market days. The original plan was to be open on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, but apparently organizers feel that they can accommodate two additional selling days. What I do find as a good selling point to vendors is that Monday and Thursday will carry a more reasonable daily rental rate.

With exactly 3 weeks to go before opening day at Festival By The Sea, I hope the organizers have a spectacular marketing plan to go along with that $500K advertising budget.

Hopefully the new website Festival By The Sea, which is supposed to reveal the layout and enable vendors to reserve a booth online, will go live sooner than later.

We'll wait and see.

-FMN

Friday Flea Markets

Hopefully you are having a Good Friday?

If you are in the Pennslyvania or New Jersey area and looking for a flea market
to attend on this or any other Friday, you might want to check out Green Dragon or Collingswood.

Both of them will be added to our next round of flea market openings and on-going markets, along with details about the Valley Stream market that was recently brought to my attention.

Friday markets are not that uncommon, but I only know a hand-full of vendors that sell on Fridays. Most of the vendors I know use Friday as a last-minute shopping day to get ready for the weekend. The only Fridays I've worked were at Englishtown Auction Sales on Black Friday, but the past couple of years haven't been worth the effort.

However Green Dragon and Collingswood both have a steady stream of vendors and shoppers who use Friday to get themselves organized and to do their own shopping.

Green Dragon is located in Bucks County PA., so it is a long haul from the Tri-State area however Josh (an incense and oil vendor) makes the trek from Brooklyn every so often. A full review of Green Dragon will be provided in the next couple of months.

Collingswood however is attended weekly by a good friend of mine, Ms. James, a vendor who basically sells anything she has lying around. Perhaps she is drawn to Collingswood by the low ($2-$5) table rents. Located in Central New Jersey, Collingswood offers a little of everything for those who don't mind roughing it.

Happy vending and shopping.

-FMN

Live From the Market #2 (Pendergrass)

Every market is different.

It's a simple statement, but it is remarkably true.

I am sitting in the food court of the Pendergrass Flea Market in the city of Pendergrass in the County of Jackson, Georgia and it is packed. I am tucked into a corner, which is anything but quiet. Getting to an open table took some good navigating skills, there are people everywhere.

I got here 3 hours ago with the intention to see a few vendors I know and get there take on the state of business, but at 3pm, I'm just now getting a chance to sit down.

I should have known it was going to be like this because when I pulled off of exit 137 on I-85, there was a line of cars waiting to get into the market and the parking lot was full. I only saw one coach bus, but was not able to find out where they came from. However, that one bus is just a drop in the bucket of the number of people here today. If I had to guess, I'd say there are at least 18,000 people here today.
Last time I actually sold here was February 2008 and did well, but there was nowhere as near this many people here.

Yesterday I was in Englishtown Flea Market in New Jersey and I doubt there were 5,000 people all day. In Englishtown I could have walk through the entire market in 15 minutes, here, I haven't even began to walk and I'm tired.

I don't know if all the vendors here are doing good business, but anyone selling food is doing great. From Mama King's Pizza to The Chicken Ranch to Jugos Naturales and all the Nacho vendors, and the lady selling cotton candy, and the boiled peanuts guy, they seem to be doing well.

I spoke with David, who sells Hip-Hop inspired t-shirts and designer jeans, and he confirms that today is especially busy. However, not for the items he carries. His business has been on the decline since last year, so he's considering changing what he carries. He's leaning towards food. Despite what the economy is doing, people eat, and here in particular, people are eating foods that are native to them.

The Mexican family sitting beside me is having Jarritos (soda - Guayabana), nachos, and some sort of puffy chips. The father (Luis), is having a sandwich of pulled pork, beef, ham, & wieners, on a bun with lettuce tomatoes, sauce, and jalapeños. That's a little too much meat for my pallet, but to each is own. Maybe I'll try the Chicarrones con cueritos......maybe not, Luis just told me what it was. Fried pigskin dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and queso (cheese). Yeah, I'll pass.

According to David, most of the people here on the weekends are Mexicans who work at farms, factories, and chicken processing plants in the area. Saturday and/or Sunday is the one day they get off, so coming to Pendergrass is a way to spend time with the family and get some authentic food from back home.

Sergio, from outside Mexico City, and his wife Sandra are here for the first time as spice vendors. Sergio has sold other products before, but has ventured into the chili business. If you are looking for dried Mexican Ancho chilies, Guajillo chilies, fragrant Chipotles, Pasillas, or hot red chilis, he has them in stock. Check them out at booth #18 on Ave 7 West.

Yared, of Ethiopia, said that today would be his last day at Pendergrass because the items he carries, jeans and designer t-shirts are not selling well here. He has tried other markets in Georgia, but does better near downtown Atlanta where more African Americans and Caribbean buyers are available.

Flea markets are funny places. On the left you could have a vendor with lines in front of his booth, on the right you could have a vendor who packs up early because there are no takers for what he's selling.

Every market is different.

Each has its own character, its own feels, and its own main attraction. Here at Pendergrass it's definitely the food..........and the live entertainment, never mind that I don't understand the tongue in which it is being sung.

Come out for yourself and see what's going on at Pendergrass Flea Market, "Georgia's Largest."

For vendors, booth rental is expensive, but for shoppers, it's paradise.

-FMN

Updated Flea Market Openings 2009

Below you will find a list of scheduled flea market openings this Spring. Please check back often and feel free to send us any information on flea markets in your area. Our email here is: flmktnws@gmail.com.

March/April/May 2009 Flea Market Openings:

Yonkers Murray Rink Flea Market
March 22
www.yonkers.gov

Brownstoner's Brooklyn Flea
Saturday, April 18
Currently indoors at 76 and 81 Front St. in Dumbo Brooklyn.
www.brownstoner.com

Stormville Airport Flea Market
Sunday, April 26
Monthly dates available on website:
www.stormvilleairportfleamarket.com

Festival By The Sea (formerly Flea By The Sea)
Friday, May 1
Website goes live this month. Please see previous post for details.
www.festivalbythesea.com

Richmond County Flea Market
Saturday, May 2
www.richmondcountyfleamarket.com

On-Going Markets:

Boulevard Flea Market
*Open every Saturday and Sunday
www.fleact.com

Columbus Farmers Market
*Open every Thursday, Saturday, & Sunday
www.columbusfarmersmarket.com/flea_market.com

Cowtown Flea Market
*Open every Tuesday and Saturday
No website

Englishtown Auction Sales
*Open every Saturday and Sunday
www.englishtownauction.com

Meadowlands Flea Market
*Open every Saturday, but we feel it's worth mentioning.
www.meadowlandsfleamarket.com

Rice's Sale & Country Market
*Open every Tuesday & Saturday
www.ricesmarket.com

Vendors at Columbus Martket Escape Rain

Hello All,

Sorry for the late report, but my trusted vendor friends just called with updates from Columbus Flea Market in New Jersey.

As outdoor vendors, we are completely dependent on favorable weather conditions to have a good day, so we celebrate when the skies give us enough time to make some money.

According to Mark (the spice guru) there was an overcast in Columbus all day, but the rain didn't fall until long after the crowds and vendors had gone home. As always he had a decent day, considering the economy, but he did note that there seemed to be a lot of people in the market today. Maybe people are starting to spend their tax returns, or doing research on what they will buy.

Jimmy (the plant guy) mentioned that business has been getting better over the past couple of weekends and on Thursdays at Columbus. He too kept a watchful eye on the elements today and was glad to get out of there with some money in his pockets.

Columbus Farmer's Market is one of the few markets open on Thursdays so if you're a shopper and die-hard flea marketer in southern Jersey you might want to stop by. If you are a vendor looking for a busy mid-week market, Columbus is one of your best bets.

As you know, this blog is dedicated to bringing you the most up-to-date and up-to-the-minute Flea Market News, for vendors and shoppers, so we gladly welcome your input. Please drop us a line at: flmktnws@gmail.com.

While your at it, please help us keep the lights on.

With Spring just one day away and good weather on the map for this weekend, it should be a good one for vendors and shoppers alike. Please let us know what you see.

Lastly please check in soon as we will be updating our Spring Flea Market Opening list which will include the Richmond County Flea Market on Staten Island Richmond County Flea Market and tell you what's going on with Flea By The Sea.

With Spring just one day away and good weather on the map for this weekend, it should be a good one for vendors and shoppers alike.

Live From the Market #1

Where are the customers?

That seems to be the question vendors are asking each other here at Englishtown Auction this Sunday morning. It's 10:30am already, where are they? It's not a new question, but yesterday was great, so where are they today?

Despite many empty spaces, most of the regular vendors are here. There are some people walking around, but not much buying going on. I haven't done a sale in the last 20 minutes.

Maybe everyone went out last night and decided to sleep in to catch that hour they lost spring forward to eastern standard time? Maybe they are in church and will show up later? Maybe the overcast weather has them scared to come out? It's not supposed to rain until after 3pm. It is supposed to be 62 degrees later, maybe they'll come out then? Maybe the economy is worst than we think, now that February's unemployment data has been released?

Whatever the case, we need customers.

Of all the problems with being a flea market vendor, the unpredictability of the market is the worst. Never mind braving the elements,paying rent, our nosey neighbors.

Gotta run........there's a customer at my booth.....WOO HOOO!!!!

-FMN

Rice's Saturday Market to Re-Open March 7

Rice's Flea Market is set to re-open their Saturday market on March 7th.

Located in New Hope, Pa., Rice's is almost 2 hours from New York, but it is known amongst vendors as a generally good market. Rice's is primarily an outdoor market which
operates every Tuesday all year round, but also hosts a Saturday market running from early spring to early winter.

For vendors, Rice's is ideal - particularly on Tuesday - because most of the shoppers in the area are a little more affluent than at many other markets. According to county statistics, the average median income in New Hope is in the mid $80K. However, a glance at th parking lot at Rice's will give you a better indication of the shoppers inside.

Rice's is not a market I visit often, but if you are a vendor living in South Jersey,
and are available on Tuesday and/or Saturday, it might be worth your while. Rental spaces range from $20 - $30 per day.

Rice's is a good alternative for vendors who are looking to expand or unload extra merchandise and for those who are tired of Cowtown, Englishtown, Collingswood, and Columbus.

For shoppers, Rice's offers just about everything under the sun.....at discount.

Check out their website: www.ricesmarket.com for more details.

So if you don't have plans and are in Bucks County next Saturday or any Saturday there-after, your might want to check out Rice's Flea Market.

Budget for Advertising

Whether you are in the Flea Market just to make a couple of bucks for the weekend or if it is your primary means of earning an income, you might want to consider allotting some time and money to advertising.


I walk around the market every weekend, but I rarely see any vendors taking advantage of all the eyes and foot traffic that might come across their booth. How is someone going to know what you are selling if you don't put up a sign?

Advertising does not have to be some Super-Bowl type of production. It can be as simple as a piece of cardboard with your price on it. I can also be just a vinyl banner with the name of your company or what you are selling. Flea Market advertising does not have to be complicated, just honest. As a vendor, you have to bare in mind that shoppers are in the market looking for something. It is your job to make sure they know you are there. So as you go about planning how to maintain your ground in this sliding economy, please remember to budget for advertising.

Approach advertising as part of the costs of doing business. Sure it is not on the scale of what you see in the magazines or on television, but letting you potential customers know you exist is just as important. You do not need to employ some 5th avenue calculation in to figuring out how much to spend on advertising. Just figure out what you can honestly afford.

Here are five cost effective ways to advertise in the flea market.

1) Print business cards (about $30 for 1000) and hand them to potential customers.
- Be sure to include the name of your business, what you sell, location in the market, and contact information

2) Make a sign that is visible from at least 8 feet so potential customers know what you have without having to come all the way to your booth or table.
- A sheet of oak tag and some permanent makers should do the trick. Get it laminated or encase the edges in clear tape so it
lasts longer.

3) If the market offers some kind of public announcement system, try to get into the rotation of ads, by offering a weekly special.

4) Make a simple flyer listing what you sell, your location in the market, and contact information that you can hand out to potential customers and past customers alike.

5) Use any or all of the free online advertising sites to let potential customers know what you sell and what market to find you.
- Try www.craigslist.com or www.kijiji.com

Again, advertising doesn't have to be overly complex, just budget it into your other expense and use the most cost effective choice for your particular item.

Happy vending.

-FMN

Real Weekend Warriors

It's about 11:40am on Saturday morning and I can easily think of a dozen places I'd rather be, but instead I'm here at Englishtown Auction sales grinding it out.

Never mind the fact that it is 28 degrees out side, even though the sun is shining bright. Never mind that my alarm clock went off at 5:45am. Never mind that my wife is home sleeping. Never mind the hour plus drive it took to get here or the week-long preparation that goes into get ready. It's just part of the weekend warrior business.

Being a flea market vendor is often an exercise in futility. But, you never know what the weekend is going to bring. So you gather your wares during the week, show up, and hope for the best. Some us go home further in the hole and others of go home with more that what we earned all week. It is a complete crap shoot.

My hat goes off to my fellow weekend warriors. Surely we could sit around the house and work on the "Honey-do" list or play touch football, but we'd rather brave the elements and make a buck in the process. Men and women alike, old and young, some employed and other retired, foreigners and U.S. citizens, all trying to earn a little extra.

Kudos to those that work 40 hours (or more) then still make it to the market on the weekend. I applaud those who run small business and stores during the week then come to the market to haggle with bargain-seekers, after we're in a flea market.
I hold up my glass to those vendors who come out with only enough gas to get them to the market, your determination is unrivaled.

Being a real weekend warrior takes a lot of guts. Vending in a flea market is not like having a kiosk in a mall or a store front. The entire process or running a stand in any market is not easy.

So whether you are in the Aqueduct Flea Market, Englishtown Auction Sales, the Boulevard Flea Market, Cow Town, Collingswood, Green Dragon, Smiley's, Bill's, or Pendergrass, keep going hard.

And when you don't feel like getting out of bed on Saturday or Sunday morning to go the market, remember that Tommy Hilfiger started out selling his jeans at Columbus Flea Market in New Jersey. Not many of us will ever see Hilfiger's wealth, but the odds are definitely in your favor if you focus on your weekend warrior status.

Fight on my fellow weekend warriors, fight on.

-FMN

Flea Markets Gaining Ground

In the retail hierarchy, flea markets have traditionally been on the bottom rung, but as the economic downturn continues to broaden, flea markets are starting to look more attractive to vendors and buyers alike.

In years past, the top of the retail food chain would generally be considered to be high-end boutiques, followed by specialty stores, then upscale malls, followed by midlevel malls and box stores. From there you have strip malls, supermarkets, corner stores, and eventually flea markets. The only thing lower down would be thrift stores, but they are in a class by themselves.

As the number or unemployed Americans nears the 5 million mark, flea market owners and vendors a poised to have a better year than most expect.

After 12 years as a vendor in flea markets in the northeast and southeast of the United States , I am of the opinion that the national economic downtown might be a boom to flea markets for three distinct reasons.

1) Shoppers can stretch their dollars further when buy at flea markets as opposed to shopping malls and grocery stores.

2) As home foreclosures soar, many one-time owners might turn to flea markets to sell their belongings as opposed to paying storage.

3) As store owners are forced to close their doors, flea markets offer an economical means to off-load inventory.

So whether your are shopper or vendor, your local flea market might be a great place to make a buck or save a buck.

-FMN

Flea By The Sea To Open May 1st

So I just got off the phone with John Hand of Thor Equities LLC, owners of Flea By The Sea, who was kind enough to share some information about this market with me. In turn, I am sharing with you.

First and foremost, Flea By The Sea will open it's tents to vendors and the public on Friday, May 1, 2009.

FBTS is a planned flea market located in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn off of Stillwell Avenue in what was once part of Astroland.

According to John, Flea By The Sea will feature 4 huge circus-style tents with 8x10 feet and 10x10 feet selling spaces inside. FBTS will be open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and will have live entertainment every weekend along with food vendors and other vendors selling just about everything under the sun.

Vendors who choose to participate in FBTS are encouraged to reserve their space from now by emailing: fleabythesea@gmail.com or calling 888-940-8881. Their website: www.fleabythesea.com will be up in a couple of weeks.



Thor Equities has allotted over $500K to advertise and push this market into the public psyche, so most of the tri-state area should be familiar with FBTS by the middle of the year.

With very few flea markets in the tri-state and the threat of the most famous ones - Aqueduct (in Queens) and the Meadowlands (in N.J.) - being shut down, FBTS is looking very attractive to vendors who are looking to expand or off-load product.

Stay tuned to this blog as we share more Flea Market News and updates about Flea By The Sea.

-FMN