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
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