Antique and Flea Market Information » Flea Market

Hit the Flea Market Circuit and Make Money

Keith — Tue, 17 May 2011 22:43:11 +0000

By Daniel Schmidt

A flea market is an open air market where second hand or discounted items are sold or swapped. The word “flea market” comes from the French word “Marche aux Puces,” literally meaning market with fleas. The term was given to markets where the buyers and sellers were very active and jumped around like fleas in order to make money.

Everyone loves to make money and everyone loves a bargain. Making money at flea markets is a fun way to make a buck but it takes some thought and planning to be successful. Flea Markets are more than a one day yard sale. They are typically held weekly or monthly, year round or seasonally. Vendors sell an item or several items rather than whatever they pull out of their basement or garage. Vendors may be craft people selling homemade candles, table clothes, gloves and mittens, watches or whatever inventory they may create. Vendors may also buy inventory from a store gone out of business or a store that is clearing out the old to make way for the new. It is possible to buy such items relatively inexpensively and with a small mark up still sell below market rate but you can still make money. Other vendors study the market and determine what the hot item is and load up on that item. Sometimes buying in bulk is the way to make money.

To get started making money at Flea Markets, look in the newspaper for flea markets in your area. Your area will be limited by how far you want to travel. Check out the flea markets and determine the busiest. Walk through the flea markets and check out what is being sold. You may not want to show up to sell at a flea market and find multiple vendors with the same thing. To make money at a flea market requires creativity with your product and what you call them. If you were selling rain coats you may advertise them as Mother Nature Splash Guards. That will catch shopper’s attention. A customer may not want a rain coat but just has to have a Mother Nature Splash Guard. Caching, equals making money.

Be knowledgeable about your product or products. You have a better chance of making a sale and making money if you can enlighten a potential customer about your product, especially if your product is somewhat unique. Do some prep work and come up with questions you may be asked and have answers ready. Maybe even print up an FAQ sheet about your product customers can look at. Make sure you have your contact information on the sheet.

Set up your display as attractively as possible. If your table is eye catching because of neatness, you have a better chance of attracting customers. A customer that stops at your table is a potential buyer and when it comes to making money you want as many potential’s as possible. If you have a canopy over your table, decorate it with some brightly colored, eye catching ornaments of some type. Post a trivia question and let folks answer it.

About the Author: If you’re looking for more ways to make money, visit our website to learn more about online surveys for money , blogging, affiliate marketing and dozens of other ideas. Visit: http://www.101waystomakemoney.com/

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How to Handle Cash Safely at the Flea Market

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:56:52 +0000

By Melanie Marten

One problem with being a seller at an outdoor flea market is avoiding thieves. Not only will some untrustworthy folks attempt to steal objects from your table or booth, others will go straight for the hard cash you have directly. Learning how to take care of the money at an outdoor flea market will make your day both more profitable and less taxing.

Tips for Taking Customer’s Money Safely at the Flea Market

One vital thing for a flea market merchant to do is to take the customer’s money for the stuff they want to buy. While the majority will hand you the cash or change openly, some buyers rather to count their funds out flat onto the table. Persuade shoppers to deposit the funds directly into your hand. The easiest way to do this is by sticking your hand out as they reach into a pocket or purse to get the money out. Still, some shoppers will ignore your hand. Do not be insensitive to some people’s aversion to touching someone else.

However, an important thing is to be precisely in front of the consumer when the money is passed to you or placed on the table. Having a friend at the outdoor flea market can help take care of numerous interested people at the same time. Otherwise, you must insist shoppers wait their turn.

Tips for Making Change Safely

A lot of outdoor flea market shoppers do not have correct change. It is your charge as a business owner to speedily make and give change to people who buy something. The most secure way to do this is to have different denominations of money in a pocket or bag. Put the large bill away immediately before taking out the change for the shopper. A vendor’s apron or fanny pack can be beneficial for holding a supply of change on hand.

Tips to Store Cash Safely at the Flea Market

The safest way to save money is to keep it on your person. The aforementioned pocketed apron or fanny pack can be useful. However, if you do a considerable amount of business during the flea market day it may become too full or hard to control. Bills with large denominations that are not handy for making change can be hidden out of sight inside your vehicle, if it is parked close by, or exactly under the table in a locked box or bag. Be aware that some thieves at an outdoor flea market may try to creep under the table to steal currency.

Signs of Potential Thieves at the Flea Market

One unfortunate part of an outdoor flea market vendor’s job is watching out for thieves. Various of the warning signs that a person may try to steal something from you are: undue browsing without showing attraction in any particular piece of merchandise, lack of response to your inquiries, looking peering around to see if anyone is looking, and the practice of laying leaning hands or bags on your booth.

About the Author: Cash in on the bad economy by starting your own flea market business. http://www.fleamarketmama.com – Flea Market Mama – will show you how to find products, set up for maximum sales and how to make more money every week at flea markets and swap meets.

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The Real Value of Collectibles in Today’s Economy

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:24:07 +0000

By Melani Weber

With the price of everything going down lately, people who purchase collectibles may be looking at their shelves full of well-loved pieces and thinking, “They’re not worth anything anymore! What will I do?” It may seem counter-intuitive, but the best thing might be to expand your collection. Just think about it: What are the smart investors doing right now on Wall Street? They are holding onto their portfolios and spending a little money to pick up some great bargains. That’s what you should be doing with your collectibles, too.

“To get a great deal” is the best reason to spend money in any economy, especially when it comes to collectibles. While it may not be the best time to sell off your own collection, you may see deals now on pieces that you don’t have that you would never see otherwise. A bonus to buying during a downswing is that, since you are buying items at a discount, the chances are good that your new collectibles will go up in value as the economy gets stronger.

Another reason to invest in collectibles in an economic downturn is if you’ve been thinking of starting a collection for someone else. If you have a daughter or niece to whom you were planning on giving a few pieces, those starter items now can be found at great prices. Often times merchants will bundle pieces together that make great starter sets and offer them at a discount. Plus, everyone knows that the most expensive time to collect is when you first start out, so now is the time to make those initial costs a bit less.

Remember the most important reason to collect anything: because it means something special to you. Can you really put a price tag on a collection if you purchased it for sentimental reasons? If your collection is making you happy then it is giving you value and no one can argue with that. Artwork that you collect because it makes you feel relaxed, for example, is like investing in your mental health. Figurines that feature different emotions or family members can memorialize events or honor loved ones while they expand your collection. Eventually, when the time comes to whittle down your collection, these items become perfect gifts for family and friends. If you’ve ever watched those shows where experts estimate the value of a person’s antiques or collectibles, you know that most people say that it’s nice to know how much it’s worth, but they’re not interested in selling due to family history with the item(s). A collection may have monetary value, but it all boils down to how much it means to you personally.

One of the best bonuses of collecting is the sense of community you get from talking and trading with other collectors. The internet has now given us the ability to talk to people all over the world who are interested in the same things you are. So even if you don’t feel like changing the size of your collection today, communicating with other people who appreciate the things you do can improve your mood, no matter the state the economy.

About the Author: Melani Weber enjoys working with the woodworkers and artists whose creations are featured in the gift store where she has worked for the last 20 years. See their always intriguing (and sometimes silly) work at http://davlinswoods.com

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Start an Antiques Business

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:00:42 +0000

By Aidan James

How about another great home business idea? One that is rewarding in more ways than just the profit (and there is lots of profit potential!). An antiques business is full of opportunity to learn, make friends and earn some serious coin. It is also one of those great businesses that can be as little or as large as you want or need it to be.

The skills required are some knowledge of antiques and the antiques trade, the eye for a bargain and maybe some handyman skills if you plan on doing some restoration. Because the market is so broad its often best to specialize in one area of the business. This can also be a smart idea if you are keeping this to very much a work at home business and so have limited space. You can then become expert in your particular field very quickly.

The market sectors range from the obvious to the obscure but no matter how obscure, someone is looking to buy the pieces and someone else is making a mint by serving the sector. This might seem obvious but you would be surprised how many enterprising souls start their antiques business in say furniture or porcelain where there is much less opportunity to break through successfully as sectors like those are very crowded and thus competitive. Best to find yourself a less crowded sector like antique toys and dolls or other specialty.

You can source your goods from house clearances, deceased estate sales, advertisements and notices in local newspapers and boards and of course by word of mouth. Your sales can be by private sale through classifieds, markets or of course auctions including online auctions like ebay. You don’t have to be a dealer of course, there are many interested folk doing very nicely out of restoration for example, so if you don’t fancy the dealing part of the business that might be an avenue for you.

Most who get into antiques actually thrive on the thrill of negotiating a purchase or a sale and are always on the lookout for a bargain either way. You want to buy at as low a price as possible while selling as high as you can to maximize profit. This is where specialization can be particularly handy. A good knowledge of the subject to hand will allow you to spot the bargain. It is even possible to get bargains from long established traders if you know more than them about a particular item.

You can also make good money teaching others about antiques either at community college type classes or on a website, you are not likely to be short of an audience as the interest in antiques seems universal and millions of people are looking online for information on antiques.

Possibly the greatest thing about the business though is the ability to choose just how deeply you want to get into the antique business, a little or a lot, some extra cash or a whole living, its all completely up to you.

About the Author: See more on this lucrative home business idea at An Antique Business at Home or see lots more honest ways to make money at home and get free downloads at Work at Home Ideas

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Antiques Concepts, Online And Off

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:55:01 +0000

By Simon Oldmann

Are you a part of the latest antiques craze? Compared to ten years ago, we are constantly bombarded with antique radio shows, antique television show that have become increasingly popular have pitched the idea of dealing with antiques to large international crowds, and the simple fact remains, the antique world is giving love to those who love the antiques… not to the bargain hunters.

Do you feel excited when you see an old toy, dating back 200 years ago and in mint condition, do you feel that owning something like that will give you something special, that the first person to ever hold this in his hands is long gone, but that there is a link between generations and across time because you are now enjoying the same thing?.

I know this feeling, and even though I did sell and still do sell some of my antiques, I hold on to many others, it is no secret that most antique lovers have to sell a few things here and there, but every once in a while something gets to you, sometimes even in a mystical way, its something you know you want to hold on to.

A very popular niche in antiques is old toys, the toys first produced when mass production just started, or even hand crafted toys that date way back. When shopping for antique toys, it can be extremely helpful to have a price guide in hand.

Many unscrupulous sellers are hoping to gain profit due to a buyer’s lack of knowledge. Watching some of the antique shows can help educate you as a buyer. For a few dollars, you can purchase an antique toy pricing guide and have a firm understanding of how to find a bargain. If you happen to have collected many of your childhood toys and are ready to sell them, there can be a great deal of money to be made. Do some research regarding antique toy and their prices and some items may make you a mint!

An extremely popular collection of antique toys includes a wooding rocking horse. Wooden rocking horses are widely available at online antique stores and often cost well over $1,000 if they are in good condition. Some wear is expected, but the rocking horse must work and contain the original pieces.

Surprisingly, antique-toys sought after by collectors typically include marbles. One onionskin marble on EBay is currently priced at $500 and steadily climbing. While marbles may be at the bottom of your antique toys list, they can sell for huge amounts of money.

If antiques is your passion and you want to learn more the internet is a great resource of information, in fact, the antiques market has been growing in a phenomenal rate since the internet started catching on, people can trade and present antiques on Ebay and other auction sites. There is always a place for more people and more items on this market, and you may find out that its not that difficult to start doing things in the antiques market soon enough.

About the Author: Simon Oldmann has been experimenting with intenet auction sites for some years now, he is writing about his experiance in sellign and buying Antiques online, Simon writes articles for ZupaTips.com

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Why to Decorate With Antiques

admin — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:54:23 +0000

By James1984 Thompson

Many individuals are collecting antiques as their hobby. Some do this because they want to know the culture of the people who made these antiques. Other individuals collect antiques because of the age of the item, the uniqueness of the item, or the rarity of it. There are different reasons why collectors love to have antiques, but why to decorate with antiques.

One of the main reasons why to decorate with antiques is that it can highlight different parts of the house. If you put an antique piece in your living room, it can add elegance to the living room. This is a good idea especially if you want to make the room look more special. If the room looks boring, you can spice it up by simply decorating it with the antiques that you are collecting.

Also a reason why to decorate with antiques is that it can compliment other furniture in your house. If the furniture in the room makes it look dull, it is a great idea to compliment the furniture with an antique. This will make the room and the furniture more attractive than it was before. Some furniture really needs some item to compliment them in order for them to be noticeable.

This also goes the other way around with other antique items and furniture. If the antique furniture is too noticeable for the room, you may want to add an antique painting, vase, rugs, or figurine near or on top of the antique furniture. By doing this the antique furniture which earlier was too noticeable for the room will blend in perfectly. This is due to that the attention that might be given to the furniture will be redirected to the antique ornaments.

Other reasons of why to decorate with antiques is due to that if you display such an item you will be showcasing the art and culture of the people who made it. This is a great idea especially if you have kids. Because when you display antique items to showcase the arts and culture of the makers of the antique item, you are teaching your children about the history and culture of certain peoples.

If you really just want to see and appreciate fine and rare arts, it is a great idea to have your antique collection on display in your room. Also, decorating your room with antique will not only satisfy you but it will also satisfy the taste of other people that visits your room.

There are different reasons why to decorate with antiques. But, the entire effect on decorating your room with antiques is the same. You want to make that certain room more beautiful. However, you must consider several things when decorating the room with antiques. One of the things you must consider is that the room should compliment with the antique. You don’t want to place an antique together with a digital appliances or gadgets. Also, you don’t want to decorate the room with so many antiques because the room will not look great if it’s swarming with antiques. It is best to have the appropriate number of antiques to display.

About the Author: Looking for more antiques? Online Antique Auctions.

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An Antique Grinder Makes A Quality Brew

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:28:59 +0000

By Peter Wilson

For coffee lovers, there is nothing more satisfying than a cup
of their favorite brew, made from freshly roasted and ground
beans. Even a sniff of our preferred grinds can spark off a
serious espresso craving.

For the traditionalists among us, ready ground coffee is not an
option, and the shiny new electric grinders leave us cold, not
to mention a little deaf due to the terrible noise. Even the
most expensive electric grinder has a habit of overheating the
beans, losing some of that precious flavor. If you agree with
all of the above, and don’t mind spending a little time over
making your perfect brew, an antique coffee grinder is probably
the choice for you.

As well as being hand set to produce exactly the coarseness of
grinds that you prefer, an antique grinder will never overheat
you beans, keeping the full taste intact. They also make an
extremely attractive addition to your kitchen, whether you have
traditional or modern décor, and bring a touch of character to
your home.

If you are after a modern look for your kitchen, and don’t
think an antique has any place there, then think again. There
are some excellent art deco style grinders from the twenties
which had the smooth lines and simple designs that look
fantastic in a modern minimalist kitchen. A large number of
grinders were produced during this period so they should be
relatively easy to find, and models can be restored and
repainted with a new coat of glossy enamel to suit your personal
tastes.

Buying a grinder to fit into a more old-fashioned kitchen is
even easier, with a wide variety to choose from including
counter top and wall mounted. As long as your grinder is in
good working order, or has been well restored, you will be
buying a classic piece for your kitchen that adds both
practicality and character.

The simplest of the counter top grinders was largely made from
wood, preferably left unpainted. It had a highly attractive and
detailed cast iron handle at the top, which is turned to grind
the coffee, and a small drawer at the base for collecting the
grinds. These are easily available and not too expensive,
depending in the quality. The straightforward design means they
are unlikely to break and are very attractive pieces.

Some coffee grinders are highly collectible, like the Parker
Nation mill, which was manufactured in Connecticut just after
the turn of the last century, as can be identified by its
distinctive bronze top. There are also a number of very unusual
wall mounted models that originated in Europe. These are
generally metal or possibly porcelain and some depict
interesting scenes or motifs.

Whatever model you choose, you will be investing in a means of
producing perfectly ground beans, and a small piece of history
for your kitchen which provide a great talking point for all
your visitors.

About the Author: Peter J. Wilson writes articles for
www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com , a web publication
about coffee types and cappuccino. Sharing his passion in
detailed publications (such as
www.coffee-espresso-maker-tips.com/coffee-grinder.html on
coffee grinder ) he showed his knowledge

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Great Coat Rack Finds at Flea Markets

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:18:11 +0000

By Megan Cherry

One of the best places to find things to decorate your home
with is a flea market. Because of the hard economic times that
the world is facing, finding great decorative items for one’s
home at a steal can prove to be the best way to still be able to
decorate no matter what the stock market may be doing. The key
is to knowing what one is looking for and where they are going
to place it in your home before going to shop, otherwise you
could end up with a ton of items and no place to put them.

When shopping for a dining room, a good thing to always have on
hand is vases. These allow for fresh flowers to be placed in the
home and give the area an uplifted feel. You might also have a
display of special plates or picture frames that can easily be
found at a flea market for a fraction of the cost that you might
spend in a department store.

Another place in the home that might need some sprucing up is
the entryway. Flea markets are loaded with great objects that
can definitely add spice to an entryway. For example, many
people have coats or hats that they like to take off when they
enter a home. A great shaker peg rack can offer the perfect coat
rack for someone.

These are easily found if one scours and searches for them in
flea markets. They can be exquisite pieces of not only
functional tools but also an art piece as well. They are
exquisitely made and can offer beauty and function that is great
for any room in a home.

Other items that one can find in a flea market are timeless
antiques. These often times are overlooked by people who have no
idea what they are. However, many flea market stalls are filled
with great antiques that can be found at a fraction of the cost
compared to those high end antique dealers that may be just down
the street.

Everything from hobnail glass to Oak coat racks can be found in
the nooks and crannies that a flea market offers. One of the
best aspects about flea market shopping is that most offer a
hassle free shopping experience. Usually one person is at a
checkout and the room is divided into various stalls that have
no one in them. This offers a unique shopping adventure that one
would normally not receive if they went to their local mall
looking for a great coat rack.

No matter where one decides to shop for their home and the
different areas that need redecorating, they should definitely
not forget about their local flea markets. These are valuable
tools in the world of shopping that also provide a link to our
past. History and flea markets are forever intertwined, and
one’s home can be a place for this history to shine while the
owner saves a fortune on decorating.

About the Author: Megan Cherry writes for
www.pegandrail.com If you are looking for a high quality
well made coat rack step in and check us out, we manufacture a
complete line of wall mounted coat rack from a shaker peg style
coat rack to a modern wall coat rack with brass hooks or satin
nickel for the brushed stainless steel look we even have a very
modern looking hand rub white lacquer coat racks to go along
with our line of Oak, cherry and Maple wall coat racks, we can
even manufacture you a custom size coat rack or even ship you a
coat rack that is unfinished.

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Antique Shops UK – Decorative Antique UK – Antique Sussex

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:21:12 +0000

UK based french painted decorative antique shop provides antique furniture where you can get mirrors, chairs and sofas, cupboards, lightings, ceramics, tables by antique dealers UK for supplying interiors decorators interior designers and overseas buyers offering english antique mirrors.

We have eclectic mix decorative antique furniture dating from early 18th century to the 20th century.
We have also a wide selection French and English antique furniture.

Our British shop also provides antique services throughout UK and world.

Cleall Antiques in Sussex,UK has been trading for many years supplying trade and private clients, interiors decorators, interior designer’s overseas buyers for offering a successful antique courier service.We also provides for our visitors to show our antique resources where you can check our antique collection.

Please our antique visitors go through ourantique service information where you can under stand that we are the best dealers in Petworth, Sussex, UK.

Contact online antiques shop for supplying interiors decorator’s interior designers and overseas buyers by antique dealers UK

About the Author:

Looking for decorative antiques to decorate you home then
Cleall Antiques
. Cleall anitque is specialise in providing in Antique Ceramics,
Antique Chairs and Sofas, Antique Chest of Drawers, Antique Cupboards,
Antique Bookcases, Antique Lighting, Antique Mirrors, Antique Pictures, Antique
Statues ,Antique Ornaments, Antique Tables and many more.

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How To Process Credit Cards At A Flea Market

admin — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:55:25 +0000

By Debbie Dragon

If your business operates at flea markets, you may not realize
that you still have the ability to accept credit cards from your
customers. It’s no secret that shoppers spend more money when
they use their credit card, so you definitely want to offer your
flea market customers a way to swipe those cards to increase
your sales volume.

If you’re just starting out, or are a small-time business that
occasionally rents booths at flea markets, it may not be in your
best interest to sign up for a merchant account with a bank and
then purchase the somewhat expensive equipment that would let
you physically swipe a card at your flea market booth. On the
other hand, if you are a thriving flea market business, you may
be able to do just that- and use a satellite internet connection
to send the credit card details to the processor.

Using A Telephone to Process Credit Card Payments From
Customers

Most of the small and medium sized businesses with flea market
or vendor fair booths can’t justify the expense of the merchant
account equipment. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean there is no
way to accept credit cards on-site! One of the easiest methods
of accepting credit cards from customers in a flea market
situation is to use a phone-in method.

Some merchant accounts actually let you call a toll free
number, enter in your personal account number to verify your
business, and then using your cell phone’s keypad, you would
enter in the credit card details. The automated system can tell
you whether or not the credit card has funds available for their
purchase and you can proceed with the sale. This is a superior
method to simply writing down the customers card details on an
order form, because you never know if the credit card will go
through until you’ve returned home or to the office and entered
the details- long after the customer has already received his or
her merchandise from your flea market booth!

The fees for an accept-by-telephone credit card processing
method are often much less than a traditional merchant account
as well. Not only do you not have to purchase the equipment to
process the card, but your monthly fees are usually lower. You
can expect to pay a one-time fee to join the program, around
$100 or so; and then an affordable monthly fee around $5. When
you process credit cards by phone, each transaction will be
discounted by the discount rate (typically around 3-4% of the
transaction price).

Using Your Laptop and Internet Connection to Process Credit
Card Payments

If you have a laptop with a wireless connection that works
pretty much everywhere you go for flea markets or vendor fairs,
your other option is to use a credit card processing system that
allows you to accept credit cards via a web form.

For each customer, you would type in their payment details
including their name, address, card type and number, expiration
date, and even the three or four digit security code found on
the back of the card. The web form would send the information
through a secure server and return a response to let you know
whether or not the card is valid- at which time you can continue
processing the sale for the customer or tell them the card was
declined.

Using these alternative methods of credit card processing makes
it possible for small and medium sized businesses operating
booths at vendor fairs and flea markets to increase their sales
volume by accepting credit cards as payment.

About the Author: This article has been provided courtesy of
Creditor Web, www.creditorweb.com .

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