Anyone who thinks that standing at a flea market or participating in a garage sale is nothing more than displaying everything and making money, is definitely wrong. If you want to earn money at a flea market, you will have to prepare yourself well, sort everything neatly, bring a wide range with you, display everything attractively on the day itself and store everything neatly back later. You also need: kindness, neatness and politeness.
For people who regularly do flea markets, setting up and cleaning up has become a breeze. They have developed a certain routine and everything seems to go smoothly. But for first-time attendees or those who only participate in a flea market once a year, it does require some work.
Good preparation is half the job
Anyone who thinks that in order to participate in a flea market you collect all your junk and put it down on the day itself, is wrong. You do have to thoroughly prepare a good flea market.
Kind of flea market
First and foremost, you need to consider the purpose and audience of the flea market or of the garage sale. If it concerns a sale for and by children, you have to prepare children’s toys. An expensive crystal vase does not belong here. If it is a flea market for children’s clothing, then it is best to leave everything else at home. At a flea market for baby equipment, you shouldn’t wear the clothes of your oldest of 15. Furthermore, you have flea markets specifically for books, for records, for antiques, and so on. At a garage sale you can usually choose what to sell and then you can prepare a cheerful mix of different things. Inform well in advance, so that you arrive at the right market with the right items.
Sort everything neatly
Once you know which flea market you are going to participate in, you can start sorting. Of course, you are not supposed to dive into the garage or attic on the day itself and then start loading boxes haphazardly. You could then be faced with surprises on the market itself. The expensive vase you had lost for a while, for example, or your children’s favorite books that you had neatly put away, would just be taken by strangers. To avoid this, it is best to transfer all the boxes to new boxes at home. This way everything goes through your hands, you can see if there is nothing in between that you want to keep track of yourself and you can check whether everything is still intact, complete and still working. You can also dust a number of things and check whether there are no stains on clothes, for example. You better throw away what is really old and worn out. People are really not looking for this. Put everything by type in the clean boxes and write on the box what is inside.
A wide range
If you go to a mixed flea market or a garage sale, try to have the widest possible range available. You can not think of it as crazy or people are sometimes looking for it. Old beer glasses, old musical instruments, old games, bells, old dolls, teapots, etc. What no longer has any value to you, is a real find for someone else. If you go to a book market, try to have a range of types of books with you: comics, novels, travel books, cookbooks, children’s books, historical books and so on. The more choice you have, the more people will be inclined to take a closer look. Again, the motto is: everything neatly per category in a box. For children’s toys you can classify the toys by category (girls / boys – puzzles / books / dolls / lego, etc) or by age. Clothing can be grouped by age or size, but also by season, color or set.
A current offer
While you’re preparing your boxes, you can take another look at your cupboards and those of the kids. Are there clothes that have become too small or that are no longer worn? Are there any books that the children no longer take hold of or that they have grown out of? Games they no longer play with? Put them in the box too. Such stuff is usually also current and up to date. That’s what people are looking for. Mobile phones and laptops are also very popular these days. They may even be broken. Many people buy them for the parts or the materials they contain. Also find the chargers together so that you can offer a package. Is the mobile phone or laptop still working? Be sure to include the manual and possibly the original packaging if you still have it somewhere.
The price
Try to put a realistic price on everything. If you are in doubt, you can peek at second-hand sites on the internet. What do other people ask for similar products? You can put a price label on the items themselves, so people know immediately what something costs and they don’t have to ask. Or you can make a plate and determine a price per category. Of course you can also determine the price when people ask for it. Sometimes you will ask less if it is a child who is looking at something so cute or you can take some of the price you had in mind when people buy a lot.
Attractive display
Flea market or garage sale
You usually have to reserve a place in advance at flea markets. Often you will be informed whether it is a standing place or whether you will be given a table. If it is just a standing place, it is best to provide a folding table or something similar. Putting everything on the ground just like that is not attractive or difficult for some people. Older people or people with back problems sometimes have trouble bending over. Looking at things on a table is easier for them. You can then store your larger pieces under the table. Once you have arrived, you start unloading. Return the cardboard boxes to your car, otherwise you will lose a lot of space for nothing. If they are sturdy boxes, you can make a construction out of them where you can put things in or on. Boxes on their side can serve as a bookshelf, for example, or as a display window for stuffed animals. Boxes upside down can serve as a table for stacking puzzles or games. Work with levels to gain space.
A garage sale is usually at your home, so you have more space and more options. You can put different tables, but also cabinets with drawers, etc. If you have a garage, you can sit in the front. When it starts to rain, at least you’re nice and dry. If you don’t have a garage, provide a party tent or span a tarpaulin. If you don’t have a party tent but a piece of land in front of your house, you can also put some things in the trunk of your car. When it rains, just close the suitcase.
Display or leave everything in boxes?
Do you now leave everything in the boxes or do you display everything neatly? Imagine their place in the people. Most people are not very inclined to mess around in other people’s things, especially when someone is looking at their hands. In addition, people get tired of it faster. If they have unloaded half and have not found anything to their liking, they will be more likely to put everything back in the box and walk on. While what they were looking for might just be at the very bottom of the box. After a number of people, your box doesn’t look like it anymore. Everything is turned upside down and that does not look neat for the next buyers. So display everything neatly as much as possible. Put toys on, so people immediately see what it is intended to do. Dress the dolls neatly, comb their hair. Put them on their potty, give them a baby bottle in hand. With clothes: hang blouses on a coat rack. If necessary, provide a rack or stretch a sturdy rope. Stack the sweaters by size or age. Consider bringing a doll with you to put on the clothes when it comes to baby clothes. Put together sets yourself, so people sometimes buy not only the sweater they were looking for, but also the pants that go with it so well.
Mirror
Also provide a mirror. Most sellers do not think about this, so that it is an extra asset for your booth. People like to try on a blouse, a jacket or a sweater and then like to see it on them. A mirror is also useful when you sell necklaces or hats.
Cash register and (plastic) bags
Cash register and change
Do not forget to bring: a cash register and enough change. Often it concerns small amounts and people have notes of 10, 20 or 50 euros with them. If you can’t switch, people simply put the desired stuff back. That is a shame of course. So provide enough change to be able to give it back.
(Plastic bags
Many people walk across a flea market to “have a look”. But then they see a few nice things that they immediately take with them. Those people did not foresee a purchase and therefore do not have a bag with them. Handy if you can put all the stuff for them in a (plastic) bag. Be sure to start keeping clean (plastic) bags well in advance.
Tidy up neatly
After the flea market, it is best to take some time to tidy up, especially if you want to do another flea market with what’s left. Fold everything back as much as possible, put everything back in the correct packaging and put everything back per category. Throw away what’s damaged. Whatever is out of fashion or has not sold well, you take to the thrift store or give away for free to people who need it. Trying to sell on a second-hand site is also an option. The more that is gone, the better. That way you have less work to prepare next time.
Go with two or more
As you can see, a flea market involves a lot of work. Often people are already rummaging through your boxes while you are still unpacking. Then it is best to be with two or more. While one is working out, the other can already help the customers. If someone has to go to the car, to the refrigerator or to the toilet, there is still someone with the things. Helping hands are also always more than welcome to load and unload. And by the way, with two it is much more fun during dead moments.