Flea Market Selling Underground Is Here Again

It’s Time To Start Your Own Flea Market Business!

Yes, with the new coronavirus recession, flea market selling underground is here again because you will be dumping stuff to earn extra cash.

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Flea markets are called many things, such as swap meets, private party sales, thieves markets, etc., and are typically held on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the day.

You, the promoter rents spaces to people with things to sell for $10 or so for a 10-foot square space.

They can sell old items cleaned out of their garage or brand-new marchandise.

Those who make a consistent profit have found a source of merchandise below normal wholesale costs.

Thus, they can sell it cheaper to their customers.

You might explore wholesalers of records, paperback books, magazines, or novelty items.

Many distributors will offer a store a “Return Guarantee” if they display their books, records, tapes, magazines or novelty items.

If these items do not sell, they are returned to the distributor for credit.

The distributor could easily be a local store that was on “lock down” and need extra cash.

He then sells them for scrap value or throws them out in the trash.

If the distributor decides to throw them out in the trash, offer to haul them away for free, bundle and make 100% profit!

If you buy, say, paperback books for much less than the drug store or supermarket that returned them, you can afford to sell them for a lot less, and still make a big profit yourself.

People attend flea markets looking for bargains.

If you offer one, they will buy from you.

Some distributors will not be willing to sell to you, but one or more will.

The secret is to persist.

Offer ten percent of normal retail, which is about 20% of normal wholesale.

You will probably be able to buy more than you need.

A good source of free merchandise is stores in your area.

Approach the store owner with a plan.

If he will let you take some of his merchandise to a flea market to sell, you and he will split the profit above his cost.

Let’s say you talk an antique dealer into this plan.

You sell an antique table and chairs for $300.

He paid $100.

You split the $200 retail markup for a gross profit of $100 each.

Usually smaller, less expensive items work best, perhaps women’s handbags, or designer jeans, etc.

You would have to convince the merchant that the flea market is a “special sale” and would offer lower prices and bulk sales.

After you have a well-established “space” in the market, you will enjoy return customers.

You have to like dealing with people, and being outdoors for a long day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

But I know people who do this every week, in good times and bad making a lot of money.

In fact, they earn enough on the weekend to loaf during the week.

Remember every store owner or wholesaler has some merchandise that is not selling, especially during this coronavirus recession.

By the merchant cutting the price to you, and you offering a bargain to the public, you both can make a profit!

Photo By Gerd Altmann