Extra Money: How to Set Up and Sell at a Flea Market or Swap Meet

If you have a lot of stuff to get rid of, the swap meet may be a great way for you to do it. If you live in an area with low traffic, or in an area that is primarily non-residential, or if you live in an apartment or other residence that does not allow garage sales, the flea market is an excellent option for selling your new and used items.

Or, you may be like me, with a thrift store addiction, a love of flea markets, and a desire to make money while having fun. One Saturday, I rented a space at a local antiques swap meet, and by one p.m., I was an addicted swap meet vendor. By the following weekend, I was the proud renter of a double space-- and $500 richer. I sold mostly vintage and antique glassware, and I eventually became serious enough about it to purchase an SUV with a tow package and an enclosed cargo trailer to haul merchandise. I sold about $500 worth of small items every weekend for about six months, and stopped only after moving to another city. I still miss it, and I still recommend flea markets to everyone with items to sell. Why?

There are many benefits to selling items at a swap meet, and the best reason of all is traffic. You are guaranteed more customers at a swap meet than at a garage sale, even if your neighborhood is great for yard sales. People come to find bargains, but they expect to pay more than that would at a garage sale.

Plus, there's usually delicious fried foods, and if you're lucky, beer.

If you're considering selling at a flea market, first consider what you have to sell. Truthfully, you can successfully sell almost anything at a flea market. Leftover cabinets from that kitchen cabinet replacement? Want to sell the old cabinets? Have boxes and boxes of perfume samples? If you're selling it, someone will buy it. The exception to this is food and alcohol: if your food isn't manufacturer-packaged, you may need a license. Alcohol sales require a license, as well. Also, selling stolen or counterfeit merchandise is always a bad idea.

Next, consider the quantity of items you have to sell. There's no such thing as too much, but there is such a thing as too little. Lots of stuff attracts lots of attention, while a sparsely-stocked table is often ignored. Buyers are attracted to volume. If you do have a lot of items to sell, also consider whether or not you have a vehicle that can transport all of your merchandise.

Of course, you'll want to check out local swap meets to see which one suits your needs best. Some swap meets have vendors who sell mostly used items, while others are stocked with new items and more permanent "shops". Look around and note how busy the swap meet seems, and chat up a few vendors for more information. Ask when the heaviest traffic occurs, and which areas are most heavily traveled by customers. Ask the vendor if they do well at this location (it would be rude to ask how much they make, but some vendors are more forthcoming than others and may volunteer this information when asked generally about "how well they do"). Find out who is in charge of the swap meet.

Next, you'll want to speak with the manager of the flea market. Ask about the size of the space, how much it costs, and how close you'll be able to get to it when it comes time to unload stuff from your car to your space. Find out how early vendors can arrive for setup. Ask the manager to show you which spaces will be available for the day(s) you want, and reserve a specific (and prime) space ahead of time, if possible. A space will usually run about $20-$30 per space, per day-if you're reserving two adjacent spaces, ask for a discount.

Now that you're on your way to becoming a flea market millionaire, it's time for the prep work. Pre-price and box all of your items ahead of time. If you try to price everything at the flea market, you'll find yourself without enough time. If you think you'll just let people ask for the price, you'll find yourself overwhelmed with inquiries coming in from all sides simultaneously. Remember: price to sell. You don't want all of this stuff coming home with you. Once your items are all priced and boxed, pack up your vehicle. If you have collapsible tables, great. If you have plywood and workhorses that can easily become tables, wonderful. If you have blankets to lay on the ground, fine. Work with what you have. Whatever you do, don't forget to pack yourself a chair. If you'll be outside all day, bring a small cooler with drinks and snacks, and wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen. Don't forget bags or boxes for your customers-finally, you can get rid of those 500 plastic grocery bags! Make sure you carry plenty of change-fives and ones and plenty of silver coins. Lots of people will arrive with fresh twenty dollar bills, and you don't want to lose a sale because you run out of change. Keep the money in your front pockets or in a fanny pack carried on the front.

On the day of your sale, arrive as early as the swap meet will allow. Set up quickly-other vendors will prove to be great customers. Arrange your items in such a way that they're visible-don't leave boxes packed full of items for buyers to pick through. Some people don't like to work that hard Unpack! Spread out!

Now, the fun part. Sell. Make money. Be friendly. Even with obnoxious hagglers. If someone insults you with a ridiculous offer, offer a reasonable counteroffer. If they sneer, you smile and shrug and say, "Sorry; I can't let it go for any lower than that." Don't take customer disapproval seriously: it's all part of the flea market waltz.

At the end of the day, when you're exhausted but sporting an impressive wad of cash, pack it all up (hopefully with far less than you came with). If you don't want to take anything home, offer another vendor your entire remaining inventory for a nice price. You get $20 and you don't have to cart it all home. Win-win. Clean up any trash in your space, say goodbye to your vendor pals-for-a-day, and go home and take a nice hot shower. You'll have earned it.

By the way, selling at flea markets is addictive. Don't say I didn't warn you.