The Repeating $500 Week-End Profit Opportunity

Here's an opportunity to own your own general store without any large investment or expensive overhead.

This is possible by participating in flea market sales or swap meets as they are called in some parts of the country. It affords you an excellent chance to earn extra money--it is not unusual for a dealer to make $200 to $500, or more, profit just on weekends. Buy It, Sell It, Make Money: Your Guide to Finding and Reselling Luxury Goods for Personal Wealth

First, find out where flea markets are operated in your area. Many parking lots, drive-in theaters, halls and other buildings are set up as flea markets. Most are open only on weekends; others operate daily. Some are run by professional operators; while clubs, fraternal and veterans' organizations, and fund raising groups hold these sales at periodic intervals.

Such sales are usually publicized or advertised in the local papers (usually, classified section) or on bulletin boards. Or, look in the yellow pages of the telephone directory under Flea Markets or Swap Meets to find out who organizes these sales and where they are held.

Your next step is to visit flea markets. Observe how they operate, what type of items are being sold, how the merchandise is being displayed and what type of goods are being offered at each market.

Now you are ready to start. Contact the operator or manager and reserve space...for a day, weekend, week or month, whichever period is their minimum policy and for what length of time you wish to participate. Obtain merchandise which will appeal to the class of people who normally attend the market you selected.

Reservation costs vary. Many factors determine this--the size of the market, the amount of traffic it attracts, the length of time you reserve, or the size of space you require for your display. Rates may also vary in different sections of the country. A well-attended, well-organized flea market is certainly worth your attention, rather than a shabby, disorganized one.

in any case, the space cost should be quite modest in relation to the sales and profit potential. Some flea market operators may even assign space on a commission basis. You paythem a certain percentage of sales.

SELECTING YOUR SPACE
If you have a choice of space, reserve it where there is a lot of traffic. Entrances are not the best locations. People like to browse before they buy and there is a chance they may not return to the area where they came in. Space near exits is not recommended either. By the time they reach that section they may have already spent their limit. Or, they are just tired and ready to go home.

The best areas are near snack bars, rest rooms, drinking fountains or where people constantly go back and forth. If you are assigned a good spot at a constantly-operating market, try to reserve that same space each time. Your customers will know where to find you next time, or tell others where you are located.

If locations are assigned on a first-come basis, get there very early to set up at a desirable location. But, even if you have space reserved, allow yourself an hour or so before opening time to set up your display.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Your merchandise. Then, if no table is provided, bring a folding table or two for necessary space to effectively display your wares. Also bring a comfortable folding chair, money to make change and a box to store your money (a cigar box serves nicely). If the market is held outdoors on a hot day you may need the protection of an umbrella. Also have a plastic sheet handy to protect your merchandise if it showers.

Bring your lunch and liquid refreshments, unless there is a snack bar on the premises and you would prefer to eat and drink there. If possible, bring along a member of the family or a friend to help you. You may need to be away from your table for meals, use the rest room, or walk around to look at other dealers displays. If it is not possible to bring someone, don't worry about it. Your neighboring dealers will be happy to watch your merchandise during your absence.

Rain is sometimes a threat and a major concern, particularly for an outdoor flea market. Rain may even keep people from attending an indoor sale. You should expect a rain check, refund, or allowance from the operator if sales are affected or interrupted by this situation. As another reminder, be sure to have a plastic cover to protect your merchandise in the event of rain.

YOUR DISPLAY
Arrange your display as neatly and as attractively as possible. Place similar items together. Don't crowd things into a messy pile... customers don't lie to paw through a jumble of merchandise to find out what you offer. Set taller items towards the back of the table or use boxes or blocks so thateverything you offer can be seen at first glance. Place jewelry on a velvet background or in jewelry boxes. Use your imagination to make your display attention-getting. Do something special to draw more people to your table.

For instance, if you are a craftsman do some of the work at your table. People are interested in and attracted to activity. Or, bring a radio and turn it on from time to time. Don t let the sound blare or play something disagreeable or offensive. Be different from the other dealers. Fore example, you could record and play a cassette extolling the merits of what you are selling or doing. But, don't sound like a circus barker. A little imagination for on the spot attention will help bring more people to your table.

SELLING PRICES
Besides what you offer, the price at which you sell your merchandise is very important. You need to make a healthy profit for your time and investment, yet you must offer customers a good buy for their money.

You can price each item individually, or price a group collectively. Your sign can read, for example, Everything In This Section, $3.00, another Everything In This Section, $6.00 , etc. Some dealers do not price anything buy allow bargaining, keeping in mind the lowest price they will accept. When a prospect asks the price of a certain item, the dealer will state a price. If the prospect hesitates, the dealer will offer a lower price until the prospect buys or the minimum price is reached. The psychology of this type of selling is that the customer feels he got the better of the dealer and walks away happy with his purchase. Price haggling is not usually a good practice and may offend certain people. Besides, it could be time consuming. You can always put up a new price signs.

WHAT PRODUCTS TO SELL
Specialty items, not usually found in retail stores are best for flea market sales. Brand names are too common; prices are well-known or can easily be checked. A customer may have examined a Bulova watch at the jewelry store, price $80.00. You may get him as a buyer with a look-alike brand priced at only $50.00. Items such as jewelry, watches, toys novelties, house wares, auto accessories, paintings, gift & novelty items are among the hundreds of potential profitable sellers. Feature items that turn over fast. If an item doesn t sell well, keep lowering the price until someone buys it. Continue reordering good-selling items. Replace slow sellers with more appealing items until you feature a steady fast-selling, profitable line. Here is a source to find items to sell