New to selling at flea markets? This post will teach you everything you need to know about how to prepare to sell at a flea market!
The experience of setting up and selling at a flea market is definitely an exciting one – the hustle and bustle of the market, the bargaining and haggling with customers, and the overall atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement.
However, if you’ve never sold at a flea market before, the process can seem a bit daunting. But don’t worry – with a little preparation, you’ll be ready to take on the challenge in no time!
This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosures policy for more info.
In this post, I’ll take you through a few key tips on how to prepare for selling at a flea market, so you can hit the ground running and make the most of this fun and unique experience.
Looking for wholesale items to sell? Check out this post on 10 Hot Selling Wholesale Flea Market Items (in 2022)
How to Prepare to Sell at a Flea Market:
Before the markets:
1. Make sure what you’re going to be selling is in demand
Some of the top selling flea market items 2022 include:
1. Handmade Jewelry
2. DIY Beauty Products
3. Customized Signs
To find out more crafts that sell well at flea markets, check out this post!
2. Find out what’s supplied
One of the first things you need to do is find out what, if anything, the flea market owners will be supplying. This is important because it will determine how much stuff you need to bring and how you need to set up your space.
For example, if the flea market provides tables and chairs, then you won’t need to bring any and can simply set up your products on the tables. But if they don’t provide anything, then you’ll need to bring your own fold-up table and chairs, or whatever else you might need to make your space comfortable and functional.
Grab this Flea Market checklist to fully prepare for your next flea market
3. Have enough products
A common mistake that newbie flea market sellers make is not bringing enough products. They often underestimate the number of people who will come by their stall, and as a result, they run out of things to sell mid-way through the day.
To avoid this, make sure you have enough products on hand – a good rule of thumb is to bring at least twice as much as you think you’ll need. That way, even if you don’t sell everything, you won’t have to worry about running out and disappointing customers.
4. Get enough change
Nothing ruins a customer’s experience quite like not having enough change on hand. Imagine coming up to a stall, finding something you want to buy, and then having the seller tell you they don’t have enough change for your 20-dollar bill. Not only will this frustrate the customer, but it also reflects poorly on you and your business.
Before the market day, swing by the bank and withdraw some small bills and coins so you’re prepared for when customers start coming by.
Want to turn your hobby of finding vintage items at flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales into a profitable business in just 7 days?
Then you need to watch this FREE TRAINING by Robert from Flipper University
This training has helped thousands of students from all ages and backgrounds to make thousands of dollars by reselling flea market finds. I can’t believe he is giving away so much valuable info for FREE.
5. Arrive early
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a flea market is to arrive early. This gives you plenty of time to set up your stall without feeling rushed, and it also means you’ll be able to take advantage of early customers who are usually the most enthusiastic (and often the most willing to spend).
6. Pack items in the order you’ll use them
Trust me, this is one of those tips that sounds small but makes a world of difference. You don’t want to be rummaging through boxes and bins of products trying to find what you need when customers are already there waiting.
To avoid this stressful situation, pack your items in the order you’ll use them, so everything is easy to find and within reach.
7. Think of packaging for customers
You can’t expect customers to just carry your products around in their hands – you need to provide some sort of packaging so they can easily transport their purchases. This could be something as simple as plastic bags for smaller items, or bubble wrap and boxes for larger or breakable items.
8. Make sure you have enough help
Flea market stalls can get pretty hectic, especially if you’re selling popular items. To avoid being overwhelmed, make sure you have enough help on hand to take care of customers and run the stall. This could be friends or family members who are willing to lend a hand, or even hired staff if you’re expecting a large crowd.
Looking to make more profits selling your flea market items? Get this FREE ebook that will show you 47 items that you can resell for a profit!
9. Give customers payments options
One of the best things about a flea market is that people who originally came with just the intention of browsing might end up making a purchase if they find something they like.
To make sure you don’t miss out on these potential sales, give customers different payment options so they can easily pay for your products – this could be card payments, phone payments, or even cashless options like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
10. Promote on social media before the market
If you have already following, advertise that you’re going to be selling at the markets and you might get more customers. If you don’t have a following, now is the perfect time to set up your Instagram or Facebook page and start promoting your small business.
I’ve also seen sellers promote on TikTok that they’re going to be at a specific flea market and gain loads of customers through that.
How to Attract Customers at a Flea Market:
The following tips will help you attract more buying customers to your flea market stall.
1. Set up in high traffic area
When you’re choosing a spot to set up your stall, make sure you choose an area that gets a lot of foot traffic. This could be near the entrance of the flea market or near popular stalls that are known to draw in big crowds.
2. Keep items well stocked
As I mentioned before, customers will be disappointed if they come to your stall only to find that you’re out of the item they wanted to purchase. To avoid this, make sure you keep your items well-stocked throughout the day so there’s always something for them to buy.
3. Clear signage for prices
People are more likely to make a purchase if they know how much something costs. This might seem like an obvious tip, but you’d be surprised how many stalls don’t have clear signage for prices.
To make sure your customers know how much your products cost, put up clear and easy-to-read signs that list the prices of each item.
4. Have some cheaper items to attract customers
There are reasons flea markets are known for being great places to find bargains – people love a good deal!
To attract customers to your stall, make sure you have some cheaper items on display that they can easily afford. These could be small items like keychains, notepads, or even larger items that have been discounted.
5. Place popular items in the front and center
If you have any items that are particularly popular or in high demand, make sure to place them in the front and center of your stall so they’re the first thing customers see when they walk by. Chances are, these items will be the first to sell out, so it’s a good idea to keep them in a prominent place.
6. Keep tables clean and tidy
A messy table can deter potential customers from even approaching your table in the first place. A simple tidy-up, whenever you have some free time, can do wonders!
7. Be kind & friendly to every customer
There’s nothing more off-putting than a mean seller. Personally, I would always walk away if the seller was mean and unfriendly. Treat all your customers how you would want to be treated and thank them with a warm smile for supporting your stall.
8. Give ‘thank you cards’ with every purchase
These are excellent for promoting your social media, offering 10% off coupons for their next purchase to promote repeat customers and more. You can easily design these in Canva in minutes or purchase them on Etsy for just a few dollars!
9. Overdeliver
The key to any successful business is happy customers. And one of the best ways to ensure that your customers are happy is to overdeliver on your products and services. This means giving them more than they expect – whether it’s a higher quality product than they were expecting or a lower price than they thought they’d pay.
When you overdeliver, you’ll not only make your customers happy, but you’ll also increase the chances of them coming back in the future or recommending you to their friends.
Conclusion
With these tips in mind, you should be well on your way to attracting customers and making sales at your next flea market stall! As with anything, the more prepared you are, the more successful you’re likely to be. So make sure to put in some time and effort beforehand, and you’ll be sure to have a great day. Happy selling!
Related Posts:
Easy Christmas Crafts To Sell 2022 (Best Selling Ideas to Make!)
10 Easy Crafts That Pay Big – Trendy & Aesthetic Handmade Items
18 Dollar Tree Crafts to Sell For a Profit
The Ultimate List of 35+ Hot Craft Ideas to Sell
15 Vintage Crafts to Make and Sell
About the author, Clary Kingsley
I'm a DIY-loving millennial with a passion for cozy home decor and cooking healthy, mouthwatering meals. My adventurous spirit leads me to explore creative ways of making money online, like selling printables and crafts. Join me on this exciting journey as I share my enthusiasm and zest for life!