Is this the year you’ll be selling more at your local flea market? Or will you be looking to buy more this year? Is all the dire news we hear about the economy got you thinking of being more involved buying and selling? Or are you just looking forward to another great year of going to your favourite market? I confess to both, a bit leery of the current economy and just loving going to and selling at my favourite market.

Tell us your thoughts for this year.

To help you have a successful flea market booth. These are the very basics to get you off to a profitable start!

1. Keep your start-up costs down by finding fixtures at low prices. Check your local yard sales for tables and shelf units.

2. Most people start out with small-size booths. Stock your booth with lots of small items, not 2 or 3 large ones. People buy things they can pick up easily.

3. Books are always good sellers at flea market booths.

4. Go to auctions. Watch for box lots with small stuff in them. If you can buy box lots for less than $5 you should always make money on them in your booth.

5. Always have a sale in your booth. If you want to sell something for $3, mark it at $6, and have a 50% sale going on all the time. People will buy things faster when they’re on sale even with the higher price.

6. Keep your booth “decorating” to a minimum. You want potential buyers in your booth to look at what you are selling, not your creative skills. Too much flash hides your inventory.

7. Arrange your booth for sales. Boxes of items for sale (box lots) go under your table, not on it. Get stuff out where people can see it. You can always restock your booth in order to keep the clutter to a minimum.

8. Present your items for sale in a good manner. Make sure they’re clean! Candleholders might look better with candles in them. When you straighten your booth, face your inventory OUT towards the potential buyer.

9. Mark your items clearly with self-stick labels or tie-on tags. Print a short description along with the price. While your cursive handwriting might be truly lovely, someone may be unable to read it, and you could lose a sale. Position prices so they can be seen, don’t hide them. People won’t buy from your booth if they have to pick up every single item to find the price.

10. Clean house! You can find a lot of “free” inventory already in your own home. Price it to move and start making some extra cash!

CLOVERDALE FLEA MARKET LIVES ON

Under New Management

Contrary to posted signs and paid newspaper ads, the Cloverdale Flea Market is not “closing forever”, but under new management beginning December 4^th. Incoming manager, Andy Janes, says it’s “business as usual” at the market and invites customers to come in on December 4th, say hello and check out the enormous variety of bargains available at the market. This is the place to come for Christmas shopping; you will find everything here; new and used items, crafts, toys, clothing, jewellery, hand made goods, household goods, and untold treasures for sale.

The Cloverdale Market is open 6:00 AM – 4:00 PM every Sunday with very few exceptions. It is located in the Cloverdale Fairgrounds with entrances at 176^th & 62^nd Ave. and 176^th and 60^th Ave., Surrey. Admission is $1.50, children under 12 are free.

For more information on this topic and to schedule an interview, please contact Andy Janes at 604-837-1676 or email Andy at info@cloverdalemarket.ca

We will be closed on December 25th ,2011 and on January 1, 2012. Door open at 5:30 a.m. for vendors and at 7:00 a.m. for buyers. For more information, call Lorraine @ Bridgeview hall, @ 604-580-8444 or cell phone  604-308-9085.

Saturday DEC. 3RD, 4 – 8PM Location:  covered parking on the North side of Memorial Peace Park This event will coincide with the Maple Ridge Christmas Festival and Santa Parade. We’ll have hot roasted chestnuts, warm apple cider and other yummy treats, FREE Door prize Draw, balloons,  fantastic Christmas gift ideas,  music and lots of Christmas cheers. Vendor information at: inquiries@downtownmapleridge.ca or 604-467-2420

The Victoria Flea Market has only one more event for 2011, next Sunday Nov. 27th. (this Sunday we’re closed due to an event in our facility). After the 27th we are closed until after Christmas. Re-opening January 8th for the 2012 season.

On December 3^rd the Haney Farmers Market and the Ladies Who Bake at St. Andrew’s Haney United Church join together for their annual indoor/outdoor Winter Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Outdoors you will find turkey, apples, walnuts, garlic, beef, lamb, jams, hot samosas while inside there is Christmas baking, cookies, chocolate, candies, bread and carefully crafted gifts from fabric to wood to candles.  And there are $10 Farmers Market Gift Certificates for stocking stuffers or that hard to please person on your list.

The Caring Place has delicious breakfast wraps and smokeys.  Maple Ridge Youth Services will be making Candy Cane Rudolphs with the children.  You can sign up to help out at Operation Red Nose.  Tickets will be available for St. Andrew’s Breakfast with Santa on Dec 10, only $5.

We are entertained by the Maple Ridge Choral Society at 10 a.m., roving singers  from Emerald Pig’s production of A Christmas Carol and popular Robert and Caitlin from ROCA!

In Maple Ridge at 22165 Dewdney Trunk Road at 222^nd Street.  www.haneyfarmersmarket.org  604-467-7433

If you run or know of a flea, farmer or other community market now is the time to send me the information about your markets for the coming year, 2012. Email me michael@bcfleamarkets.com today!