Small Business Marketing Advice

Flea Market Ideas

Written by Anna Lempereur for Gaebler Ventures

Flea Markets are great places to introduce your items to a variety of audiences. Here are some ideas to help you find the right good to market.

There are two ways to go about reaching your audience -- marketing something that everybody has a use for, or marketing something that is unique.

Items that fit in each category have qualities that will successfully appeal to your consumers.

Go For What Everybody Likes

The pro about selling something that everybody has a use for is that anyone who walks over to your stand, no matter what season or time of year it is. These items are so common that if people do not find any of them to be particularly interesting for themselves, they will surely know it will make a perfect gift for somebody else they know. An example of this type of good is jewelry. Many women and men wear jewelry, and for those who don't, they are sure to know someone who does.

The con is that these stands are often common in flea markets, so when you do create this type of item, it is important to take your own unique spin on it. How many jewelry stands do you see in flea markets? What will make your jewelry different from the rest? If possible, browse the flea market before opening your stand so you can get a general idea of what type of jewelry is most common. Create your jewelry by using materials, colors, shapes, and sizes that you have not seen much of in the market.

Other ideas for this type of good:

• Furniture

• Home Decorations

• Cell Phone Accessories

• School/Office Supplies

• Video Games

• Trading Cards

• Stuffed Animals

• Clothing

• Handbags

• Cosmetics

• Hair Accessories

• Sunglasses

• Candy

Market Something Original

These are items that consumers will be least likely to find in a store or mall. The pro is that your stand will be the only one of your kind, so when someone wants to buy the type of item you are selling, they will always go to you. An example of this type of market is an engraving stand. This is where you can create personalized engravings on the medium of your choice, and display them on picture frames, books, jewelry, and keychains. Someone who has a special occasion coming up (birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation, etc.) will find this stand a great place to pick out a gift for a loved one.

The con about this market is that since it appeals to such a specific group, not everyone is likely to find something at your stand. If someone doesn't have an occasion coming up sometime soon and there are no upcoming holidays, they will have no use for anything at your stand.

Other ideas for this type of good:

• Dolls/Figurines

• Baby Clothes/Toys

• Chinese Slippers

• Knitting Supplies

• Musical Instruments

• Wine Glasses

• Garden Thermometers

• Farming Tools

• Camping Gear

• Fishing Equipment

• Poker Supplies

• Motorcycle Gear

• Exotic Foods/Condiments

Anna Lempereur is a freelance writer interested in writing about small business. She is currently a Journalism major at the University of Albany in New York.

Share this article

---

Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary